How should edition information be indicated for standard reference works (such as a dictionary)?

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How should edition information be indicated for standard reference works (such as a dictionary)?

Edition information identifies exactly which version of a reference work you consulted, and the standard practice is to place that information in parentheses immediately after the title. For a dictionary, for example, you would cite it as Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed. 2003). The edition number, often combined with the year, is kept with the title so readers can distinguish between editions that may include different entries or wording. Putting edition details after the publisher or in brackets would blur or obscure that identification, and omitting edition details ignores important changes between editions.

Edition information identifies exactly which version of a reference work you consulted, and the standard practice is to place that information in parentheses immediately after the title. For a dictionary, for example, you would cite it as Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed. 2003). The edition number, often combined with the year, is kept with the title so readers can distinguish between editions that may include different entries or wording. Putting edition details after the publisher or in brackets would blur or obscure that identification, and omitting edition details ignores important changes between editions.

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