How to Cite a Book in ACS (3rd Edition)

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a book in ACS (3rd Edition):

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   List the authors

   Use the same semicolon-separated format as journal articles. For editors, add ", Ed." or ", Eds." after the last name.

2. 2

   Write the book title

   Italicize the full title using headline-style capitalization. Include the edition if not the first (e.g., 2nd ed.).

3. 3

   Add publisher, location, and year

   After a semicolon, write the publisher name, colon, place of publication, comma, and year in bold. End with a period.

4. 4

   Include page numbers if relevant

   If citing specific pages, add "; pp" followed by the page range before the final period.

5. 5

   Add DOI or URL if applicable

   For electronic books, include the DOI or URL after the page range.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to italicize the book title.
• Using a colon instead of a semicolon before the publisher name.
• Omitting the place of publication, which ACS requires unlike some other styles.
• Not abbreviating U.S. state names or country names as expected in ACS.
• Placing the year in parentheses instead of bold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your book:

• Author(s) or Editor(s)
• Year of publication
• Title
• Edition (if not the first)
• Publisher
• DOI or URL (if electronic)