How to Cite a Kindle E-Book Reader in APA, MLA, or Chicago
The citation for an e-book is the same regardless of which type of e-reader is used to read the e-book. However, we recommend the following rules if you’d like to include information about your specific e-reader in your citation.
MLA
In MLA, it is not necessary to include the name of the e-reader used, and instead, you will specify that the version you accessed is the e-book edition in the version element of the citation. If you are accessing the e-book on a website, the URL can be included at the end of the citation. Page numbers can be omitted in both the in-text citation and full reference, but if needed for clarity, the chapter number can be included in the citation in prose.
Example:
(Rowling) or (Rowling, ch. 3)
Note that a comma should be included before the chapter number in the citation in prose, unlike the page number in typical MLA citations in prose.
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. E-book ed., Pottermore Publishing, 2015.
APA
For APA, cite the source as you would a regular book but add the DOI number or URL at the end (if applicable). If you need to include the specific text location in the in-text citation, you can include the chapter number if no page numbers are available.
Example:
(Rowling, 2015) or (Rowling, 2015, Chapter 3)
Rowling, J. K. (2015). Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets. Pottermore Publishing. https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Chamber-Secrets-Rowling-ebook/dp/B0192CTMW8
Chicago
For Chicago style, you will cite the source as a book and add the e-reader type or URL at the end of the reference. In the in-text citation, include the chapter number if page numbers are not available.
Author-Date Example:
(Rowling 2015, chap. 3)
Rowling, J. K. 2015. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Pottermore Publishing. Kindle.
Notes-Bibliography Example:
1. J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (New York: Pottermore Publishing, 2015), chap. 3, Kindle.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Pottermore Publishing, 2015. Kindle.
You can modify the citation on EasyBib by clicking Edit, and then clicking the custom edit link.
Updated July 19, 2022.
- What are some tips for citing an e-book in MLA format?
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To cite an e-book, you will need to have basic information including the book’s author or editor, publication year, title, and publisher. The templates and examples for in-text citations and works cited list entries for e-books are provided below:
In-text citation template and example:
In parenthetical citations, use the author’s surname.
Parenthetical:
(Author Surname)
(Glaude)
Citation in prose:
Author Surname…
According to Glaude…
Works cited list entry template and example:
Template:
Author’s Surname, First Name. Title of the Book. E-Book ed., Publisher, Publication Date.
Example:
Glaude, Eddie. Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own. E-Book ed., Crown, 2020.
Use “E-Book ed.” after the title of the book to indicate that you are referencing the e-book edition of the book.
- How do I cite a Kindle book without page numbers in MLA and APA?
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To cite a Kindle book without page numbers in APA and MLA styles, it is important that you know basic information such as the name of the author, title of the book, publisher name, and publication date. For in-text citations, the page number should simply be omitted. However, if needed, the chapter number can be added to the in-text citation if you need to reference a specific part of the text. The below examples show how to cite a Kindle book without page numbers in your full reference or works cited entries, as well as in-text citations.
APA
Template:
(Surname, Publication Year) or (Surname, Publication Year, Chapter #)
Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Title of the book. Publisher. URL
Example:
(Tagore, 2011) or (Tagore, 2011, Chapter 1)
Tagore, R. (2011). Stories from Tagore. Amazon. https://www.amazon.in/Stories-Tagore-Rabindranath-ebook/dp/B004TPO5JE/ref=sr_1_4?brr=1&dchild=1&qid=1632501986&rd=1&s=digital-text&sr=1-4
MLA
Template:
(Surname) or (Surname, ch. #)
Surname, First Name. Title of the Book. E-book ed., Publisher, publication date.
Example:
(Tagore) or (Tagore, ch. 1)
Tagore, Rabindranath. Stories from Tagore. E-book ed., Amazon, 2011.