Citing your sources
Once you organize, make sure you (1) keep track of the information you use and (2) cite your sources.
Citation style guides
Much of the time, you'll need to use a particular citation style to cite sources in your paper. But, why?
A citation style:
- helps your readers scan through papers more quickly
- reduces distractions caused by inconsistent formatting
- makes sure you give proper attribution when using other people's ideas
- helps your readers find the sources you used for their own research purposes
Commonly used citation styles are Modern Language Association (MLA) style, American Psychological Association (APA) style, and Chicago or Turabian style. Individual journals or professional associations may use these styles (directly or with alterations) or have their own.
Citation Guides
Short guides
By Excelsior College Online Writing Lab
For more help, see our citation style guides or try Zotero, a free citation management tool.