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Introduction
Citing your sources is an important part of any research project: it helps you avoid plagiarism, gives credit to others for their work, and shows your reader where your information came from.
There are several citation styles, and your instructor will usually tell you which one to use. We have resources to help you with the most common styles, plus tips for using citation tools and acknowledging AI-generated content.
Common Citation Styles
- APA (American Psychological Association): Commonly used in social sciences
- MLA (Modern Language Association): Often used in the humanities
- Chicago (Chicago Manual of Style): Used in some social sciences and humanities
- Other: Specialized styles are sometimes used in specific fields like engineering, law and journalism
What should you cite?
- Direct quotes from any published or unpublished sources (like lecture notes, emails, or interviews)
- Statistics, theories, or facts from any outside source
- Images, videos, or other media you didn’t create
- Your own opinions or experiences
- Common knowledge
- Images, videos, or other media you personally created
If you're not sure, cite it!
In-Text Citations and Reference Entries
Most citation styles have two key parts:
- In-text citation: A brief note within your paper that points to the source of a quote, fact, or idea.
- Full reference entry: A complete description of the source, listed at the end of your paper in a bibliography, reference list, or works cited page.
Each in-text citation should correspond to an entry at the end of your work. The in-text citation gives just enough information (like the author's name and publication year or page number) for your reader to find the full source in your list of references, and the full entry provides the details needed to find the original work.
The exact format for both parts depends on which citation style you're using (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).