ASA 7th Style-Citing Books - APSU Writing Center Handout - Reference and In-Text Citation

Sep 24, 2026

Guidance on using ASA in-text citations and reference pages, emphasizing how to place brief source information inside sentences or at the end. Covers citation components such as author last name, publication year, and optional page numbers for direct quotes, including the ASA rule that there is no space between year and colon. Provides formats for paraphrasing, direct quotations, reference-page ordering, double-spacing, and multiple-author and edited-volume chapter citations, plus example reference entries.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time9 min

AccessFree to download

What is an in-text citation?

Paraphrasing

Direct quote

What is a Reference Page?

Reference page rules

ASA Style 7th Edition: Citing Books

In-Text Citation Format

Reference Format

ASA Style 7th Edition: Books with Two or More Authors

ASA Style 7th Edition: Citing a Chapter in an Edited Volume

ASA Style 7th Edition: A Book with No Author

References

ASA 7th Style-Citing Books APSU Writing Center Handout What is an in-text citation? An in-text citation is a short reference inside your writing that shows where your information came from. It usually includes the author’s last name, the year of publication, and sometimes a page number for direct quotes. The citation goes inside the sentence or at the end. Paraphrasing: Social media can influence how teenagers perceive themselves (Smith 2022) . Direct quote: “Social media affects self-esteem in adolescents”(Smith 2022:45) . There is no space between the year and the colon in ASA Style. What is a Reference Page? A reference page is a list at the end of your paper that gives full details about all the sources you cited. Authors are listed last name first, followed by first name. If you cite multiple sources, list them alphabetically by the author’s last name. References should be double-spaced. Example: Reference Smith, John. 2022. The Effects of Social Media on Teenagers. New York: Academic Press. ASA Style 7th Edition-Citing Books In-Text Citation Format: (Author Last name (s), Year of Publication, Page Range) Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 1: Cowan (2015:75) argues,“Gender roles continue to shape professional opportunities, often limiting career advancement for women.” Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 2: The economic impact of globalization has been significant across developing countries (Smith 2010:25) . Reference Format: Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication.“Title of Essays in Book Chapter.” [pp. page](pp. page) range. Book Title. Location: Publisher. Reference Examples: Cowan, Sarah. 2015. "Gender Dynamics in Modern Society." In Contemporary Perspectives on Gender: Essays on Equality and Identity, edited by Emily Adams, 65-80. Chicago: XYZ Press. Smith, John. 2010. "Effects of Globalization. " In Understanding Globalization: Essays on Economics and Society, edited by Mary Johnson, 20-35. New York: ABC Publishing. ASA Style 7th Edition-Citing Books with Two or More Authors In-Text Citation Format: (Author1's Last Name and Author2's Last Name Year) Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 1: Black and White (2020:45) note,“Understanding race and identity is crucial for building inclusive organizations.” Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 2: Sociological frameworks help explain patterns of social behavior (Smith and Johnson 2018) . Reference Format: Author1's Last Name, First Name, and Author2's First Name Last Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book. Publisher. Reference Examples: Black, James, and Sarah White. 2020. Exploring Diversity: Essays on Race and Identity. Harper Collins. Smith, John, and Emily Johnson. 2018. Sociological Perspectives: An Introduction. Oxford University Press. ASA Style 7th Edition-Citing a Chapter in an Edited Volume In-Text Citation Format: (Author Last name(s) Year of Publication, Page Range) Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 1: Brown and Getz (2011:130) emphasize,“The structural conditions of labor and land access directly produce patterns of hunger in agricultural communities.” Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 2: Rapid urbanization poses both environmental and social challenges for cities (Johnson and Lee 2019) . Reference Format: Author Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. "Title of Essay or Chapter." [Pp. page](Pp. page) range. In Book Title, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name. Location: Publisher. Reference Examples: Brown, Sandy, and Christy Getz. 2011. "Farmworker Food Insecurity and the Production of Hunger in California." Pp. 121-146. In Cultivating Food Justice: Race, Class, and Sustainability, edited by A.H. Alkon and J. Agyeman. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Johnson, Michael, and Karen Lee. 2019. "Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities." Pp. 55-72. In Cities and the Environment: Exploring Urban Sust

FAQs

What is an in-text citation in ASA style?

An in-text citation is a short reference inside your writing showing where your information came from. It typically includes the author’s last name and the year, and may include a page number for direct quotes.

How do you format ASA in-text citations for paraphrasing vs. direct quotes?

For paraphrasing, use the author last name and publication year. For direct quotes, include the page number as well.

What rules apply when creating an ASA reference page?

List sources at the end of the paper with full details. Write authors as last name first, then first name, order multiple references alphabetically by author last name, and use double-spacing.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Sophia Brooks