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How to properly cite your resources!
Grades 9th-12th

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B. VI. 2.

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Why is it important to give credit to sources in our research projects?

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What are the different forms or methods of citation?

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A citation style is a set of rules on how to cite sources in academic writing. Whenever you refer to someone else's work, a citation is required to avoid plagiarism.

Citation style guidelines are often published in an official handbook containing explanations, examples, and instructions. The most common citation styles include:

However, there are many other widely used styles. In this guide, we will cover all the main citation styles used by universities and journals.

If you are following MLA or APA style, you can use the free citation generator to easily create your citations.

MLA Citation Generator APA Citation Generator

Differences between citation styles

Different citation styles have different rules for in-text citations, reference list entries, and (sometimes) the formatting of your paper. The differences can be very subtle, so it's important to carefully check the rules of the style you are using.

Types of in-text citation

When you refer to a source (for example, by quoting or paraphrasing), you have to add a brief citation in the text. There are three main types of citation:

Parenthetical citation: You put the source reference in parentheses directly in your text. This usually includes the author's last name along with the publication date and/or the page number.

Note citation: You put the source reference in a footnote or endnote.

Numeric citation: You number each of your sources in the reference list and use the correct number when you want to cite a source.

Below is an overview of the systems used in the most common citation styles.

Citation style

Disciplines

Type of citation

Reference list entries

At the end of your paper, you include a list of all the sources you cited. Each entry on the list corresponds to an in-text citation, and gives the reader full publication information to easily find the source.

Citation styles differ in the naming of this list: in APA it is the reference page, in MLA it is the works cited, and in Chicago A it is the bibliography.

There are also differences in the order of information and how you format each entry. The format often depends on the type of source (e.g. book, website, or journal article). The easiest way to create reference entries is to use a citation generator.

Formatting

Some citation styles also have rules about the formatting of your paper as a whole. This might include guidelines for what should go on the cover page; margins, spacing and font size; titles and headings; or even how to write numbers and abbreviations.

However, these rules are generally more flexible and less important than the citation rules. It's a good idea to check if your citation style has formatting guidelines, but if not, aim for a clear, consistent and easily readable format.

Which citation style should you use?

First, always check the requirements of your university department or the submission guidelines of the target journal.

Citation styles for journal submissions

Academic journals usually require you to use a specific citation style. For example, the European Journal of Criminology uses the Harvard citation style, whereas the Journal of Management and the Journal of Marketing use the APA style. Some journals even have their own style guide.

If you use a program such as EndNote, Mendeley or Zotero to manage your references, then you can simply select your target journal from a list, and the correct citation style will loaded automatically.

Citation styles for student papers

University departments often mandate a specific citation style, but sometimes you are allowed to choose which style you use. In this case, consider your discipline and choose a style that gives the most relevant information.

For example, if you are writing a humanities paper with a lot of quotations, MLA style is a good choice to cite page numbers without interrupting the flow of your argument. If you are writing a scientific paper where you cite a lot of studies, an author-date system like APA or Chicago B is best so that your reader can immediately see the recency of your sources.

If you're still in doubt, check with your instructor. The most important thing, however, is to pick one style and apply it consistently throughout your paper.

MLA

MLA style (currently in its 8th edition) was developed by the Modern Language Association and is especially popular in language and literary studies. MLA uses parenthetical citations containing the author and page number.

MLA citation example (book)

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (Stewart and Simmons 22).

Stewart, Dave and Mark Simmons. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. New Rider Press, 2010.

MLA Citation Guide MLA Citation Generator
APA

APA style was created by the American Psychological Association and was originally used in psychology and social sciences. Today many other disciplines also use it. APA citation style uses an author-date system of parenthetical citation.

Note: The revised, 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual is released in October 2019. Check your universities guidelines to see which edition you should adhere to.

APA style citation example (book)

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (Stewart & Simmons, 2010, p. 22).

APA Style Guide APA Citation Generator

Stewart, D. & Simmons, M. (2010). The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley, USA: New Riders Press.

Chicago

Chicago style is published by The Chicago Manual of Style. There are two variations:

Chicago A: You cite the source in a footnote or endnote.

Chicago B: You use a parenthetical author-date citation in the text.

Chicago A example (book)

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world. ¹

¹ Dave Stewart and Mark Simmons, The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide (Berkeley: New Riders Press, 2010).

