owl purdue research citation

• SSU Library Home
• Research Guides
• Help Using the Library
• Citation Center
• Excelsior OWL
• Major Style Manuals
• Science Style Quick Guides
• EndNote Web
• Writing Center This link opens in a new window

Ask A Librarian

Purdue owl: research & citation resources.

Note: Some bibliography and citation examples in Purdue OWL have been found to have errors. Excelsior OWL is noted as a more accurate option for help related to citation.

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) provides online access to, most popularly, citation style assistance for MLA, APA, and Chicago style. Some information is also provided for IEEE, AMA, and ASA styles.

Purdue OWL also provides general information about good writing, as well as subject-specific writing and job search writing.

• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) Homepage
• Purdue OWL: APA Style (7th ed) This OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style. Contains resources on in-text citation and the References page, as well as APA sample papers, slide presentations, and the APA classroom poster.
• Purdue OWL: MLA Style These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation and format style. This section contains resources on in-text citation and the Works Cited page, as well as MLA sample papers, slide presentations, and the MLA classroom poster.
• Purdue OWL: Chicago Style This OWL resources will help you learn how to use the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). Contains resources on both Author-Date and Notes-Bibliography systems. Also includes a sample paper and formats for the classroom posters and PowerPoint presentations.
• << Previous: Excelsior OWL
• Next: Major Style Manuals >>
• Last Updated: Jan 11, 2024 1:24 PM
• URL: https://shawneesu.libguides.com/citations

Citation Guide

What is apa style.

• APA Quick Reference Guide

Paper Formatting Guidelines & Sample Papers

In-text citations & the reference list, examples of references & in-text citations, software tools for apa style.

• MLA Style - 9th Edition
• Chicago/Turabian Style
• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
• Tools for Managing Citations
• Citation Season!

APA Publication Manual

Introduction to APA Style

APA stands for American Psychological Association. APA Style is a way to format your paper and give credit to your sources. This page provides resources for all the elements of preparing a research paper in APA Style, including formatting, in-text citations, and the list of references.

Many disciplines use APA Style, including business, education, nursing, psychology and others.

APA Quick Links

• APA Style Website This is the online home of APA Style.
• APA Style Blog The APA Style Blog publishes short articles about writing style guidelines and complicated citation questions you might have.
• Purdue OWL Guide to APA Style Purdue OWL has resources about many citation styles. Here is their section on APA.

APA Quick Reference Guide, page 1 of 2

APA Quick Reference Guide, page 2 of 2

Use the following materials to learn about APA guidelines for different parts of your paper, like the title page, headers and footers, and writing an abstract.

• APA Sample Papers Look at a finished paper in APA format. Use this to set up your paper.
• APA Style Formatting Guide This guide covers formatting rules for all parts of an APA paper.
• Student Title Page guide (PDF) Use this for student papers using the APA 7th Edition.
• Professional Title Page Use this to learn about the differences between student and professional paper title pages.
• Abstract and Keywords Guide (PDF) Use this if you are required to include and abstract and/or keywords for your APA Style paper.
• Tables, Appendices, Footnotes, and Endnotes If your paper has tables, appendices, footnotes, or endnotes, use these guidelines.

Citing sources has two elements: the in-text citation is in the body of your paper when you refer to something that you use from a source, and this citation points to the reference list, where there is more information about each source. 

Purdue University's Online Writing Lab - aka Purdue OWL - is a good online source of information about many citation styles. Many of the following links take you straight to Purdue OWL pages that answer frequent questions about APA Style. 

In-Text Citations

• APA In-Text Citations Basics of in-text citation from Purdue Owl.
• APA In-Text Citations Author Rules Detailed rules from Purdue Owl on how to cite multiple authors.

The Reference List

• Basic Rules for the Reference List This page gives a summary of the reference list, which is the full list of your sources at the end of the paper.
• Citing Books in the Reference List This page has rules and examples for citing books of different types in your reference list.
• Citing Electronic Sources in the Reference List This page has examples and rules for citing journal articles and other things you find through a library database or anywhere online.
• Rules about Authors in the Reference List Does your source have 3 authors? Five authors? More? No author listed? This page gives guidance on how to format author names in the reference list depending on number of authors, missing author, if an organization is an author, etc.
• Citing a Government Website in the Reference List Do you have a source from a government agency? Use these guidelines to create a citation.
• Using DOIs and URLs How to use the doi or URL in electronic journal articles.
• Crossref Search Use Crossref to search for an article's doi.

Article in an Electronic Journal

Reference page entry.

