General principles for books

Always include the publisher and place of publication (i.e. town or city). It is usually unnecessary to include a state or country, unless there is potential for confusion between cities with the same name:

… Publisher, Bendigo.

… Publisher, Cleveland, Queensland.

… Publisher, Cleveland, Ohio.

… Publisher, Melbourne.

… Publisher, Rome.

… Publisher, New York.

… Publisher, Boca Raton.

For an international audience, it might be appropriate to include the country. Omit the that precedes the names of some countries in running text:

… Publisher, United Kingdom   not   … Publisher, the United Kingdom
… Publisher, Netherlands   not   … Publisher, the Netherlands

An exception is the city The Hague – retain The with a capital T.

Some publications – often those published by international organisations with offices in several countries – do not include a place of publication. For these, either include the location of the head office of the publisher, or omit the place of publication:

Plan International (2011). Because I am a girl: the state of the world’s girls 2011. So, what about boys? Plan International.

It is not usually necessary to include the total number of pages in a book in the reference list. Particular pages for the reference may be listed, if required.

Book by individual(s)

This is a diagram illustrating the format of the example reference shown below of a book by individual authors.

Smith AB (1991). Chromatography in chemical analysis, University of Melbourne Press, Melbourne.

Book by individual(s), other than first edition

Smith AB & Brown PL (1991). Chromatography in chemical analysis, 2nd edn, University of Melbourne Press, Melbourne.

Book by corporate author(s)

This is a diagram illustrating the format of the example reference shown below of a book by corporate authors.

If the author is also the publisher and the author name is abbreviated, use the abbreviated form for the publisher:

NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) (2012). Staying healthy: preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services, 5th edn, NHMRC, Canberra.

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) & FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2016), OECD-FAO agricultural outlook 2016–2025, OECD Publishing, Paris.

Edited book

This is a diagram illustrating the format of the example reference shown below of an edited book.

Jones JG & Brown FA (eds) (1991). A modern approach to chemical analysis, Oxford University Press, London.

Chapter in an edited book

This is a diagram illustrating the format of the example reference shown below of a chapter in an edited book.

Brownlow PG & Jones TO (1991). A new method for detecting organophosphorus pesticide residues. In: Smith AB (ed), Chromatography in chemical analysis, University of Melbourne Press, Melbourne, 121–129.

Book in a multivolume series

List the series name first, followed by the volume number of the book title and then the book title.

Wilson A (ed) (2009). Flora of Australia, vol 44A, Poaceae I, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, & CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.

Book other than first edition in a multivolume series

Orchard AE (ed) (1999). Flora of Australia, vol 1, Introduction, 2nd edn, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, & CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.

Chapter in a book in a multivolume series

Hill RS, Truswell EM, McLoughlin S & Dettmann ME (1999). The evolution of the Australian flora: fossil evidence. In: Orchard AE (ed), Flora of Australia, vol 1, Introduction, 2nd edn, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, & CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, 251–320.

Chapter in a book that is part of a series, with series number

White WT & Last PR (2008). Description of two new species of gummy sharks, genus Mustelus (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae), from Australian waters. In: Last PR, White WT & Pogonoski JJ (eds), Descriptions of new Australian chondrichthyans, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, paper 22, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Canberra, 189–202.

Book with no author or editor (e.g. encyclopedia, dictionary)

The entry starts with the title, and is included in alphabetical order in the reference list:

Macquarie dictionary, 6th edn (2013). The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, Sydney.

Text citation: (Macquarie dictionary 2013).