How Can I Cite The Summa Theologica Kindle In Academic Papers?

I tend to be methodical about citations, and with a work like 'Summa Theologica' that’s a mix of medieval structure and modern ebook quirks, that helps a lot. The guiding principle I follow is: give enough bibliographic data to identify the edition you used, and give canonical references so others can find the passage regardless of page layout. Kindle pages shift, but the Part/Question/Article numbering doesn’t.

Here’s a pattern I use and recommend you adapt to your style manual: Author, 'Title,' translated/edited by, edition information (Kindle edition), Publisher, Year, and then the canonical reference (Part/Quest./Art.). For example, in a paper using Chicago author-date I might put: Aquinas, Thomas. 1920. 'Summa Theologica.' Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Kindle edition. [Publisher]. Then in-text: (Aquinas 1920, II-II, q. 57, a. 2). If your Kindle lacks an explicit translator or publisher line, copy exactly what your Kindle shows and add the ASIN or the URL to the publisher page if available.

If you work with Latin texts or need the Leonine Opera reference for a critical edition, cite that edition for critical claims and use the Kindle translation for readability. Also, cite the original publication date (1274) somewhere if your style or instructor cares about historical context. Finally, double-check your department’s style sheet — some professors want the Kindle location or the print-page equivalent, while others welcome canonical citations alone. I usually include both to be safe.

I get a little excited whenever someone asks about citing something as huge and oddly formatted as 'Summa Theologica' on a Kindle — it’s one of those texts where format rules and historical practice collide. First thing I do is check the Kindle metadata: who’s listed as translator, editor, publisher, and the publication year. Those details are what you’ll plug into whichever style guide you’re using. For many instructors and journals, the most important thing is precision: because Kindle page numbers are unreliable, you should cite the work’s internal divisions (Part/Question/Article) — for example, I’ll cite something like Part II-II, q. 57, a. 2 rather than a page number.

If you want concrete templates, here’s how I format it in three common styles (replace translator/publisher/year/ASIN with the info from your copy):

- MLA: Aquinas, Thomas. 'Summa Theologica.' Translated by [Translator Name], Kindle ed., [Publisher], [Year].
- APA (7th): Aquinas, T. (1920). 'Summa Theologica' (T. Translator, Trans.) [Kindle edition]. [Publisher]. (Original work published 1274). In-text I then write (Aquinas, 1920/1274, II-II, q. 57, a. 2).
- Chicago (notes/bibliography): Thomas Aquinas, 'Summa Theologica,' trans. [Translator] (Kindle ed.; [Place if given]: [Publisher], [Year]), Part II-II, q. 57, a. 2.

Two other practical tips I always follow: 1) If your Kindle shows an ASIN or a stable URL, include it at the end if your style guide allows electronic identifiers. 2) When in doubt, include both the translation/publication details and the canonical section markers (Part/Question/Article) so readers can find the passage in any edition. I usually drop a short note to my instructor if they want page numbers from a print edition instead — saves headaches later.

Okay, quick and practical: I always cite 'Summa Theologica' on Kindle by combining the Kindle edition’s metadata with the work’s internal numbering. So I’ll put the translator and publisher info straight from my Kindle, note it’s a Kindle edition, and then add the Part/Question/Article (for example, Part I, q. 2, a. 3) instead of page numbers. In-text I’ll reference the translator/date plus the canonical markers, like (Aquinas, trans. 1920, I, q. 2, a. 3). If your professor insists on page or location, add the Kindle location or the ASIN at the end of the citation. If you need to be extra scholarly, cite the Latin Leonine edition for textual-critical work and the Kindle translation for readability — I do that when I’m juggling original-language citations and accessible quotes. Also, use your reference manager to store the Kindle’s ASIN or URL so you don’t have to hunt it down later.