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Citations & Plagiarism

Learn more about citations and how to avoid plagiarism.

What are citation styles?

Citation styles are systems used to provide a consistent format for citing sources in order to help others find where you got your information. Each citation style has similar features, but may emphasize different points of information.

Common styles include:

  • APA (American Psychological Association) Style
    • Commonly used in social sciences, business, and nursing
    • Focuses on author and year
  • MLA (Modern Language Association) Style
    • Commonly used in humanities, especially language and literature
    • Focuses on author and location in the text (such as page number)
  • Chicago Manual of Style
    • Two format options: Notes & Bibliography or Author-Date
    • Commonly used in arts and humanities, especially literature, history, and performing arts (such as music)
    • Often used in books (regardless of subject or discipline)
    • Additional guidelines for student papers found in Turabian's manual
    • Focuses on limiting distractions in the main text by including in-text citations as footnotes or endnotes

Citation styles often have strict formatting rules, especially regarding where to put punctuation, what to capitalize, and when to use italics.

As frustrating as these rules may be, they are also helpful because they make it easier to read citations and understand what each part of the formula means.

Comparing Citation Styles

Title Page / Information

APA

Double-spaced and centered, with a new line for each piece of information:

  • Title of paper (in bold)
  • Your name
  • "Affiliation" (department, college/university)
  • Course number and name
  • Instructor's name
  • Date (Month Day, Year)
MLA

Double-spaced and left-aligned, with a new line for each piece of information:

  • Your name
  • Instructor's name
  • Course number and name
  • Date (Day Month Year)
  • Title of paper (centered)
Chicago

Double-spaced and centered, with a new line for each piece of information and extra blank lines between title/subtitle and your name

  • Title of paper:
  • Subtitle
  • Your name
  • Course number and name
  • Date (Month Day, Year)

Header

APA

Page number, right-aligned

MLA

Last-name Page number, right aligned

Chicago

Page number, right aligned

Formatting (body of paper)

APA

Double-spaced, left-aligned, and first line of each new paragraph indented (by 0.5")

MLA

Double-spaced, left-aligned, and first line of each new paragraph indented (by 0.5")

Chicago

Double-spaced, left-aligned, and first line of each new paragraph indented (by 0.5"). Note numbers are superscripted and placed at the end of the clause or sentence.1 For footnotes2, a short line (called a "rule" separates the main text from the notes.

______

  1. Notes use full-sized numbers followed by a period. Notes are single-spaced with a blank line between each note.
     
  2. Use regular or smaller text size for notes.

Full Citation List

APA

References

Poole, A., Jones, B. B., & Johnson, C. (2020). Citing sources: Working together to share knowledge. Journal of Knowledge, 7(3), 79-92. https://doi.org/10.1777/4321-8765.7.3.79

Smith, J. M. (2020). Bridging the gap: Teaching citations to college students. Journal of Higher Education, 34(5), 67-89. https://doi.org/10.1234/5678-9012.34.5.67

MLA

Works Cited

Poole, Alan, et al. “Citing Sources: Working Together to Share Knowledge.” Journal of Knowledge, vol. 7, no. 3, 2020, pp. 79-92. ERIC, doi: 10.1777/4321-8765.7.3.79

Smith, John. “Bridging the Gap: Teaching Citations to College Students.” Journal of Higher Education, vol. 34, no. 5, 2020, pp.67-89. Academic Search Premier, doi: 10.1234/5678-9012.34.5.67

Chicago

Bibliography

Poole, Alan, Barbara Bernice Jones, and Catherine Johnson. “Citing Sources: Working Together to Share Knowledge.” Journal of Knowledge 7, no. 3 (2020): 79-92. https://doi.org/10.1777/4321-8765.7.3.79

Smith, John M. “Bridging the Gap: Teaching Citations to College Students.” Journal of Higher Education 34, no. 5 (April 2020): 67-75. https//doi.org/10.1234/5678-9012.34.5.67.

Direct Quotes

APA
  • Many believe that “students must learn how to cite sources before starting to work on any research assignment” (Smith, 2020, p. 55).
  • Smith (2020) suggests that “students […] learn how to cite sources before starting to work on any research assignment” (p. 55).
MLA
  • Many believe that “students must learn how to cite sources before starting to work on any research assignment” (Smith 55).
  • Smith suggests that “students […] learn how to cite sources before starting to work on any research assignment” (55).
Chicago
  • Many believe that “students must learn how to cite sources before starting to work on any research assignment.”1
  • Smith suggests that “students […] learn how to cite sources before starting to work on any research assignment.”2

_____

  1. John M. Smith, “Bridging the Gap: Teaching Citations to College Students,” Journal of Higher Education 34, no. 5 (April 2020): 55, https//doi.org/10.1234/5678-9012.34.5.67.
  2. Smith, "Bridging the Gap," 55.

