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Navigating Citation Styles: A Comprehensive Guide for Authors

Below is a guide on mastering citation styles, an important skill for all authors to ensure credibility and avoid plagiarism in their academic and professional work. In this blog, Together, we'll explore the world of citation styles, beginning with a brief overview of popular styles, then how to cite different sources effectively and discussing the importance of proper citations in academic writing.


Overview of Popular Citation Styles


Citation styles serve as a standardized way to credit the sources you have used in your work. The most common citation styles include APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago/Turabian . Each style has unique formatting guidelines for citing sources in both in-text citations and reference lists. (AMA [American Medical Association] style is a whole different ballgame, so a separate post will cover that.)


APA Style


  • Example format: (Author's Last Name, Year of Publication)

  • Used in social sciences and education

  • In-text citations include the author's name and publication year

    • For direct quotations, include page number after year of publication


MLA Style


  • Example format: (Author's Last Name Page Number)

  • Typically used in the humanities

  • In-text citations include the author's last name and a page number

    • If the source does not use page numbers, do not include a number


Chicago/Turabian Style


  • Example format: ("Title" Year of publication)

  • Used often in history and some social sciences

  • In-text citations vary between footnotes or title-year format


How to Cite Different Types of Sources


  • Books:

    • APA: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Book (edition.). Publisher. DOI (if available)

    • MLA: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.

    • Chicago: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.

  • Journal Articles:

    • APA: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of Article. Title of Journal, Volume Number(Issue), Page Range. DOI

    • MLA: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, Page Range, DOI. Accessed Day Month Year.

    • Chicago: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, volume no. (Year): Page Range. DOI.

  • Websites:

    • APA: Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day Published). Title of Page. Site name. URL

    • MLA: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.

    • Chicago: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Website Name, Website Publisher/Sponsor, Publication Date. URL.


Avoiding Plagiarism Through Proper Citations


Plagiarism is a serious offense in both academic and professional settings. Proper citations give credit to original authors and also strengthen the credibility of your work. The following are some tips to avoid plagiarism through the use of effective citations:


  • Always cite the original source when drawing direct quotations or paraphrasing someone else's work.

  • Use quotation marks for direct quotes and provide in-text citation immediately.

  • Maintain consistency in formatting and style throughout.

  • Double-check all citations to ensure accuracy and completeness.

  • Ensure all citations in your reference list have an in-text citation and vice versa.


In Conclusion


Mastering citation styles is a crucial skill for all authors—academic, professional, and even casual writers and bloggers! By learning how to cite different types of sources and prioritizing proper citations to avoid plagiarism, you can elevate the quality and professionalism of your writing. Be careful using online citation services as they may not always be 100% correct. Always go through and make sure formatting is correct! Happy citing!


The above is just the beginning of the world of citations. A great resource for citing different sources and more details is the Purdue Online Writing Lab!


Citation guidelines from:

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). Research and Citation. Purdue Online Writing Lab. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/index.html




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