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Citations & References

Find tools and examples for citing sources in your research projects using a variety of styles and formats. Your professor will tell you which style is most appropriate for your project or discipline. Have questions? Ask a librarian!

Cite Your Sources

Why use citation styles?

In academic writing, there are a number of different citation styles that you might use when documenting your sources. Documentation helps you keep your research organized and assists your readers in recognizing the sources for your evidence. The style that you choose to deploy is dependent on factors including instructor expectations and your academic discipline.

This guide provides an overview of several of the major citation styles used in college writing. Click one of the tabs to the left to get started. If you are not sure which citation style you should use for an assignment, ask your instructor or a librarian.

Citation Management Tools

Cite better with some help from one of these online citation management tools:

Where do citation styles come from?

Citation styles referenced in this guide are derived from the following sources:

MLA (Modern Languages Association) Handbook, 9th Edition

APA (American Psychological Association) Publication Manual, 7th Edition

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 21st Edition

What about Chicago?