Grady, J.S., Her, M,. Moreno, G., Perez, C., & Yelinek, J. (2019). Emotions in storybooks: A comparison of storybooks that represent ethnic and racial groups in the United States.  Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 8 (3), 207-217. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000185

In-Text Citation

(Grady et al., 2019, p. 208)

Newspaper Article

Carey, B. (2019, March 22). Can we get better at forgetting? The New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/22/health/memory-forgetting-psychology.html

(Carey, 2019)

Rabinowitz, F.E (2019). Deepening group psychotherapy with men: Stories and insights for the journey . American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/00001132-000

(Rabinowitz, 2019)

Chapter of a Book

Aron, L., Botella, M., & Lubart. (2019). Culinary arts:  Talent and their developments. In R. F. Subotnik, P. Olszewski-Kubilius, & F. C. Worrell (Eds.), The psychology of high performance: Developing human potential into domain-specific talent (pp. 345-359). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000120-016

(Aron et al., 2019)

Webpage on a Website

National Institute of Mental Health. (2018, July). Anxiety disorders . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/indnex.shtml

(National Institute of Mental Health, 2018)

There are many tools that can help you create, manage, and organize your citations and your references page. Here are some that the library provides or recommends for students and faculty. 

• Academic Writer This link opens in a new window Many psychology courses use Academic Writer. Academic Writer is a tool that provides the resources necessary to learn, research, write, and publish in APA Style, directly from the creators of and experts on APA Style, the American Psychological Association. You can make an account on Academic Writer with your Caldwell email address.
• NoodleTools This link opens in a new window NoodleTools is an online tool that helps you with note taking, and correctly formatting citations. MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian citation styles are included. Use throughout your research project to track sources, take notes, create outlines, collaborate with classmates, and format bibliographies. Use this link to create an account.
• ZoteroBib ZoteroBib is a free service that helps you build a bibliography from any computer or device, without creating an account or installing any software. It's from the team behind the open source citation management app Zotero. ZBib can create a draft citation from a link or ISBN and has helpful templates for you to use to manually create citations. You can use it for MLA, APA, or Chicago Style.
• << Previous: Home
• Next: MLA Style - 9th Edition >>
• Last Updated: Jun 3, 2024 8:27 AM
• URL: https://libguides.caldwell.edu/citations

  E-Mail

  Chat

  F.A.Q.

• Purdue Global
• PG Library 2023 revision
• Purdue Global Library

APA Style Help & Tools

{{page_title}}, best bet: apa's academic writer.

Academic Writer is the only authoritative and complete online environment for teaching, writing, and publishing in APA Style®, now updated to the 7th Edition. Designed to help users develop their writing and professional research skills, Academic Writer combines sophisticated learning and teaching tools, advanced writing and content management technology, and full integration of APA’s best-selling Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association® to create an unparalleled web-based suite of integrated services and tools.

Access Academic Writer anytime with this link:

library.purdueglobal.edu/academicwriter

Academic Writer Documentation & Tips

The below links lead to more information, tips, and training about the basics of using Academic Writer.

• Library Guide to Academic Writer
• Getting Started Guide (PDF)
• Creating Academic Writer Accounts (PDF)
• Accessing the Publication Manual (PDF)
• Technical Requirements

Using Academic Writer's Writing Tools

Academic Writer contains a Writing section where you can create and write a full APA-formatted paper.  You can write the entire paper in Academic Writer or just use it to setup the title page, headings, and references.  Export your work at any time to a Microsoft Word document.  Below are documents from Academic Writer about the essential features of their Writing tools.  

• Setting up the Title Page
• Adding References to Papers (PDF)
• Adding In-Text Citations (PDF)
• Adding Tables (PDF)
• Exporting Papers (PDF)

Featured Items from Academic Writer

Basics of APA Style

Learn the basics of APA Style, including how to format a manuscript, understand the form and function of common manuscript parts, organize and express your thoughts clearly and precisely, employ the mechanics of style, use graphic elements effectively, credit sources and acknowledge the contributions of others, and construct a comprehensive and reliable reference list.

Academic Writer

© 2020 American Psychological Association.

How to Avoid Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism

Learn how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism, including how to identify plagiarism, understand its risks and consequences, cite sources properly, and develop sound writing practices.

Learn how to set up the title page of an APA Style paper, including the page header and running head, title, author name and affiliation, and author note.

Paper Template: ("Merenda" Sample Student Paper)

This sample response paper presents a university student's personal reaction to an article about whether medication is prescribed too often to young children to treat psychological disorders. The title page demonstrates the simple default layout for a student paper. The paper has a simple setup with only a title page, body of text, and references. No "running head"! Response papers typically do not include author notes or abstracts, though this may vary by assignment.

Visit the Writing Center

Need writing help?  Visit the Writing Center to contact a tutor, submit your paper for review and feedback, or ask APA Style-related questions, as well as access dozens of writing tutorials, videos, webinars, and other instructional resources.

• Writing Center

PG Writing Center's Top APA Links

• Common Citations in APA Format
• APA Title Page and Running Head Video
• APA (7th Edition) Demystified in 5 Minutes Video
• Formatting an APA Style (7th Edition) Reference List Video
• Writing With Integrity (APA Style 7th Ed.)

eBook on APA Style 7th Edition

Zotero: Free Reference Management Tool

Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. This tool is especially popular for heavy researchers at the grad level and above.

• << Previous: Library Guides
• Next: Ask a Librarian >>

• Data & Statistics
• Databases A-Z Hub
• Document Delivery
• Ask a Librarian
• Search Support F.A.Q.
• Videos & Tutorials
• Library Guides
• Other Academic Services
• Library News Blog
• Information for Faculty & Curriculum
• Library Site Search

© 2024, Purdue Global, a public, nonprofit institution.

Privacy Policy

End User Agreement

Citation Style Help

Purdue online writing lab (owl), which style should i use, chicago style.

• Harvard Style
• Citing Data & the U.S. Census
• Presentation Citations
• Indigenous Community Citations
• Coding Citations

APA or MLA?

• APA Style and MLA Style Reference Comparison Guide

Social Sciences & Data Literacy Librarian

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) offers detailed information about the most common citation formats:  APA ,  MLA , and  Chicago Manual of Style . These links will take you to general format information. Use the left sidebar on the Purdue OWL page to find more specific information about citation styles for different types of sources.

Always refer to your course syllabus for citation style questions; when in doubt ask your professor what they are expecting in the class.

Certain styles are associated with certain academic fields, however, and highlight different aspects of a citation. 

If the citation style for an assignment is your choice, it makes sense to pick the style that is most often used in the field you are studying.

Used primarily in Education, Behavioral Sciences, and Social Sciences.

• APA Style is designed to produce clear, precise and inclusive writing.
• This style supports disciplines that emphasizes the date in publication. In APA Style, the date directly follows the author's name.
• Uses parenthetical in-text citations. Sources are compiled on a "References" page.

There are two versions, or systems, of Chicago Style. Check with your professor if a system is not specified in the syllabus. If you are asked to use Chicago Style with endnotes or footnotes, you should use the Notes & Bibliography System.

Notes and Bibliography System

• Used in some Humanities disciplines (including History, Literature, and the Arts).
• This system can accommodate a variety of source types that are more difficult to format in the author-date system.
• Uses footnotes for in-text citations. Sources are compiled on a "Bibliography" page.

Author-date systems

• Used in the Sciences and some Social Sciences disciplines.
• This systems looks and functions very similarly to APA Style.
• Utilizes parenthetical in-text citations. Sources are compiled on a "References" or "Literature Cited" page.

Used in Humanities disciplines (including English, Languages, Linguistics, Music, and Philosophy)

• Humanities research emphasizes authorship. In MLA style citations, the author is most important data point.
• Uses parenthetical in-text citations. Sources are compiled on a "Works Cited" page.
• Next: APA Style >>
• Last Updated: Aug 7, 2024 9:05 AM
• URL: https://libguides.oxy.edu/citation_styles

Scribbr APA Citation Generator

Accurate APA citations, verified by experts, trusted by millions.

Scribbr for Chrome: Your shortcut to APA citations

Cite any page or article with a single click right from your browser. The extension does the hard work for you by automatically grabbing the title, author(s), publication date, and everything else needed to whip up the perfect APA citation.

Add to Chrome. It's free!

Rely on accurate APA citations, verified by experts.

You don’t want points taken off for incorrect citations. That’s why our APA citation experts have invested countless hours perfecting our algorithms. As a result, we’re proud to be recommended by teachers worldwide.

Enjoy the APA Citation Generator with minimal distraction.

Staying focused is already challenging enough. You don’t need video pop-ups and flickering banner ads slowing you down. At Scribbr, we keep distractions to a minimum while also keeping the APA Citation Generator free for everyone.

Citation Generator features you'll love

Search for your source by title, URL, DOI, ISBN, and more to retrieve the relevant information automatically.

APA 6th & 7th edition

Scribbr's Citation Generator supports both APA 6 and APA 7 (as well as MLA and Harvard ). No matter what edition you're using, we’ve got you covered!

Export to Bib(La)TeX

Easily export in BibTeX format and continue working in your favorite LaTeX editor.

Export to Word

Reference list finished? Export to Word with perfect indentation and spacing set up for you.

Sorting, grouping, and filtering

Organize the reference list the way you want: from A to Z, new to old, or grouped by source type.

Save multiple lists

Stay organized by creating a separate reference list for each of your assignments.

Choose between Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, and more options to match your style.

Industry-standard technology

The Scribbr Citation Generator is built using the same citation software (CSL) as Mendeley and Zotero, but with an added layer for improved accuracy.

Annotations

Create perfectly formatted annotated bibliographies with just a few clicks.

Explanatory tips help you get the details right to ensure accurate citations.

Citation guides

Getting to grips with citation is simple with the help of our highly rated APA citation guides and videos .

Secure backup

Your work is saved automatically after every change and stored securely in your Scribbr account.

• Introduction
• Parenthetical vs. narrative
• Multiple authors

Missing information

• Sources to include

Tools and resources

• Scroll to top

How to create APA citations

APA Style is widely used by students, researchers, and professionals in the social and behavioral sciences. Scribbr’s free citation generator automatically generates accurate references and in-text citations.