Stewart, Dave and Mark Simmons. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press, 2010.

Chicago B example (book)
Chicago Style Guide Chicago citation examples

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (Stewart and Simmons 2010, 22).

Stewart, Dave and Mark Simmons. 2010. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press.

Turabian

Turabian was developed based on Chicago style. It is specifically designed for students writing a research paper.

Just like Chicago style, Turabian has two citation options: a note system and an author-date system. The notation system is used in humanities (literature, history and the arts), while the author-date system is used in social sciences.

Turabian note citation example (book)

Turabian in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world. ¹

Turabian footnote (first reference to a source)

1 Dave Stewart and Mark Simmons, The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide (Berkeley: New Riders Press, 2010), p.22.

Turabian footnote (subsequent references to a source)

1 Stewart and Simmons, The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide, p. 22.

Turabian bibliography entry

Stewart, Dave and Mark Simmons. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press, 2010.

Turabian author-date citation example (book)

Turabian in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (Stewart and Simmons 2010, 22).

Turabian reference list entry

Stewart, Dave and Mark Simmons. 2010. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press.

Harvard

Harvard referencing style is often used in the field of economics. There is no official style guide, which means there are a few variations. Some organizations have published their own style guides for Harvard style:

Like APA style, Harvard style is based on an author-date system.

Harvard citation style example (book)

Harvard in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (Stewart and Simmons, 2010, p. 22).

Harvard reference list entry

Stewart, D. and Simmons, M. (2010) The business playground: Where creativity and commerce collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press.

Vancouver

Vancouver style was developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and is mostly used in medical disciplines.

Vancouver style works with a numeric system. In the text, the source is indicated by a number, and the full source details appear next to that number in the reference list.

Vancouver citation style example (book)

Vancouver in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (1).

Vancouver reference list entry

1. Stewart D, Simmons M. The business playground: where creativity and commerce collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press: 2010.

OSCOLA

OSCOLA referencing is used in law schools. It is the predominant citation style for legal academic writing in English. OSCOLA uses a note system; you include full details of the source in the footnote.

OSCOLA citation example (book)

OSCOLA in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world. ¹

OSCOLA style footnote

¹ Dave Stewart and Mark Simmons, The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide (New Riders Press, 2010).

OSCOLA reference list entry

Stewart D and Simmons M, The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide (New Riders Press, 2010)

IEEE

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is a citation style often used in technical studies, such as IT and electrical engineering. IEEE style has guidelines for specific types of sources. For source types that are not covered in IEEE, Chicago style is used. IEEE uses a numeric system.

IEEE citation example (book)

IEEE in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (1).

IEEE reference list entry

1. D. Stewart and M. Simmons, The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley, USA: New Riders Press, 2010.

AMA

AMA style is often used in medical sciences and uses a numeric system. The numbering in the text is set in superscript, with the page number included in parentheses.

AMA citation example (book)

AMA in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world. 1(p3)

AMA reference list entry

Stewart D, Simmons M. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley, USA: New Riders Press; 2010.

ACS

ACS (American Chemical Society) is used primarily in chemistry papers. ACS style has three variations for in-text citation. The choice of style depends on the journal. In the overview on page 288 you can find out which variation is used by which journal.

ACS citation example (book)

ACS in text-citation (footnote)

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world. ¹

ACS in-text citation (numeric)

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (1).

ACS in-text citation (author-date)

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world. (Stewart and Simmons, 2010).

In the reference list, the sources are listed in alphabetical order when the author-date system is used, and by number when a numeric system is used.

ACS reference list entry

Stewart, D.; Simmons, M. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide; New Riders Press: Berkeley, 2010.

NLM

NLM (National Library of Medicine) is used primarily in the medical world. NLM uses a numeric system.

NLM citation example (book)

NLM in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world [1].

NLM reference list entry

1. Stewart D, Simmons M. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press; 2010.

AAA

AAA (American Anthropological Association) is based on Chicago style and is primarily used in social studies. AAA style uses an author-date system.

AAA citation example (book)

AAA in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (Stewart and Simmons 2010, 22).

AAA reference list entry

Stewart, Dave, and Mark Simmons
2010 The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press.

APSA

APSA (American Political Science Review) is primarily used in political science, with specific rules for documents from the United States government. APSA uses an author-date system.

