Citing a Chapter in a Multivolume in APA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 10/18/2024
• Updated on04/12/2025

Citing a chapter in a volume in a multivolume work in APA style requires some basic elements. Each format of citation is slightly different depending on whether the volume within the series is itself titled or not. This piece explains the minimum elements to include and provides sample formatted examples and instructions for maintaining correct citation format.

CITING A CHAPTER IN A MULTIVOLUME WORK WITHOUT A VOLUME TITLE

For a chapter from a multivolume work that does not have a specific volume title, use the series title, volume number, and the relevant page numbers in the citation. Use the following specific format for convenience:

KEY CITATION ELEMENTS

• Chapter Author(s): Begin the citation with the chapter author(s). Which can be an individual or organization that is accountable for Start with the chapter author(s), which can be an individual or organization that is accountable for the chapter. Use individuals’ last name and initials, or the full name of the organization. Use commas to separate the names and an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name, in the same order that authors are listed in the source.
• Publication Year: As the authors, place the publication year in parentheses. Place a period immediately after the closing parenthesis.
• Chapter Title: Capitalize only the first word of the title, the first word following a colon or em dash, and proper nouns. Do not italicize the chapter title since it is part of a whole work, and place a period at the end.
• Editors: Begin the editors with the word “In,” and then add each editor’s initials and surnames. Add an ampersand (&) before the surname of the last editor if there are multiple editors. Add the abbreviation “(Ed.)” if there is one editor or “(Eds.)” if there are multiple editors, followed by a comma. This marker shows the editors’ involvement in the work being referenced.
• Series Title: The series title is the title of the overall work, indicating that the quoted chapter is part of a compilation. Italicize it to indicate that it is a grand work by itself.
• Edition Number: If the work is not in the first edition, give the edition number (e.g., “3rd ed.”) before the volume information. This should be placed in parentheses directly after the series title to denote specificity on the edition being utilized.
• Volume Information: After the edition, indicate the volume number in the same set of parentheses. This placement denotes that the citation is for a specific volume of a larger, multi-volume work.
• Page Range: Give the page range of the chapter, using the abbreviation “pp.” for clarity. Including page numbers allows readers to easily identify the exact chapter in the volume, and thus the exact source material.
• Publisher: Give the name of the publisher immediately after the volume and page information.
• DOI or URL: In case the chapter has a corresponding DOI, put it at the end of the citation. If no DOI is available but a stable URL is available, use the URL instead.

CITATION EXAMPLE FOR CHAPTER IN A MULTIVOLUME WORK WITHOUT A VOLUME TITLE

CITING A CHAPTER IN A MULTIVOLUME WORK WITH A VOLUME TITLE

If the volume in the series has an independent title, then both the series title and the volume title are to be included in the citation.

KEY CITATION ELEMENTS

• Chapter Author(s): Begin with the chapter author(s), which can be one individual or an organization that authored the chapter. Place single authors last name first, then initials, or the organization’s full name. Separate multiple authors with commas, with an ampersand (&) placed before the last author’s name. Place the authors in the order they appear in the source.
• Publication Year: After the authors, insert the publication year in parentheses with a period immediately following the closing parenthesis.
• Chapter Title: Capitalize the first word of the title, the first word following a colon or em dash, and proper nouns. Avoid italicizing the title of the chapter because it is part of a collective work and punctuate with a period.
• Editors: Begin with the word “In,” and then add each editor’s initials and last names. For several editors, use an ampersand (&) before the name of the last editor. Put the editors on the list and then add “(Ed.)” for a single editor or “(Eds.)” for several editors, followed by a comma to signify their contribution to the work being referenced.
• Series Title: Italicize the series title to highlight the significance of its being part of a collection.
• Volume Information: Following the edition number, place the volume number in the same set of parentheses. This indicates that the citation is pointing towards a specific volume of a multi-volume work.
• Volume Title: Following the series title, a colon, and italicize the volume title. Both titles should be sufficiently separated to reflect the specific work from the overall series.
• Edition Number: If the work is in any other edition than the first, place the edition number (e.g., “3rd ed.”) before the volume details. This can be placed in parentheses immediately following the series title to avoid confusion.
• Page Range: Use the abbreviation “pp.” to specify the page range of the chapter. This allows readers to locate the particular chapter in the volume so that the source material can be located exactly.
• Publisher: Place the name of the publisher right after the page and volume details.
• DOI or URL: If a chapter is given a DOI, put it at the end of the citation. Where there is no DOI, a stable URL can be used instead.

CITATION EXAMPLE FOR CHAPTER IN A MULTIVOLUME WORK WITH A VOLUME TITLE

Check the Editors’ Names: When citing multiple editors, verify the spelling of their names and their order in the citation. If an editor’s name is hyphenated, ensure it is formatted correctly. This attention to detail adds professionalism to your citation. Consistent Formatting: Make sure that all your formatting is consistent in your citation. This includes font size, style, and spacing. Ensure that the title of the series and volume is italicized, and the chapter title is in sentence case. Citing Edition Information: In case the work has had more than one edition, make sure that you cite the correct edition. Mention the number of the edition only when it is not the first to make things clear and prevent ambiguity. Provide URLs for Online Sources: When the chapter is available online, always include the DOI or a stable URL at the end of the reference. This ensures that readers can easily access the source material and adds credibility to your reference. Adhere to Sentence Case for Titles: When writing the chapter title and volume title, use sentence case, which means only the first word of the title, the first word after a colon or em dash, and any proper nouns should be capitalized. Avoid capitalizing every major word, as this is not in accordance with APA style guidelines. This approach ensures consistency and clarity in your citations.