This citation guide outlines the most important citation guidelines from the 7th edition APA Publication Manual (2020).

• Cite a webpage
• Cite a book
• Cite a journal article
• Cite a YouTube video

APA in-text citations

APA in-text citations include the author’s last name, publication date, and, if relevant, a locator such as a page number or timestamp. For example, (Smith, 2021, p. 170) . See it as a shorter version of the entry in the reference list .

You should include in-text citations every time you’re quoting or paraphrasing someone else’s ideas or words. In doing so, you give credit to the original author and avoid plagiarism .

Parenthetical vs. narrative citation

The in-text citation can take two forms: parenthetical and narrative. Both types are generated automatically when citing a source with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator.

• Parenthetical citation: According to new research … (Smith, 2020) .
• Narrative citation: Smith (2020) notes that …

Multiple authors and corporate authors

The in-text citation changes slightly when a source has multiple authors or an organization as an author. Pay attention to punctuation and the use of the ampersand (&) symbol.

When the author, publication date or locator is unknown, take the steps outlined below.

APA Citation Generator

Generate accurate APA citations in seconds

Get started

APA references

APA references generally include information about the author , publication date , title , and source . Depending on the type of source, you may have to include extra information that helps your reader locate the source.

It is not uncommon for certain information to be unknown or missing, especially with sources found online. In these cases, the reference is slightly adjusted.

Formatting the APA reference page

On the first line of the page, write the section label “References” (in bold and centered). On the second line, start listing your references in alphabetical order .

Apply these formatting guidelines to the APA reference page:

• Double spacing (within and between references)
• Hanging indent of ½ inch
• Legible font (e.g. Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11)
• Page number in the top right header

Which sources to include

On the reference page, you only include sources that you have cited in the text (with an in-text citation ). You should not include references to personal communications that your reader can’t access (e.g. emails, phone conversations or private online material).

In addition to the APA Citation Generator, Scribbr provides many more tools and resources that help millions of students and academics every month.

• Citation Generator : Generate flawless citations in APA, MLA , and Harvard style .
• Citation Checker : Upload your paper and have artificial intelligence check your citations for errors and inconsistencies.
• Free plagiarism checker : Detect plagiarism with unparalleled accuracy with Scribbr’s free plagiarism checker.
• AI Proofreader : Upload and improve unlimited documents and earn higher grades on your assignments. Try it for free!
• Paraphrasing tool: Avoid accidental plagiarism and make your text sound better.
• Grammar checker : Eliminate pesky spelling and grammar mistakes.
• Summarizer: Read more in less time. Distill lengthy and complex texts down to their key points.
• AI detector: Find out if your text was written with ChatGPT or any other AI writing tool. ChatGPT 2 & ChatGPT 3 supported.
• Proofreading services : Have a professional editor (or team of editors) improve your writing so you can submit your paper with pride and confidence. Scribbr offers admission essay editing , paper editing , and academic editing .
• Guides and videos : Explore hundreds of articles, bite-sized videos, time-saving templates, and handy checklists that guide you through the process of research, writing, and citation.

Ask A Librarian Help

The links in the MLA Style Center reflect MLA Style 9th Edition. 

The links in Purdue OWL reflect MLA Style 9th Edition. 

• Citation Style Chart via Purdue OWL:
• MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications) Websites, pages on websites, eBooks, images, eArticles, social media...
• MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources Interviews; speeches, lectures, or presentations; panel discussions; painting, sculpture, or photograph; conference proceedings, song or album; film or movie; podcasts; digital files
• MLA Works Cited Page: Books in Print
• MLA Works Cited Page: Periodicals in Print (Journals, Magazines & Newspapers)
• MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics
• MLA Style Sample Paper
• MLA Style Sample Works Cited
• MLA 9th PowerPoint Presentation

• << Previous: Finding and Accessing eBooks Tutorial
• Next: Library Instruction Recap >>
• Last Updated: Aug 13, 2024 9:40 AM
• URL: https://libguides.ggc.edu/ENGL_4412_Weiss

NUR 48200: Nursing Leadership and Management: APA Citation Help

• Research Designs
• Acquiring Evidence
• Appraising the Evidence
• Asking the PICO or PICo Question
• Levels of Evidence
• Nursing Databases
• Grey Literature Resources
• PICO Search Tutorials
• Finding Full-Text & Requesting Articles
• How to Get Help
• APA Citation Help
• COVID-19 Resources
• Video Tutorials

PNW Library

PNW Librarians are here to help!

The Writing Center at Purdue Northwest

The Writing Center at Purdue University Northwest provides a wide range of services, including APA help.  You can reach the Writing Center by phone at (219) 989-2200 or e-mail at www.pnw.edu/writing-center/ . Learn more about the Writing Center

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

The APA Style home page is an outstanding resource. Click on the APA Style logo on the right and then look for the "Style and Grammar Guidelines" tab. You'll find easy-to-follow instructions for all your APA formatting questions.

Here are some other useful links:

• APA Style sample papers
• APA Style tutorials and webinars
• Video Demonstration: APA Reference List
• Video Demonstration: APA In-text citations, quotations, and plagiarism
• APA Quick Reference Guide

Citing Systematic Reviews from Joanna Briggs and Cochrane Databases

• << Previous: How to Get Help
• Next: COVID-19 Resources >>
• Last Updated: Aug 14, 2024 10:02 AM
• URL: https://guides.pnw.edu/NUR482

• Ask a Librarian

Master of Science Engineering Technology (MSET)

• Manage Your Research
• Copyright and Plagiarism
• Common APA Citation Questions
• MET 52700 This link opens in a new window

Purdue OWL: APA

• APA Guidlines
• Videos on the Basics of APA
• General Format
• In-Text Citations: The Basics
• Reference List: The Basics
• Types of APA Papers
• APA Changes 6th Edition
• General APA Facts
• APA Sample Paper
• APA Formatting - The Basics
• APA Formatting: Reference List Basics
• APA References List: Complex Authors
• APA References: Periodicals
• APA References Entries for Books

Purdue OWL: Writing Tips

Choosing a Topic

Where Do I Begin?

Developing Strong Thesis Statements

Writing a Research Paper

Citation Management

• Citation Management Tools
• Quick Reference Generators

Citation management tools help you track and organize the articles you are gathering for your research.  Citation management tools also generate in-text citations, import records from databases, and reference pages.   NOTE : Errors do occasionally occur with citation managers, so always check your citations and references.

• Zotero by Michael Witt
• Endnote Desktop by Robert Freeman
• Endnote Basic by Jerilyn Tinio
• Endnote Web vs. Zotero
• Citation Machine
• NoodleToole Express (my favorite for difficult references)
• << Previous: Manage Your Research
• Next: Copyright and Plagiarism >>
• Last Edited: Jul 31, 2024 12:40 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.purdue.edu/mset

• Special Collections Home
• Archives Home
• Madrid Home
• Assessement
• Contact/Directory
• Library Associates
• Archives & Digital Services
• Databases - Article Linker FAQ
• Digital Collections
• Government Information
• Library Catalog
• Library Catalog - Alerts/Other Material
• Locating Materials in Pius Library
• Meet your Librarian
• SLU Journals and SLU Edited Journals
• SLUth Search Plus
• Special Collections
• Research Guides
• Academic Technology Commons
• Course Reserves
• Course Reserves FAQ
• Interlibrary Loan
• Journal Articles on Demand
• Library Access
• library Account
• Library Instructions
• Library Resources for Faculty and Staff
• Off Campus Library Access
• Questions? Ask Us!
• Study Space and Lockers
• Writing Program Information Literacy Instruction
• Pius Faculty and Staff
• Meet Your Pius Research Librarian
• MCL Faculty and Staff
• Meet Your MCL Liaison Librarian

CORE 1000: Introduction to Future Studies

• APA Citation Style Information
• ATC & Study Space Information

University Writing Services

• University Writing Services "Whether you are brainstorming your first assignment at Saint Louis University or putting the final touches on your dissertation, SLU's University Writing Services can offer individualized feedback on your writing and composition process."

Plagiarism Prevention

Learn more at the slu academic integrity pages, slu academic integrity policy, helpful apa citation style sources.

In addition to the sources below, check out SLU Librarian Jamie Emery's guide  Style Guides & Manuals , including resources for APA, MLA, Chicago & more.

Includes information on APA style citations, as well as information on other citation styles and formatting. This site also includes a variety of other useful writing related information.

APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 7th edition of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page. For more information, please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (7th ed.).

This poster created by Purdue Owl summarizes APA style in a visual format.

The style and grammar guidelines pages present information about APA Style as described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition and the Concise Guide to APA Style, Seventh Edition.

• << Previous: Home
• Next: ATC & Study Space Information >>
• Last Updated: Aug 29, 2024 4:10 PM
• URL: https://libguides.slu.edu/futurestudies

The Library Is Open

The Wallace building is now open to the public. More information on services available.

• RIT Libraries
• Citation Information
• Resources for Specific Styles

This guide will point you to many resources that will help you create and manage your citations. A variety of styles will be addressed.

• Citation Management Tools
• Citing Generative AI
• Online/Free Citation Generators
• ASL Presentations and Citations

Resources for Specific Styles - OWL

The resources on this page will offer information about how to create references (citations), in-text citations, paper formatting, and more.

The Purdue University Online Writing Lab , known as  Purdue OWL , is commonly considered the expert resource concerning many citation styles. It's website is freely accessible and offers detailed, current information for the following styles: APA, MLA, IEEE, Chicago, AMA, and ASA. Purdue OWL also offers excellent information about general writing, avoiding plagiarism, and resources specifically for students whose first language is not English.

• Purdue University Online Writing Lab

For citation information on the Purdue OWL website use the  Research and Citation Resources link below. (You can find the link to this page on the menu to left of their website homepage.)

