When citing an edited book, how should the reference be formatted?

When citing an edited book, the correct format includes the editor's last name followed by their initials, indicating their role as editor with the designation "(Ed.)", the year of publication in parentheses, the title of the work in italics, and the name of the publisher. This format ensures that readers can easily identify who edited the book, which is essential since edited volumes may contain contributions from multiple authors.

The inclusion of the year right after the editor's details clarifies when the book was published, and the title in italics helps distinguish it as a standalone work. Detailed citation guidelines like these help uphold the consistency and credibility of academic writing, making it easy for readers to locate the source.

While other choices may include elements of the correct format, they lack important components such as the placement of the year or the use of proper punctuation and italicization. For example, the absence of the year in some options or incorrect ordering of elements would not meet APA standards effectively. Therefore, the chosen format is the most accurate representation for citing an edited book according to APA style.