Skip to main content

Citation Guides: Home

Find how to cite sources and properly format your paper in ALA, MLA, Chicago, and CSE styles.

What is a Citation?

The Credible Hulk always cites his sources.

A citation is what tells your reader that you got information from another source.  It is used to acknowledge another's work, prevent plagiarism, lend credibility to your writing, and help the reader find the sources you used.

All of your citations will be listed on a page at the end of your paper and will need to follow an established writing style specified by your instructor. To learn how to use APA, MLA, Chicago, CSE, or ASA Style, click on one of the tabs above.

Citation Guides & Examples

Click the image below for the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) Citation Guides:

Purdue Owl

Organize Your Research

Plagiarism Resources

Overview

There are several different ways to cite resources in your paper, most of which have been standardized and approved by professional or educational organizations.  The citation style usually depends on the academic discipline involved. For example:

  • MLA style is typically used by the Humanities (Art, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and Religion).
  • APA style is often used by Business, Law and the Social Sciences (Education, Psychology, Sociology).
  • Chicago/Turabian is generally used by History and some of the Fine Arts.
  • CSE style is used by most of the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, and Nursing).

IMPORTANT: Check with your instructor to make sure you use the style they require. And whatever style you choose, BE CONSISTENT!

Citation Guide Books

Writing Guides

Get writing tips and advice on how to write different types of documents, from persuasive essays to research papers. 

Subjects: Reference