Different academic disciplines use different citation styles. Once you've determined the citation style for your discipline, use the resources below to learn how to format your in-text citations and your bibliography.
Why do I have to cite sources?
Citing your work is about more than just fulfilling the requirements for your assignment; it is a legal and ethical issue.
Under U.S. Copyright Law, the creator of an original work (for example, an author) has the right to be credited for their work. Citations help to give credit where it is due and tells readers where the information came from.
What are Citation Style Guides?
Style guides are developed by publishers to provide guidelines for the presentation of research. These rules or procedures encourage ease of reading, accuracy, and respect in scholarly communication. Colleges and universities often require students to follow one of the recognized style guides when submitting written work for classes. Faculty use the guides for overall formatting of papers and for consistency in how works are cited both in-text and in the reference list. An added benefit is that using style guides prepares students for future publication. In addition to the publication guides listed below, there are variations of guides developed for specialized fields.
Other Resources:
APA Guide: Created by the Library and Writing Center that highlights common reference and in-text citation examples.
Citation Resources Guide: Guide provides information on the different citation formats and citation managers.
Purdue Online Writing Center (OWL): Provides examples for nearly every type of APA reference and much more.
Other Resources:
MLA 8 Guide: Created by the Library and Writing Center that highlights common reference and in-text citation examples.
Purdue Online Writing Center (OWL): Provides examples for nearly every type of MLA reference and much more.
Citation Resources Guide: Guide provides more information on the different citation formats and citation managers.
Other Resources:
Chicago Guide (In development): Created by the Library and Writing Center that highlights common reference and in-text citation examples.
Citation Resources Guide: Guide provides information on the different citation formats and citation managers.
Purdue Online Writing Center (OWL): Provides examples for nearly every type of Chicago reference and much more.
Scientific Style and Format Online: This is an indispensable reference for all areas of science and related fields.
Two other styles that are commonly used in academia are CSE and AMA. See below for links to helpful resources about these styles:
Council of Science Editors (CSE)
American Medical Association (AMA)
Content: Combines sophisticated learning and teaching tools, advanced writing and content management technology, and full integration of APA's best-selling Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association® to create an unparalleled web-based suite of integrated services and tools.
Purpose: Designed to help faculty and students develop their writing and professional research skills.