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2.4: Citation Styles

  • Page ID
    290140
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    Citation styles are formal systems for giving credit to the sources of information used in research or academic writing. They are essential for academic integrity, giving credit to original authors, avoiding plagiarism, and providing readers with the ability to trace and verify the information. Each style has its own rules for organizing this information, usually influenced by the academic discipline it's intended to be used by. These styles can often be really specific in their formatting rules because they are intended to give the reader all the information they need to locate the sources cited.

    Here is a brief overview of three major citation styles:

    1. MLA (Modern Language Association)

    • Purpose: Commonly used in the humanities; especially in literature, language studies, and cultural studies.
    • Format: Emphasizes the author and page number, allowing readers to locate sources in context. In-text citations include the author’s last name and page number of the information used: (Smith 123).
    • Works Cited Page: Includes a Works Cited page at the end of the work with all works cited. Arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name, with each entry listing the author, title, container (publication the article or entry is published in), publisher, and publication date. Book example:
      • Smith, John. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.

    2. APA (American Psychological Association)

    • Purpose: Primarily used in the social sciences; including psychology, sociology, and education.
    • Format: Highlights the author and date, emphasizing the currency of the research. In-text citations include the author’s last name, publication year, and page number of the information used: (Smith, 2023, p. 32).
    • References Page: Includes a References page at the end of the work with all works cited. Entries are also alphabetically ordered and include the author(s), year, title, and source. For instance:
      • Smith, J. (2023). Title of work. Publisher Name. DOI (if available)

    3. Chicago (Chicago Manual of Style)

    • Purpose: Common in history, art history, and publishing; offering flexibility for different types of source material.
    • Format: Offers two primary methods:
      • Notes and Bibliography: Uses numbered footnotes or endnotes for citations, with a bibliography at the end.
      • Author-Date: Sources are cited directly in the text, using in-text citations similar to APA style, rather than footnotes.
    • Bibliography Entry (Notes and Bibliography example): Includes a Bibliography page at the end of the work with all works cited. The bibliography provides full citations, ordered alphabetically.

    Different classes will use different citation styles. You should always review your assignments and class syllabus to identify the style used. Some classes may allow you to choose which style you want to use.

    Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction


    2.4: Citation Styles is shared under a CC BY-NC license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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