Washington and Lee University Library
Have questions about what is permissible for your specific class?Ask your professor for guidance.
Citation Styles
Unfortunately, there is no universally agreed-upon "style" for documenting the use of sources in research and writing—no single method for formatting footnotes, bibliographies, endnotes, in-text citations, etc.
The W&L University Library provides help citing sources and using citation management tools (like Zotero). Three commonly used styles are The Chicago Manual of Style, the MLA [Modern Languages Association] Handbook, and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Explore these resources below.
The Chicago Manual of Style by
Online access to the complete and up-to-date contents of the 17th edition (2017). Leyburn Library has a printed copy. If you are looking for help with documentation (footnotes, in-text citations, bibliographies), you probably want Chapter 14 and/or Chapter 15. Chicago Style is a good general-purpose style and is often used in history and other fields within the humanities.
Call Number: ebookISBN: 9780226287058Publication Date: 2017
MLA Handbook by
Relied on by generations of writers, the MLA Handbook is published by the Modern Language Association and is the only official, authorized book on MLA style.
The library also has a print copy available in Leyburn Library Reference LB2369 .M52 2021.
Call Number: EbookISBN: 1603293523Publication Date: 2021
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by Call Number: BF76.7 .P83 2020 Leyburn Permanent Reserves and Telford ReferenceISBN: 9781433832161Publication Date: 2019-10-01
AP Stylebook by
The AP Stylebook is widely used as a writing and editing reference in newsrooms, classrooms and corporate offices worldwide. Updated regularly since its initial publication in 1953, the AP Stylebook is a must-have reference for writers, editors, students and professionals. It provides fundamental guidelines for spelling, language, punctuation, usage and journalistic style...
Call Number: EbookISBN: 9798985136807Publication Date: 2020
