Textbooks are a comprehensive means of research. They are usually a very credible source as they are edited and reviewed many times before publication. However, as the field of medicine is developing and changing very rapidly, it is important to check the year of a textbook’s publication to avoid using out-of-date information.
We will use the section ‘Neuron Function’ in ‘Lumb and Jones’ Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia’ textbook to show how to reference a textbook. Note that this textbook lists its editors, which you would use in place of its authors. You include the abbreviation (eds) after their names to indicate this.
In-text citations
In-text citation order for textbooks is different from that of websites and journals. This textbook has three editors. If there were more than three, we would write “Tranquilli et al.” to avoid listing numerous authors. When there are up to three, we list them all.
Additionally, page numbers should be included. Using ‘Neuron Function’ from Lumb & Jones’ as an example, the following is how you would reference using in-text citations:
As described by Tranquilli, Thurmon & Grimm (2007, p.164), nerve impulses are electrochemical currents that pass along the axon to the presynaptic membrane.
Neuroregulators play a key role in communication among nerve cells (Tranquilli, Thurmon & Grimm, 2007, p.164).
Reference list
The order for referencing a textbook is as follows:
surname, initial, (year of publication) Title of textbook, edition, publisher, place of publication, pp. page numbers.
So, using this textbook as an example, the l.isting would be as follows: <,/em/p>
Tranquilli, W., Thurmon, J. & Grimm, K. (eds) (2007) Lumb & Jones’ Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, 4th ed, Wiley-Blackwell, Iowa, USA, pp.164.