Do I cite the chapter author or the book editor?

Always cite the chapter author first. The editor is identified separately to show the book structure.

Should I include the full page range of the chapter?

Yes, in the reference list include the complete chapter page range. In-text citations use specific pages where you found information.

What if the chapter is by the same person who edited the book?

Cite as usual with the author name, then note 'ed.' to indicate they also edited the collection.

How to Cite a Book Chapter in Harvard Style

Book chapters in edited collections are important sources that require attention to both chapter and book-level details. Harvard style distinguishes between the chapter author and book editor, ensuring clear source identification. This guide covers chapter citations with examples for various scenarios.

Basic Format

In-Text Citation

(Author Year, p. page)
(Martinez 2024, p. 156)

Reference List Format

Chapter Author, A.A. (Year) 'Chapter title', in Book Title, ed. E. Editor. Place: Publisher, pp. page range.

Example:

Martinez, J. (2024) 'Leadership in remote workplaces', in Managing Modern Organizations, ed. R. Williams. New York: Business Press, pp. 145-172.

Chapter Citation Details

Author and Title

Cite the chapter author (not editor) with the chapter title in single quotation marks:

Martinez, J. (2024) 'Leadership in remote workplaces'

Book Title and Editor

Include “in Book Title, ed. Editor Name”:

in Managing Modern Organizations, ed. R. Williams

Page Range

Include full chapter page range:

pp. 145-172

Multiple Chapter Authors

Two Authors

In-text:

(Martinez and Chen 2024, p. 156)

Reference list:

Martinez, J. and Chen, M. (2024) 'Leadership in remote workplaces', in Managing Modern Organizations, ed. R. Williams. New York: Business Press, pp. 145-172.

Three or More Authors

In-text:

(Martinez et al. 2024, p. 156)

Multiple Book Editors

Martinez, J. (2024) 'Chapter title', in Book Title, ed. R. Williams and E. Thompson. Place: Publisher, pp. 145-172.

Translated Chapters

Include translator information:

Original Author, A. (Year) 'Chapter title', translated by Translator Name, in Book Title, ed. Editor. Place: Publisher, pp. page range.

E-Books and Online Chapters

Add URL or availability information:

Martinez, J. (2024) 'Leadership in remote workplaces', in Managing Modern Organizations, ed. R. Williams. New York: Business Press, pp. 145-172. Available at: https://example.com/chapter (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

Step-by-Step Process

Identify chapter author and title
Find book title, editor(s), and publication details
Collect complete chapter page range
Note specific pages for quotations
Format with chapter title in quotes, book title italicized
Include editor name after “ed.”
Verify all author and publication information
Place in reference list in alphabetical order

Common Mistakes

Citing the editor instead of chapter author
Omitting quotation marks around chapter title
Forgetting to italicize the book title
Omitting the full chapter page range
Inconsistent editor name formatting
Missing “ed.” before editor name

Practice Examples

Example 1: Standard Chapter

In-text: (Morrison 2024, p. 234)

Reference: Morrison, J. (2024) 'Digital marketing strategies', in Modern Business Practices, ed. T. Hughes. Boston: Business Press, pp. 225-245.

Example 2: Multiple Chapter Authors

In-text: (Chen, Park and Williams 2024, p. 189)

Reference: Chen, S., Park, M. and Williams, R. (2024) 'Climate change mitigation', in Environmental Policy and Practice, ed. J. Williams. London: Academic Press, pp. 178-205.

Example 3: Multiple Editors

Reference: Johnson, S. (2024) 'Global trade policy', in International Economics, ed. M. Thompson and P. Lee. London: Academic Press, pp. 220-245.

Mastering Chapter Citations

Chapter citations acknowledge the specific author’s contribution while recognizing the broader work. These citations help readers locate precise information within edited collections. With these Harvard guidelines, your chapter citations will meet academic standards and enable proper source verification.

Use our citation generator to verify chapter citations and explore our guides for other source types.