Citing an encyclopedia requires identifying the specific entry you used, the source in which it appeared, the publication details, and the citation style required by your instructor or institution. In real terms, knowing how to cite an encyclopedia is especially important because entries may be written by named contributors, credited only to the encyclopedia’s editors, or published anonymously. The correct format also changes depending on whether you consulted a print volume, a website, or an online database. The examples below show common approaches in APA, MLA, and Chicago style, but you should always follow the style guide assigned for your assignment.
What Information Do You Need to Record?
Before creating a citation, gather the following details:
- Author of the entry: Some encyclopedia articles include the contributor’s name.
- Title of the entry: Use the complete title of the specific article or topic.
- Title of the encyclopedia: This is the title of the entire publication.
- Editor or editors: Include their names when the relevant citation style requires them.
- Publication year: Use the year shown in the publication.
- Edition: State the edition when it is not the first edition.
- Volume number: Include the volume when the encyclopedia was issued in separately numbered sets.
- Page or page range: Add this for print sources when the entry has fixed pages.
- Publisher: Identify the organization that published the encyclopedia.
- URL or DOI: Add the relevant electronic location when you consulted an online version.
- Access date: Some styles require this for online sources, especially when no publication date is available.
A useful rule is to cite the specific entry you actually read, not merely the name of the encyclopedia. If you used an article titled “Urban Heat Islands,” your citation should identify that article while also providing enough information to locate it in the larger encyclopedia Took long enough..
APA Style
APA 7th edition is widely used in social sciences, education, psychology, and many other disciplines. When an encyclopedia entry has a named author, begin the reference with the author’s surname and initials:
EXAMPLE
Rivera, A. 2, pp. And (2022). Think about it: in L. ), Encyclopedia of climate science (3rd ed.Even so, urban heat islands. Also, chen (Ed. , Vol. Still, 145–160). M. Academic Press.
For an online version, add a URL when one is provided:
EXAMPLE
Rivera, A. M. (2022). Urban heat islands. In L. Plus, chen (Ed. Now, ), Encyclopedia of climate science (3rd ed. On top of that, ). Still, academic Press. https://doi.org/10.0000/example.2022.
If the entry has no named author, place the title of the entry first. Even so, when the publication date is also unavailable, use “n. d.
EXAMPLE
Urban heat islands. (n.d.Now, ). Day to day, in L. In real terms, chen (Ed. ), Encyclopedia of climate science (3rd ed.). Academic Press.
In APA style, the title of the encyclopedia is italicized, while the title of an encyclopedia entry is not. If the entry has no author and no date, place the title of the encyclopedia next:
EXAMPLE
Urban heat islands. (n.d.Because of that, ). In Encyclopedia of climate science (3rd ed.). Academic Press Most people skip this — try not to..
An APA in-text citation normally includes the author and year:
- Parenthetical: (Rivera, 2022)
- Narrative: Rivera (2022) explained that…
If there is no author, use a shortened version of the entry title:
- (“Urban Heat Islands,” n.d.)
When citing an entire encyclopedia rather than one entry, treat the editor as the primary creator:
EXAMPLE
Chen, L. (Ed.). Consider this: (2022). Consider this: Encyclopedia of climate science (3rd ed. ). Academic Press.
