How should books be cited in APA format?

The correct choice for citing books in APA format includes specific details that align with the guidelines outlined in the APA Publication Manual. In this format, the author's last name and initials are followed by the year of publication in parentheses. The title of the work is italicized and is presented in sentence case, meaning that only the first word of the title, the first word of the subtitle, and any proper nouns are capitalized. Finally, the publisher's name is included at the end of the citation.

This choice correctly highlights the importance of these elements: it specifies that the title should have a capital letter for the first word and proper formatting for subtitles, which is a key detail that distinguishes it from other options. The inclusion of the publisher name at the end aligns with APA guidelines, making this citation complete and professional.

Using this format ensures the citation is clear and easily understood, which is essential for readers to locate the source efficiently.