Paraphrasing

APA
  • Professors want students to cite their sources when writing research papers (Smith, 2020).
  • Smith (2020) argues that students should cite their sources when completing research assignments.
  • Professors may not know where to start when teaching students how to cite sources (see Smith, 2020, for more details).
  • Students may not know a particular citation style (such as APA; Smith, 2020).
  • In 2020, Smith shared the results of a study indicating that most first-year college students do not have experience citing sources in APA style.
MLA
  • Professors want students to cite their sources when writing research papers (Smith).
  • Smith argues that students should cite their sources when completing research assignments.
  • In-text citations should include the first part of the full citation (“In-Text Citations: An Overview”).
  • Professors tend to give better grades to students who include in-text citations in their MLA style papers (Citing Sources 43).
Chicago
  • Professors want students to cite their sources when writing research papers.3
  • Smith argues that students should cite their sources when completing research assignments.4
  • According to Miller and Baker, many history departments require students to use Chicago style citations in academic papers.5
  • Students may not know a particular citation style6 (such as Chicago style).

_____

3. Smith, “Bridging the Gap.”

4. Smith, “Bridging the Gap.”

5. Allison Rose Miller and Francis Baker, College: A History (Chicago: Lake University Press, 2007), 245.

6. Smith, “Bridging the Gap.”

Multiple Sources

APA
  • Several studies show that students who write APA style papers with good reference lists receive better grades (Smith, 2020; Lee & Wong, 2018).
MLA
  • Several studies show that students who write MLA style papers with good citations receive better grades (Smith 60; Lee and Wong 45).

Block Quotes

APA
  • Use for: quotations longer than 40 words.
  • Begin on a new line, indent (0.5"), and do not use quotation marks.
  • In-text citation included at the end of the block quote, AFTER final punctuation.
MLA
  • Use for: quotations that are more than four lines long.
  • Begin on a new line, indent (0.5"), and do not use quotation marks.
  • In-text citation included at the end of the block quote, AFTER final punctuation.
Chicago
  • Use for: quotations longer than 100 words.
  • Begin on a new line, indent (0.5"), single-space, and do not use quotation marks.
  • Add [sic] when making any changes to the quote (such as making it plural or adding emphasis with italics or underlined font).
Author(s)
  • APA
    • Smith, J.
    • Smith, J. M.
    • Miller, A., & Baker, F.
    • Poole, A., Jones B. B., & Johnson, C.
  • MLA
    • Smith, Joan Marie.
    • Miller, Allison Rose, and Francis Baker.
    • Poole, Alan, et al.
  • Chicago
    • Smith, Joan.
    • Smith, Joan Marie.
    • Miller, Allison Rose, and Francis Baker.
    • Poole, Alan, Bernard Jones, and Caroline Johnson.
Editor(s)
  • APA
    • In A. Potter (Ed.),
    • In S. Holmes, J. Watson, & S. Baker (Eds.),
  • MLA
    • Potter, Archie, editor.
    • Book, edited by Sherlock Holmes an James Watson,
  • Chicago
    • Archie Potter, ed.,
    • In Book, edited by Sherlock Holmes and James Watson
Translator(s)
  • APA
    • (A. Lee, Trans.)
    • (A. Lee & M. Wong, Trans.)
  • MLA
    • Translated by Abigail Lee,
  • Chicago
    • Translated by Abigail Lee.
Article or Chapter Title
  • APA
    • Bridging the gap: Teaching citations to college students.
    • Solving crime: Methods and procedures.
  • MLA
    • "Bridging the Gap: Teaching Citations to College Students."
    • "Solving Crime: Methods and Procedures."
  • Chicago
    • "Bridging the Gap: Teaching Citations to College Students,"
    • "Solving Crime: Methods and Procedures."
Webpage Title
  • APA
    • Training cats as service animals.
  • MLA
    • "Training Cats as Service Animals."
  • Chicago
    • "Training Cats as Service Animals."
Journal, Newspaper, or Magazine Title
  • APA
    • Journal of Higher Education,
    • New York Times,
  • MLA
    • Journal of Higher Education,
    • New York Times,
  • Chicago
    • Journal of Higher Education
    • New York Times,
Book Title
  • APA
    • Finding information: A guide.
  • MLA
    • Finding Information: A Guide.
  • Chicago
    • Finding Information: A Guide.
Website
  • APA
    • Medium.
  • MLA
    • Medium.
  • Chicago
    • Medium.
Publication Information (Date, Place, Publisher)
  • APA
    • (2021)
    • (2021, November 24)
    • Retrieved March 24, 2021
    • n.d.
  • MLA
    • 2021
    • 24 Nov. 2021
  • Chicago
    • (Chicago: Lake University Press, 2021).
    • (April 2020):
    • April 4, 2020,
    • 2021.
Volume & Issue
  • APA
    • 34(5)
  • MLA
    • vol. 34, no. 5,
  • Chicago
    • 34, no. 5
Page Range
  • APA
    • 245.
    • 67-75.
  • MLA
    • p. 245.
    • pp. 67-75.
  • Chicago
    • 245.
    • 67-75.
Database Name
  • MLA
    • Academic Search Premier,
DOI / URL
  • APA
    • https://doi.org/10.1234/5678-9012.34.5.67
    • https://www.medium.com/trainingcats
  • MLA
    • doi:10.1234/5678-9012.34.5.67
    • medium.com/trainingcats
  • Chicago
    • https://doi.org/10.1234/5678-9012.34.5.67.
    • https://www.medium.com/trainingcats.

