• 2-minute read
• 4th August 2019

How to Cite an Ebook in IEEE Referencing

Being able to download an entire library onto a single device is very useful for students and researchers. And this makes it important to know how to cite an ebook in IEEE referencing. In this post, then, we’ll look at both in-text citations and the reference list entry for an ebook in IEEE.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations in IEEE referencing are indicated with numbers in brackets. Each number points to a source in the reference list, which is where you give full publication information. For example, we would cite the first source referenced in a document like this:

It would be difficult to stun a shark with conventional equipment [1].

This would then point to the first source in the reference list. And to cite the same ebook again later, we would simply use the same number as in the first citation. The main variations on this basic citation system occur when:

• You have already named the author in the text, when you would give the citation immediately after the name rather than at the end of the sentence.
• Quoting a source directly, which requires you to include page numbers.

You can see more on how to format in-text citations in our overview of the IEEE referencing system. The most important thing, though, is that the numbers in your in-text citations match the position of the relevant sources in the reference list at the end of your document.

Adding an Ebook to an IEEE Reference List

In an IEEE reference list, treat an ebook similarly to a print book. The only difference is the need to indicate where it can be accessed online.

The correct format for an ebook in IEEE referencing is therefore:

[#] INITIAL(S) Surname, Book Title, edition (if not first edition). City of Publication: Publisher, year. Accessed: Date of Access. [Online] Available: URL

In practice, then, the reference list entry for an ebook would look like this:

[1] R. Schneider, A Bigger Boat: Innovations in Electrofishing. Oak Bluffs, MA: Vineyard Publications, 2005. Accessed: 5 April 2020. [Online] Available: http://www.electrofishing.com/resources/schneider-bigger-boat.html

Don’t forget to include a small hanging indent for each line after the first. And if you’d like any help checking the referencing in your work, or simply making sure a document is error free, we’re always here to help.