APSA citation example (book)

APSA in-text citation

The book uses success stories from the authors' own lived experiences to make the case for a creative revolution in the business world (Stewart and Simmons 2014).

APSA reference list entry

Stewart, Dave, and Mark Simmons. 2010. The Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide. Berkeley: New Riders Press.

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Citation Styles Guide | Which Citation Style Should You Use?

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A citation style is a set of rules on how to cite sources in academic writing. Whenever you refer to someone else's work, a citation is required to avoid plagiarism. Citation style guidelines are often published in an official handbook containing explanations, examples, and instructions.

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What is the difference between an in-text citation and a works cited page? 

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What is the difference between an in-text citation and a works cited page? 

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Citation Basics: In-Text Citations and Works Cited Pages

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MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.

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What is an MLA Works Cited page?

A Works Cited page is a formatted list of all sources you cited within your paper. Any time you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or include information that you've read from an outside source, you must include that source in your references list, correctly formatted in MLA style.

To see how to format an APA References List or a Chicago Style Bibliography, see these guides.

What information goes on an MLA Works Cited page?

Each source requires general publication information, including but not limited to:

Author's name.

Title of text.

Title of container*,

Other editors, translators, and contributors,

Version,

Number (No.),

Publication or publisher,

Date of publication,

DOI or URL of the source.

*Container is defined as the larger publication in which the text is published. For example, if citing a newspaper article, the container is the newspaper itself; if citing an article from a journal, the journal is the container.

Because so much of our modern research is online, publications are frequently updated and revised. Therefore, if it would be useful, you have the option of including Date of Access to account for differences over time.

What are the key rules of creating a Works Cited page?

There are unique formatting rules to follow for each type of entry, but generally, remember these key rules for the whole page:

Center the words "Works Cited" at the top of the new page. The page should have your last name and the next page number in the header, as on all the other essay pages.

Double space every line-no additional spacing required.

Alphabetize entries by authors' last names. If author names are unavailable for an entry, alphabetize by the first letter in the title (other than A, An, or The).

Create a hanging indent for each individual source you add to the list. A hanging indent is where the second and all the following lines of a paragraph are indented more than the first. To make a hanging indent, highlight your citation and use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+T.

Works Cited Page Examples

Expand the options below for help formatting your references list entries in MLA format.

Bender, Tisha. Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning: Theory, Practice, and Assessment. E-book, Stylus, 2003, doi: 378.1/7344678.

Wallace, B. Alan. The Attention Revolution. E-book, Wisdom Publications, 2006.

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of book. City*, Publisher, Publication Date.

*City is only cited if book is published before 1900 or if publisher has multiple offices worldwide.

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Lecture, Speech" (if any). Class title, date, location (including venue and city). Descriptor, URL (if necessary).

Thomas, Joseph. "The Songs of Shel Silverstein." ENGL 626, 6 November 2016, Hepner Hall, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA. Lecture.

Salomon, Willis. "Shakespeare's Dark Lady." ENGL 410, San Antonio, TX. Lecture, blackboard.trinity.edu.

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Comment" (if different than thread). Comment on "Name of discussion thread," Organization/class, date of posting, time of posting, URL.

Cooper, Dougie. "Not the Right Ring." Comment on "Most Intriguing Part of Chapter 8," BIO 201, 6 November 2016, 4:15 pm, login.ucla.edu.

There are two similar ways to cite videos. It depends on whether you want to highlight the video itself or the creators.

If you want to highlight the video/film, you would begin with the title of the video, list the director, and then include performers if it is relevant:

Title of motion picture/film. Directed by First Name Last Name, performances by First Name Last Name, Studio Name, Year.

If you want to highlight the director, producer, writers, or other stakeholders, you would begin with the their name(s), then proceed with the title of the video and other relevant information:

Last Name, First Name, director/writer/producer. Title of motion picture/film. Studio, Year.

If author is different from the uploader:

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by [Screen name], date, URL.

If author and uploader are the same OR if there is no clear author:

"Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by [Screen name], date, URL.

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A Works Cited page is a formatted list of all sources you cited within your paper. Any time you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or include information that you've read from an outside source, you must include that source in your references list, correctly formatted in MLA style.

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The MLA Style Center | Modern Language Association

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The MLA Style Center, the only authorized Web site on MLA style, provides free resources on research, writing, and documentation.

