Prefaces, Forewords, & Introductions
MLA:
Hunter, J. Paul. Introduction. Frankenstein. By Mary Shelley. New York: Norton, 1996.
[author of introduction.] [section name.] [title.] [By author of main work.] [city: publisher, year.]
vii-xii.
[page numbers.]APA:
Hunter, J. P. (1996). Introduction. In M. Shelley, Frankenstein (pp. vii-xii).
[author of introduction.] [(year).] [section name.] [In author of main work,] [title (page numbers).]
New York: Norton.
[city: publisher.]Chicago:
6. Hunter, “Introduction to Frankenstein,” x.
[fn. #.] [author last name, “shortened title,” page quoted.]
[Shortened Chicago reference; see More Notes on Chicago Style for more information.]
Sometimes the material you cite will not be from the main body of the book, but from a preface, foreword, or introduction written by a different author. The principle is to list the source by the name of the writer whose work you’re citing. For instance, when quoting from a preface, list by the preface’s author, followed by the word “Preface.” Then list the book title, the book’s author, and the rest of the publication information.
Note: When citing a book section (such as a preface or introduction) that is not by the primary author, give the first and last page numbers for the section at the end of your listing (in this example “vii-xii”).
Back to Sources index | Back to How to Cite Books index