6

So, I am trying to cite a book in the References section of my paper, and the publication information on the book cover is really confusing, which is as follows:

AN INTRODUCTION TO WITTGENSTEIN'S TRACTATUS

Copyright(c) G.E.M. Anscombe 1959
Printed in the United States of America

This book was originally published in 1959 in the Philosophy division, edited by Professor H. J. Paton, of the Hutchinson University Library, with a second edition, revised, in 1963. It is here reprinted by arrangement.

First Harper Torchbook edition published 1965 by
Harper & Row, Publishers, Incorporated
49 East 33rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10016

How should I cite this book? (say, in Harvard style).

3
  • What is the Harvard style for a reference? And why do you think this will not fit?
    – Solar Mike
    Commented Mar 7, 2020 at 21:07
  • 1
    Okay, forget about the Harvard style. Regardless of the style, what's exactly the year of publication of this book? 1959? 1963? 1965? and What's the name of the publisher? Harper & Row, Publishers, Incorporated <--- this whole thing?
    – SoSoSo
    Commented Mar 7, 2020 at 21:09
  • 2
    You reference the book you are using, not any one of 50 previous prints.
    – Solar Mike
    Commented Mar 7, 2020 at 22:19

1 Answer 1

1

Great question!

Among other challenges, citing this book is not easy because it is part of a series, and the publisher's name is very similar to the series name.

  • Publisher: Hutchinson & Co.

  • Series: Hutchinson University Library (Philosophy)

  • Series editor: H. J. Paton

I prefer the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (2017) (hereafter, Chicago), Notes and Bibliography format. I consulted Chicago to write the citations below.

I would cite the book in a note (footnote) like this:

G. E. M. Anscombe, An Introduction to Wittgenstein's Tractatus, 2nd ed. (1963; repr., New York: Harper & Row, 1965), 27–29. Citations refer to the 1965 Harper & Row reprint.

If I were to cite the book a second time, I would use a shortened citation ("short form") like this:

Anscombe, Introduction to Wittgenstein's Tractatus, 34.

In the bibliography I would cite the book like this:

Anscombe, G. E. M. [Gertrude Elizabeth Margaret]. An Introduction to Wittgenstein's Tractatus. 2nd ed., repr. New York: Harper & Row, 1965. First published 1963 by Hutchinson (London). Page references are to the 1965 Harper & Row reprint.

Notes

  • Professor Anscombe preferred initials instead of her lengthy given name, but since her full name appears occasionally, I chose to provide it in the bibliography.

  • I made up the page numbers for the note citations.

  • The names of both publishers are not required for the note, but should be included in the bibliography.

  • Chicago states that "2nd ed." is enough, i.e., "rev." (revised) is not necessary because most readers assume that a 2nd edition includes revisions.

  • Chicago advises against citing the series name and editor in most instances.

Sources consulted

  • AbeBooks.com

  • Google Books

  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

  • The Chicago Manual of Style Online

  • WorldCat.org

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .