How to Write Citations for a Research Paper
Writing a research paper requires you to cite your sources properly using a certain citation style. The three most common citation styles are MLA, APA, and Chicago style. Each style has its own guidelines for things like punctuation, capitalization, arranging multiple authors’ names, and more. You also need to know how to properly format the in-text citations within your paragraphs and the reference list/bibliography at the end of your paper.
This guide will cover the basics of citations including:
Choosing a citation style
Formatting citations within the text of your paper (in-text citations)
Creating a reference list or bibliography
Citing common source types like books, articles, websites, etc.
Choosing a Citation Style
The first step is determining which style your professor or discipline requires. The three main options are:
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is commonly used in the humanities, especially languages, literature, cultural studies, and creative writing. Some key aspects of MLA include placing the author’s last name and page number in parentheses within the text.
APA (American Psychological Association) style is most often required in the social sciences like psychology, criminology, education, business, and nursing. APA uses the author’s last name and year of publication within the text citation.
Chicago/Turabian style has two forms – Notes-Bibliography style for the humanities and sciences, and Author-Date style for the social sciences. Chicago places either superscript note numbers or parentheses with author name and date within the text.
So check with your instructor on which style they want you to use. If no preference is stated, MLA is generally the safe default option. Your source’s container, like a periodical or website, can also help determine your choice of style.
Formatting In-Text Citations
In-text citations occur within the body of your paper and contain brief information identifying the source, including the author’s name and page number if quoting directly. The full citation is then included on the reference list page.
MLA in-text citations include the author’s last name and page number in parentheses after a quote or paraphrase. For example: (Smith 25). If the author’s name is already in the text, only include the page number in parentheses.
APA in-text citations include the author’s last name and date of publication in parentheses after a quote or paraphrase. For example: (Smith, 2020). If the author’s name is already in the text sentence, only include the date in parentheses.
Chicago/Turabian in-text citations depend on the notes-bibliography or author-date style, but generally include the author’s last name and date in parentheses or as a superscript numeral directing to a foot/endnote with full publication details.
Be consistent in styling your in-text citations and double check that full reference entries match on the bibliography/reference page. Tools like Citation Machine can generate citations for you to minimize errors.
Creating a Reference List/Bibliography
The final component is the reference list or bibliography page located at the end of your paper. This provides full publication details for each in-text citation source. It is ordered alphabetically by author’s last name or title if no author is provided.
For books, the basic reference includes author’s name, book title in italics, publisher city, publisher name, year of publication, and any additional elements like edition or volume.
For periodical articles, include author’s name, article title in quotation marks, periodical title in italics, date, volume and issue number, and page range.
For websites, include author’s name if available, article/page title in quotation marks if it’s a stand-alone page, website name in italics, publisher if applicable, publication date if available, and date of access.
Check your style guide for variations in punctuation, capitalization rules between styles, and different reference structure for sources like reports, dissertations, interviews, etc. Be very consistent with formatting elements like indents, italics, periods. This leaves an organized impression for readers.
Citing Common Source Types
Here are some basic citation examples following MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian styles:
Book:
MLA: Smith, John. How to Cite Sources. Publisher, 2020.
APA: Smith, J. (2020). How to Cite Sources. Publisher.
Chicago: Smith, John. How to Cite Sources. Publisher, 2020.
Journal article:
MLA: Smith, John. “CITING SOURCES.” Journal of Citation, vol. 30, no. 2, 2020, pp. 25-30.
APA: Smith, J. (2020). Citing sources. Journal of Citation, 30(2), 25-30.
Chicago: Smith, John. “CITING SOURCES.” Journal of Citation 30, no. 2 (2020): 25-30.
Website:
MLA: Smith, John. “Citation Basics.” WebsiteName.com, Publisher, 1 Jan. 2020, websitename.com/citation-basics. Accessed Date.
APA: Smith, J. (2020, January 1). Citation basics. WebsiteName.com. https://websitename.com/citation-basics Accessed Date.
Chicago: Smith, John. “Citation Basics.” WebsiteName.com. Published by Publisher, January 1, 2020. https://websitename.com/citation-basics. Accessed Date.
Properly citing all source material is crucial for avoiding plagiarism. It also allows readers to find and evaluate your sources. The style may seem picky, but following guidelines precisely leaves a professional impression. With practice, citations will become second nature when writing research papers.
Andrew Stroud