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How to Cite a Glossary

Citations acknowledge works used as reference in writing. Two governing bodies set the standards for citations, the Modern Language Association and American Psychological Association. The MLA guidelines usually apply to humanities text, as when referencing a work for a literature paper, and APA guidelines apply to text concerning a physical science, such as physics. Glossaries provide context for terms as they are used in an author's work, and citing them properly requires notation indicating a glossary was used.

Instructions

  1. MLA

    • 1

      Write the name of the author of the book containing the glossary in last-name-first format separated by a comma. If the book has two or three authors, write the first author's name in last-name-first format and subsequent names in first-name last-name format. For instance, if the author of your book is David J. Griffiths, your citation will read, "Griffiths, David J." Place a space after the author's name.

    • 2

      Type "Glossary." Ex: Griffiths, David J. Glossary. Place a space after "Glossary."

    • 3

      Type the name of the book containing the glossary, underline or italicize it, and place a period at the end. Again, if using the aforementioned example, type, "Griffiths, David J. Glossary. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics." Place a space after the name of the book.

    • 4

      Write the edition number, name or year after the title if the book has one. For example, write, "Griffiths, David J. Glossary. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. 2nd ed."

    • 5

      Predicate the author of the glossary with "By." Ex: Griffiths, David J. Glossary. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. 2nd ed. By Griffiths. If the glossary was written by a different author, write her name using first-name last-name format, as in, "By Emma Griffiths."

    • 6

      Type "Ed.' Followed by the name of the editor, if available. Place a period after the editor's name. Ex: Griffiths, David J. Glossary. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. 2nd ed. By Griffiths. Ed. Paul Specter. Type a space after the editor's name.

    • 7

      Write the city of the publication followed by a colon. Ex: Griffiths, David J. Glossary. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. 2nd ed. By Griffiths. Ed. Paul Specter. Chicago: Place a space after the city.

    • 8

      Type the name of the publisher and year of publication, separated by a comma, and punctuate it with a period. Ex: Griffiths, David J. Glossary. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. 2nd ed. By Griffiths. Ed. Paul Specter. Chicago: Addison-Wesley, 2004. Insert a space after the publisher.

    • 9

      Type the page range of the glossary as they appear in the book. Ex: Griffiths, David J. Glossary. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. 2nd ed. By Griffiths. Ed. Paul Specter. Chicago: Addison-Wesley, 2004. 460-71. Write "Print." after the page range followed by a space.

    • 10

      Type the last name of the author and the page you used from the glossary in parenthesis following the text it was used in. For example, "A quark is a fundamental component of matter (Griffiths 470)."

    APA

    • 11

      Type the name of the editor using last-name first format and punctuate it with a period. Ex: Specter, Paul.

    • 12

      Type "Ed." in parentheses, followed by a period and the publication year in parentheses. Ex: Specter, Paul. (Ed.). (2004). Punctuate with a period and insert a space.

    • 13

      Write the name of the book and underline it. Ex: Specter, Paul. (Ed.). (2004). Introduction to Quantum Mechanics.

    • 14

      Type the publication city and punctuate it with a colon. Ex: Specter, Paul. (Ed.). (2004). Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. Chicago: Addison-Wesley.

    • 15

      Type the name of the author followed by the year of publication for the in-text citation. Ex: (Griffiths, 2004)

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Nonfiction

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