Guides: Citation Help: Home (original) (raw)
What is a citation?
When doing research it is often necessary to consult other research. Citations are a way of identifying the sources you have quoted, paraphrased, or used in your research and writing. They let others know that they can trust your work and follow or extend your research.
Citations also help you to build your credibility as a scholar. By citing your sources, you are showing respect for the researchers you got your information from.
The three most common citation styles used are APA, Chicago/Turabian, and MLA.
Most citation styles are made up of two parts:
- In-Text Citation
- Full Citation
In-Text Citation:
- Brief notation of the source you're referencing in the body of your paper
- Each in-text citation has a corresponding entry in your reference list or bibliography
- Typically includes the title or authors name and a page number or date
Full Citation
- More detailed list of your sources at the end of your work
- Includes all essential publication information (i.e. Author, Title, Publisher, Date, etc.)
- Allows your readers to find the exact resource you used
- Different names depending on the style
- MLA: Works Cited
- APA: Reference List
- Chicago: Bibliography
Take a look at this video for a quick introduction to citations!
FAQ
Why can't I find citation style I need?
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