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How to cite social media posts in MLA and APA.

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How to cite social media posts in MLA and APA.

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WMU Research Guides: Citing Sources Guide: Citing Social Media

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MLA is one of the most common citation styles used by students and academics. This quick guide explains how to cite sources according to the 9th edition (the most recent) of the MLA Handbook. You can also use Scribbr's free citation generator to automatically generate references and in-text citations.

An MLA citation has two components:

1. In-text citation: Every time you quote or paraphrase a source, you cite the author and the page number in parentheses.

2. Works Cited: At the end of your paper, you give a full reference for every source you cited, alphabetized by the author's last name.

MLA Works Cited list

The list of Works Cited (also known as the bibliography or reference page) gives full details of every source you cited in your text. Each entry is built from nine core elements:

Following this format, you can create a citation for any type of source-for example, a book, journal article, website, or movie. You only include information that's relevant to the type of source you're citing.

MLA citation examples

Using the interactive tool, you can see what an MLA citation looks like for different source types.

Missing information in MLA citations

Regardless of the source type, the most important elements of any MLA citation are the author, the source title, and the publication date. If any of these are missing from the source, the Works Cited entry will look slightly different.

No author

Start with the source title instead. Alphabetize by the first word (ignoring articles).

"Australia fires: 'Catastrophic' alerts in South Australia and Victoria." BBC News, 20 Nov. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50483410.

No title

Give a brief description of the source. Use sentence case and no italics or quotation marks.

Mackintosh, Charles Rennie. Chair of stained oak. 1897-1900, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

No date

Leave out the publication date. Add the date you accessed the source at the end of the citation.

"Who are Scribbr Editors?" Scribbr, www.scribbr.com/about-us/editors/. Accessed 10 June 2019.

MLA in-text citations

MLA in-text citations are brief references that direct your reader to the full source entry. You include them every time you quote, block quote, paraphrase or summarize a source.

The in-text citation must match the first word of the Works Cited entry-usually the author's last name. It also includes a page number or range to help the reader locate the relevant passage.

1 author

Give the author's last name.

(Wallace 11-12)

2 authors

Give both author's last names.

(Wallace and Armstrong 11-12)

3+ authors

Name the first author followed by "et al."

(Wallace et al. 11-12)

Corporate author

If a source was created by an organization other than the publisher, use the organization name as author.

(U.S. Global Change Research Program 22)

No author

If the author is the same as the publisher, or if no author is credited, use the source title instead. Format the title the same as in the full Works Cited reference, and shorten if it is more than four words.

("Australia Fires")

Multiple sources by the same author

Include the title (or a shortened version) after the author's name in each source citation.

(Morrison, Beloved, 73)
(Morrison, Sula, 45)

If you already named the author in your sentence, include only the page number in parentheses:

claim that "MLA is the second most popular citation style" in the humanities. According to , social and demographic circumstances still have a major effect on job prospects .

Sources with no page numbers

If the source has no page numbers, you either use an alternative locator, or leave the page number out of the citation:

Audiovisual source (e.g. a movie or YouTube video)

Give the time range of the relevant section.

(Arnold 03:15-03:21).

Source with numbered sections (e.g. an online book)

Give a paragraph, section, or chapter number.

(Smith, par. 38)
(Rowling, ch. 6)

Source with no numbered sections (e.g. a web page)

Leave out the page number.

(Barker)

Tools and resources

Besides the MLA Citation Generator, Scribbr provides many more helpful tools and resources;

Citation generator: Generate flawless APA, MLA, and Harvard citations in seconds

Free plagiarism checker: Detect and correct plagiarism with the most accurate plagiarism checker for students

Paraphrasing tool: Avoid accidental plagiarism and make your text sound better.

Grammar checker: Eliminate pesky spelling and grammar mistakes.

Summarizer: Read more in less time. Distill lengthy and complex texts down to their key points.

AI detector: Find out if your text was written with ChatGPT or any other AI writing tool. ChatGPT 2 & ChatGPT 3 supported.

Proofreading services: Hire a professional editor to improve your writing

Guides and videos: Explore hundreds of articles, bite-sized videos, time-saving templates, and handy checklists that guide you through the process of research, writing, and citation.

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Scribbr MLA Citation Generator | Start citing!

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How to cite in MLA format MLA is one of the most common citation styles used by students and academics. This quick guide explains how to cite sources