How to Cite a Preface in MLA
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Citing the preface of a book is similar to citing a chapter of a book in MLA format.
Works Cited Structure
Author Last Name, First Name. Preface.* Book Title, by book author First Name Last Name, Publisher, year published, page numbers.
*Note: If a preface has a chapter title/name, use the preface title in quotation marks instead.
Works Cited Example
Masur, Louis P. Preface. The Civil War: A Concise History, by Daniel Chan, Oxford UP, 2011, pp. ix-xii.
In-text Citation Structure
(Author Last Name page #)
In-text Citation Example
(Masur xi)
Cite a preface with this form.
Published May 9, 2019. Updated July 11, 2021.