Citing a PDF file is as simple as citing any other electronic source, the only exception is that you have to indicate the fact that it is indeed a PDF. Generally, PDF files are eBooks or online periodical articles. To cite a PDF correctly, you need to know how to cite an eBook or an article from an online periodical according to the style of the method you are using.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Section 1: PDF eBook in the MLA Style
Step 1. Write the author's name
The author's name must be written in the format surname, first name, followed by a period.
Smith, John
Step 2. Write the title of the book
The title of the book must be written in italics. End with a period.
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel
Step 3. Indicate the place of publication of the original text, the publisher and the year of publication
The place of publication should include city and state, unless the city is well known. Place of publication and publisher must be separated by colons, while a comma must separate publisher and year of publication.
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel. London: Great Publishing House, 2010
Step 4. Include electronic publication information if it differs from the original information
The electronic version information includes the title of the website where the eBook can be found, which should be written in italics, and the date of publication on the website.
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel. London: Great Publishing House, 2010. Google Books, 2011
Step 5. Specify that the book is in PDF format
In the MLA style, you must always specify the publication medium. Here, to specify the medium you can write "PDF" or "PDF file".
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel. London: Great Publishing House, 2010. Google Books, 2011. PDF
Step 6. Specify the login date
The login date should include day, month and year. This is the date you first accessed the material.
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel. London: Great Publishing House, 2010. Google Books, 2011. PDF. 1 December 2012
Method 2 of 6: Section 2: PDF Article in the MLA Style
Step 1. Write the author's name
The author should be written in the format surname, first name and followed by a period.
Doe, Jane
Step 2. Write the title of the article
The title of the article goes in quotation marks and is followed by a period.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article."
Step 3. Include the name of the digital publication
The publication could be an online periodical or an eBook, but it could also be the name of a website. Whatever digital source you took the article from, simply write the title. The title must be written in italics.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." Online Journal of Citation Information
Step 4. Write the number for the topic
If you took the PDF file from a digital periodical, it likely has a number related to the topic. First the volume is indicated, followed by a period, which is immediately followed by the number relating to the topic.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." Online Journal of Citation Information. 4.7
Step 5. Continue with the publisher information
This is the name of the publisher, and the year of publication. If the article is taken from an online periodical with an issue relating to the subject, the publisher is omitted, but the year of publication must still be specified.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." Online Journal of Citation Information. 4.7 (2006):
Step 6. Specify page numbers, if available
The page numbers on which the article is located should be specified in case the PDF is taken from a larger numbered publication.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." Online Journal of Citation Information. 4.7 (2006): 82-5
Step 7. Indicate that the article is a PDF file
You can use the term "PDF file" or simply "PDF."
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." Online Journal of Citation Information. 4.7 (2006): 82-5. PDF
Step 8. Write the article access date
The date should include day, month and year.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." Online Journal of Citation Information. 4.7 (2006): 82-5. PDF. November 20, 2012
Method 3 of 6: Section 3: APA Style PDF eBooks
Step 1. Write the author name and publication date
The author's name should include the surname and initial of the author's first or first and middle names. The publication date consists of the year only and goes in parentheses.
Smith, J. (2010)
Step 2. Write the title of the book
The title of the book is in italics. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word.
Smith, J. (2011). The fantastic novel
Step 3. Indicate that the eBook is a PDF file
Add the words “PDF File” in square brackets after the title. End with a period.
Smith, J. (2011). The fantastic novel [PDF file]
Step 4. Add the URL on which the eBook is available
If the eBook is available in print, but you have not been able to access that format, specify it using the expression "Available on." If the book is only available online, specify it using the phrase "Taken from."
Smith, J. (2011). The fantastic novel [PDF file]. Available at
Method 4 of 6: Section 4: APA Style PDF Article
Step 1. Specify the author name and publication date
Write the surname and initial of the author's name. The year of publication should follow the name and be written in parentheses.
Doe, J. (2006)
Step 2. Write the title of the article
The title of the article must not be in quotes or in italics. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word.
Doe, J. (2006). Interesting citation article
Step 3. Specify that the article is a PDF file
Include the words “PDF File” in square brackets after the article title. End with a period.
Doe, J. (2006). Interesting citation article [PDF file]
Step 4. Write the title of the periodical or publication along with the page numbers
Each piece of information should be separated by a comma and the title of the periodical and the volume information should be in italics. The topic number should be written in brackets after the volume number. Page numbers must be followed by a period.
Doe, J. (2006). Interesting citation article [PDF file]. Online Journal of Citation Information, 4 (7), 82-5
Step 5. Indicate where you got the article from or where it is available
If you can access the article online in PDF format, use "Taken from." If it can only be printed, use "Available on."
Doe, J. (2006). Interesting citation article [PDF file]. Online Journal of Citation Information, 4 (7), 82-5. Taken from
Method 5 of 6: Section 5: Chicago Style PDF eBook
Step 1. Specify the author name
The name should be in the format surname, first name and followed by a period.
Smith, John
Step 2. Write the title of the eBook
The title is italicized and followed by a period.
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel
Step 3. Specify that the eBook is a PDF file
After the title of the eBook, indicate that it is a PDF by writing the words "PDF File", followed by a period.
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel. PDF file
Step 4. Continue with the publisher information
Publisher information should include, if available, the city where the book was originally published in print, along with the publisher's name. These two pieces of information must be separated with a colon. After the name of the publisher, put a comma and write the year of publication.
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel. PDF file. London: Great Publishing House, 2010
Step 5. Include the login date and URL
Smith, John. The Fantastic Novel. PDF file. London: Great Publishing House, 2010. Accessed December 1, 2012,
Method 6 of 6: Section 6: Chicago Style PDF Article
Step 1. Write the author's name
The author's name must include the full name, not the initials, and should follow the standard surname, first name format.
Doe, Jane
Step 2. Write the title of the article
The name of the article goes in parentheses and the first letter of each word must be capitalized.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article."
Step 3. Specify that the article is a PDF file
Immediately after the title, write "PDF File" followed by a period to indicate that the article is in PDF format.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." PDF file
Step 4. Add the name and information of the publisher of the periodical or publication
The title of the periodical or source is in italics, followed by the volume number not in italics. Put a comma after the volume number and introduce the topic number with the abbreviation "no." Next, write the year of publication and the page numbers, with the year in parentheses separated from the page numbers with a colon.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." PDF file. Online Journal of Citation Information 4, no. 7 (2006): 82-5
Step 5. Add the login date
Enter the login date by writing "Login" after the page numbers.
Doe, Jane. "Interesting Citation Article." File PDF. Online Journal of Citation Information 4, no. 7 (2006): 82-5. Accessed Nov 20, 2012
Step 6. Conclude with the URL
End with a period.