• Research and Citation Resources - OWL

Resources for Specific Styles - Excelsior

Excelsior Online Writing Lab. Excelsior College, much like  Purdue University, offers a very comprehensive website speaking to all things academic writing related. In terms of their citation resources, however, you will find only the three most commonly used styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago. If you are needing assistance with one of these three, the Excelsior OWL website is an extremely helpful resource. See the link below for their  Citation & Documentation . 

• Excelsior Online Writing Lab
• Citation & Documentation - Excelsior

A note about databases and pre-made citations:

Many library research databases offer ready made citations. It's important to be aware that these citations are machine generated and may contain errors. It's always a good idea to double check these database generated citations for accuracy.

IN THE BOXES BELOW YOU WILL SEE RESOURCES FOR SPECIFIC STYLE TYPES. IF YOU DO NOT SEE WHAT YOU NEED, REFER BACK TO THE PURDUE OWL RESEARCH & CITATION WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL STYLE TYPES, OR CONTACT YOUR LIBRARIAN.

• Contact Your Librarian

APA ( American Psychological Association)  style  was established  in order to create a simple set of procedures, or “style” guidelines, that would codify the many components of scientific writing . “Scientific” includes both some of the physical sciences as well as the social sciences such as psychology,  anthropology, criminal justice, sociology, etc.

• APA Citation Examples

The American Psychological Association's own website which offers many examples of the most commonly cited types of sources. For a list of examples for different types of sources, click on the tab entitled, "Style and Grammar Guidelines."

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the language arts, cultural studies, and other humanities disciplines.

MLA’s own website is not complete, but it does offer examples of how to cite five basic source types. You can click on an entry to get more information, as well as find links to posts with more examples.

• MLA Citation Examples
• In-Text Citations: An Overview

Physical Book

Chicago (CMA)

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is the preferred formatting and style guidelines used by the disciplines of history, philosophy, religion, and the arts.

The manual offers many examples of source types as well as information about in-text citations, paper formatting, and punctuation.

Harvard Referencing Style

RIT has no defined style for "Harvard Referencing." Instead we recommend using Bournemouth's guidelines and resources found below along with BibGuru, a third party citation management tool. TAKE  NOTE: the recommendation and examples are different in these two resources as there is no controlling authority. Ask your professor which flavor of Harvard they want to see in your paper.

• Harvard Reference Guide from Bournemouth This great guide has excellent information on how to cite and reference using a Harvard style.
• Harvard Citation Guide This takes you to recommendations and explanations for Harvard from BibGuru a third party citation tool.

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) referencing system is commonly used in technical fields, typically electrical, electronic and computer systems engineering. In the IEEE referencing style, a number [X] is inserted at the point in your writing where you cite another author's work. At the end of your work, the full reference [X] of the work is provided. Citations and their corresponding references are provided in the order they appear throughout your writing.

• IEEE Website Reference Manual The IEEE Reference Guide outlines how to cite a wide variety of references in IEEE style.
• IEEE Website Mathematics Guide The IEEE Mathematics Guide illustrates how mathematical equations should be rendered in a technical article.

• << Previous: Home
• Next: Citation Management Tools >>

Edit this Guide

Log into Dashboard

Use of RIT resources is reserved for current RIT students, faculty and staff for academic and teaching purposes only. Please contact your librarian with any questions.

Help is Available

Email a Librarian

A librarian is available by e-mail at [email protected]

Meet with a Librarian

Call reference desk voicemail.

A librarian is available by phone at (585) 475-2563 or on Skype at llll

Or, call (585) 475-2563 to leave a voicemail with the reference desk during normal business hours .

Chat with a Librarian

Citation information infoguide url.

https://infoguides.rit.edu/citation

Use the box below to email yourself a link to this guide

• Boston University Libraries

Indigenous and Native American Studies

Citing your sources.

• Introduction
• Research Methods & Handbooks
• Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
• Find Articles: Journals & Newspapers
• Online Primary Sources
• Online Sources
• Getting Help

Proper citation is an essential aspect of scholarship. Citing properly allows your reader or audience to locate the materials you have used. Most importantly, citations give credit to the authors of quoted or consulted information. Failure to acknowledge sources of information properly may constitute plagiarism.  For an explicit definition of plagiarism, see the  Boston University Academic Conduct Code .

For detailed instructions on how to cite within the text of your paper, please consult a style manual listed in this guide. Please also note: some of the resources listed do not cover every possibility you might encounter when trying to cite your sources. For this reason, it is suggested that you consult a style manual to create your bibliography.

Finally, please also see our separate citation guides  for Business students  or  for Science students .

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

• APA Formatting and Style Guide at Purdue OWL

Chicago Style

• Chicago Style guide at Purdue OWL

Harvard Style

There is no official guide to Harvard Style. If you Google “Harvard Style Guide” you will find many websites that list examples. One of the best guides is from  Monash University . 

MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

• MLA Formatting and Style Guide at Purdue OWL

NLM (National Library of Medicine Style)

The official style manual for the National Library of Medicine (NLM), and suggested when citing documents from the associated databases MedLine and PubMed. The online edition supercedes the print edition as the most up to date.

General Citation Guides

• Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

• << Previous: Online Sources
• Next: Getting Help >>
• Last Updated: Aug 27, 2024 3:20 PM
• URL: https://library.bu.edu/NativeAmerican

• Plagiarism and grammar
• Citation guides

Citation Machine® — Write Smarter

Start a new citation or manage your existing bibliographies.

Scan your paper for plagiarism and grammar errors.

Check your paper for grammar and plagiarism

Catch plagiarism and grammar mistakes with our paper checker

Use Citation Machine® Plus to get smart recommendations!

Scan your paper for unintentional plagiarism and get advanced recommendations for sentence structure, writing style, grammar and more!

• expert check

Know you're citing correctly

No matter what citation style you're using (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) we'll help you create the right bibliography

Check for unintentional plagiarism

Scan your paper the way your teacher would to catch unintentional plagiarism. Then, easily add the right citation

Strengthen your writing

Give your paper an in-depth check. Receive feedback within 24 hours from writing experts on your paper's main idea, structure, conclusion, and more.

Find and fix grammar errors

Don't give up sweet paper points for small mistakes. Our algorithms flag grammar and writing issues and provide smart suggestions

Citation Machine® Guides & Resources

Mla format: everything you need to know and more.

Filled with a wide variety of examples and visuals, our Citation Machine® MLA guide will help you master the citation process. Learn how to cite websites, books, journal articles, magazines, newspapers, films, social media, and more!

MLA Citation Generator | Website | Books | Journal Articles | YouTube | Images | Movies | Interview | PDFs

Comprehensive Guide to APA Format

Our Citation Machine® APA guide is a one-stop shop for learning how to cite in APA format. Read up on what APA is, or use our citing tools and APA examples to create citations for websites, books, journals, and more!

APA Citation Generator | Website | Books | Journal Articles | YouTube | Images | Movies | Interview | PDFs

Everything You Need to Know About Chicago Style

Creating citations in Chicago style has never been easier thanks to our extensive Citation Machine® Chicago style guide and tools. Learn about footnotes, endnotes, and everything in between, or easily create citations for websites, books, journal articles, and more!

Chicago Citation Generator | Website | Books | Journal Articles | YouTube | Images | Movies | Interview | PDFs

Citation Machine®’s Ultimate Writing Guides

Whether you’re a student, writer, foreign language learner, or simply looking to brush up on your grammar skills, our comprehensive grammar guides provide an extensive overview on over 50 grammar-related topics. Confused about reflexive verbs, demonstrative adjectives, or conjunctive adverbs? Look no further! Learn about these grammar topics and many, many more in our thorough and easy to understand reference guides!

Citing Sources Guide | Grammar Guide | Plagiarism Guide | Writing Tips

Student Blog

Stay up to date! Get research tips and citation information or just enjoy some fun posts from our student blog.

• Citation Machine® Plus
• Citation Guides
• Chicago Style
• Harvard Referencing
• Terms of Use
• Global Privacy Policy
• Cookie Notice
• DO NOT SELL MY INFO

Subject Guide: Sociology: Citing Sources

• Background Information & Reference Books
• Developing a Research Question
• Defining Scholarly Sources
• Using OneSearch
• Research Strategies: How to "Speak" Database
• Evaluating Sources
• Citing Sources

Citations in Sociology Class

Sociology classes typically use American Sociological Association (ASA) Style for citations and page set-up.  However, the  citation style to use is determined by your professor , so make sure to use the style indicated by your professor.  Some sociology professors allow students to use APA, so you will find help below for both ASA and AP A styles.

ASA Citation

This page will help you with ASA citation for your sources. If you need further help, please use the links below or ask a reference librarian.

• Purdue OWL ASA Style Guide
• ASA Guidelines from BC Library
• ASA Format Guidelines handout from Cal State LA
• Cite It Right! by Sondra Keckley Last Updated Aug 27, 2024 2364 views this year

Avoiding Plagiarism

Things to Notice About APA Citations, 7th edition

Cite journal articles, magazine articles, and newspaper articles the same whether in print or digital.  Do not include the name of the database or a URL.  Only include a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if provided.  The standard format for DOIs is https://doi.org/ ...(the DOI number given).

Cite books, eBooks, and parts of books found in a subscription database the same whether in print or digital.   Do not include the name of the database or a URL.  Do not include the place of publication (city and state).

For webpages or articles found on websites, do not use a period at the end of the URL.  Provide a URL that links directly to the section, not the home page of the website, and is a live hyperlink.  Do not include a "retrieved from" statement.  Only include a retrieval date if the work is designed to change over time.  

APA Citation, 7th edition

This page will help you with APA citation for your sources. If you need further help, please use the links below or ask a reference librarian.

