How do I deal with book citations without an editor?

When citing a book without an editor, omit the editor element entirely and proceed directly to the book title, followed by the publisher and publication year. This approach is standard practice in major academic citation styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago. The key principle is to accurately reflect the work's authorship structure. Only omit the editor field when no individual or group is listed as performing an editorial role for the entire work. Carefully verify the book's title page and copyright page to confirm the absence of an editor. Note that translators, compilers of anthologies where chapters have specific authors, or authors functioning as editors of their own work generally require different handling. Always refer to the specific style guide (e.g., APA, MLA) for precise formatting rules, including italics and punctuation. To implement this, structure the citation starting with the author(s), followed by the publication year in parentheses, the italicized book title, and finally the publisher. For example: * **APA:** Author, A. A. (Year). *Title of book*. Publisher. * **MLA:** Author, First Name. *Title of Book*. Publisher, Year. This method ensures bibliographic clarity when referencing authored monographs rather than edited collections.