In MLA (Modern Language Association) style, citing an essay in a book is similar to citing a chapter in a book. The basic format is as follows:
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Essay." Title of Book, edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, page range of essay.
Here is an example of how to cite an essay in a book in MLA style:
Smith, John. "The Benefits of Exercise." The Health Handbook, edited by Jane Doe and John Doe, ABC Publishers, 2018, pp. 123-134.
If the book is a collection of essays edited by one or more editors, you will also need to include the names of the editor(s) in your citation. The format for citing an essay in a book edited by one or more editors is as follows:
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Essay." Title of Book, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, page range of essay.
For example:
Jones, Mary. "The Importance of Sleep." The Sleep Revolution, edited by Arianna Huffington, XYZ Press, 2016, pp. 45-53.
If you are using in-text citations, you will also need to include the page number(s) of the essay in your citation. For example:
According to Smith (123), exercise has numerous health benefits.
If you are citing an essay that has been republished in a different collection or anthology, you will need to include the original publication information in addition to the information about the republished edition. The format for citing an essay that has been republished is as follows:
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Essay." Title of Book, edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, page range of essay. Reprinted in Title of Collection, edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, page range of essay.
For example:
Brown, Jane. "The History of the Internet." The Tech Handbook, edited by Jack Smith and Sarah Johnson, DEF Publishers, 2015, pp. 78-88. Reprinted in The Best of Technology Writing, edited by Mark Williams and Rachel Davis, GHI Press, 2018, pp. 234-244.
It is important to accurately cite the sources you use in your research and writing, not only to give credit to the original authors, but also to help your readers locate the sources you have used. Following the guidelines for citing sources in MLA style will help you to avoid plagiarism and ensure that your work is properly cited.