• APA Style and Grammar Guidelines from American Psychological Association
• Purdue OWL APA Citation Style Guide
• BC Library APA Citation Guide
• APA 7th edition LibGuide from CSU, Dominguez Hills

Introduction to APA, 7th edition

Citing Your Sources in APA Style, 7th edition

Format guidelines for reference list:.

• Double-space the References page.
• One space follows a period.
• Use a hanging indent format (first line is flush left, all other lines are indented .5 inch. In MS Word, use  Format → Paragraph → Hanging Indent ).
• Arrange the list of references alphabetically by authors' last names (or by title if no author).
• Authors' names are inverted, followed by the initials of their first and middle names (Last name, A.A.).
• The date of publication follows the author's name in parentheses.
• If no author is listed, list the source by title, followed by date of publication in parentheses.
• Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle of a book or article.
• Capitalize the titles of journals, magazines, and newspapers normally.
• Italicize  titles of books, journals, magazines, etc., and the volume numbers of journals as well.
• Do not include "retrieved from" information, such as the name of the database, nor a URL for the source unless it is an active URL to a website.
• Do not include place of publication for books ( no city and state).

Examples of APA Citations, 7th edition

Further Breakdown of Source Part of Journal Article Citation:

• << Previous: Evaluating Sources
• Last Updated: Aug 27, 2024 2:06 PM
• URL: https://bakersfieldcollege.libguides.com/Sociology1

WashU Libraries

A guide to english literature.

• Fast Access Links
• Article Databases
• Articles by Title
• Current Newspapers and Periodicals
• Requests - Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
• Book Chapter Scans
• Reference Sources
• Historical Periodicals
• Literary Periods and Movements - Select Resources This link opens in a new window
• Citations How-To

Citation Management Software

• Zotero Citation management program that assists in organizing sources and citations, generating bibliographies, and inserting in-text citations. See also https://libguides.wustl.edu/zotero
• ZoteroBib Think of this as "Zotero Lite." Helps create bibliographies in any citation style. Free and ad-free.

MLA & Chicago Citation Style Assistance

The ninth edition of the Modern Language Association Handbook is a textbook and reference guide that offers student writers and writing instructors guidance on creating works-cited-list entries in MLA style using the template of core elements. It features advice on punctuation, grammar, inclusive language, formatting research papers, and in-text citations. Includes an appendix of sample works-cited-list entries, illustrations, and an index.

• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) Writing resources posted " as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects."
• MLA 9th edition - information Puudue OWL outlines key notable changes the 9th ed. brings to the MLA formatting style.

Chicago Citation Style Assistance

• Chicago Manual of Style Subscription access to the Chicago Manual of Style
• << Previous: Literary Periods and Movements - Select Resources
• Last Updated: Aug 29, 2024 4:00 PM
• URL: https://libguides.wustl.edu/english

APA Style for beginners

Then check out some frequently asked questions:

What is APA Style?

Why use apa style in high school, how do i get started with apa style, what apa style products are available, your help wanted.

APA Style is the most common writing style used in college and career. Its purpose is to promote excellence in communication by helping writers create clear, precise, and inclusive sentences with a straightforward scholarly tone. It addresses areas of writing such as how to

• format a paper so it looks professional;
• credit other people’s words and ideas via citations and references to avoid plagiarism; and
• describe other people with dignity and respect using inclusive, bias-free language.

APA Style is primarily used in the behavioral sciences, which are subjects related to people, such as psychology, education, and nursing. It is also used by students in business, engineering, communications, and other classes. Students use it to write academic essays and research papers in high school and college, and professionals use it to conduct, report, and publish scientific research .

High school students need to learn how to write concisely, precisely, and inclusively so that they are best prepared for college and career. Here are some of the reasons educators have chosen APA Style:

• APA Style is the style of choice for the AP Capstone program, the fastest growing AP course, which requires students to conduct and report independent research.
• APA Style helps students craft written responses on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT because it teaches students to use a direct and professional tone while avoiding redundancy and flowery language.
• Most college students choose majors that require APA Style or allow APA Style as an option. It can be overwhelming to learn APA Style all at once during the first years of college; starting APA Style instruction in high school sets students up for success.

High school students may also be interested in the TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students , an annual competition from the APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools for high school students to create a short video demonstrating how a psychological topic has the potential to benefit their school and/or local community and improve people’s lives.

Most people are first introduced to APA Style by reading works written in APA Style. The following guides will help with that:

Many people also write research papers or academic essays in APA Style. The following resources will help with that:

Instructors will also benefit from using the following APA Style resources:

In addition to all the free resources on this website, APA publishes several products that provide comprehensive information about APA Style:

The APA Style team is interested in developing additional resources appropriate for a beginner audience. If you have resources you would like to share, or feedback on this topic, please contact the APA Style team . 

Free newsletter

Apa style monthly.

Subscribe to the APA Style Monthly newsletter to get tips, updates, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

Welcome! Thank you for subscribing.