Book

APA

Dworkin, A. G. (1987). Teacher burnout in the public schools: Structural causes and consequences for children. SUNY Press.​ 

MLA

Dworkin, Anthony Gary. Teacher Burnout in the Public Schools: Structural Causes and Consequences for Children. Albany, State U of New York P, 1987.

Chicago

Dworkin, Anthony Gary. Teacher Burnout in the Public Schools: Structural Causes and Consequences for Children. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1987. 

Book Chapter

APA

Lambert, R. G., & Ullrich, A. (2012). Understanding teacher stress in an age of globalization. In A. Ullrich, C. J. McCarthy, & R. G. Lambert (Eds.), International perspectives on teacher stress (pp. 243-246). Information Age Publishing. ​ 

MLA

Lambert, Richard G., and Annette Ullrich. "Understanding Teacher Stress in an Age of Globalization." International Perspectives on Teacher Stress, edited by Richard G. Lambert et al., Information Age Publishing, 2012, pp. 243-48. 

Chicago

Lambert, Richard G., and Annette Ullrich. "Understanding Teacher Stress in an Age of Globalization." In International Perspectives on Teacher Stress, edited by Richard G. Lambert, Christopher J. McCarthy, and Annette Ullrich, 243-48. N.p.: Information Age Publishing, 2012. 

Journal Article

APA

Bartholomew, S. R., Strimel, G. J., Lucietto, A. M., & Akdere, M. (2020). Reinventing high school: Understanding the challenges and successes of transforming education to meet student, society, and industry needs. Journal of Technology Studies, 46(1), 2–19. https://doi.org/10.21061/jots.v46i1.a.1​

Farmer, L. (2017). How to beat teacher burnout: With more education. Education Digest, 83(2), 13–16.​ 

MLA

Bartholomew, Scott R., et al. "Reinventing High School: Understanding the Challenges and Successes of Transforming Education to Meet Student, Society, and Industry Needs." Journal of Technology Studies, vol. 46, no. 1, 23 Mar. 2020, pp. 2-19. ProQuest One Academic, doi.org/ 10.21061/jots.v46i1.a.1​.

Farmer, Liz. "How to Beat Teacher Burnout: With More Education." Education Digest, vol. 83, no. 2, Oct. 2017, pp. 13-16. Academic Search Premier, search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.csmd.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=124788421&site=ehost-live. 

Chicago

Bartholomew, Scott R., Greg J. Strimel, Anne M. Lucietto, and Mesut Akdere. "Reinventing High School: Understanding the Challenges and Successes of Transforming Education to Meet Student, Society, and Industry Needs." Journal of Technology Studies 46, no. 1 (March 23, 2020): 2-19. https://doi.org/ 10.21061/jots.v46i1.a.1​. 

Farmer, Liz. "How to Beat Teacher Burnout: With More Education." Education Digest 83, no. 2 (October 2017): 13-16. https://www.search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.csmd.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=124788421&site=ehost-live. 

Newspaper/Magazine Article

APA

Singer, N. (2020, December). U.S. faces a new crisis: “An extreme level of teacher burnout.” New York Times, 170(58894), A9.​ 

MLA

Singer, Natasha. "U.S. Faces a New Crisis: 'An Extreme Level of Teacher Burnout.'" New York Times, 1 Dec. 2020, p. A9. 

Chicago

Singer, Natasha. "U.S. Faces a New Crisis: 'An Extreme Level of Teacher Burnout.'" New York Times, December 1, 2020, A9. 

Website

APA

National Education Association. (2021). Professional Learning. https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/professional-learning​

MLA

National Education Association. "Professional Learning." National Education Association, 2021, nea.org/professional-excellence/professional-learning. 

Chicago

National Education Association. "Professional Learning." National Education Association. Last modified 2021. https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/professional-learning​.