Janice Lozano
Citing sources is an essential skill for university students to master. Proper citation ensures that original authors are given credit for their work and ideas, and it helps to validate a student's arguments and knowledge of the material. There are various citation styles, including Harvard, Chicago, MLA, and APA, each with its own specific rules and formats. For example, the Harvard style includes in-text citations and reference lists, while the Chicago style may use footnotes and a bibliography. Students should be aware of when to cite, such as when summarising, quoting, or using facts and statistics, and when not to cite, such as common knowledge or observable facts. Overall, learning to cite appropriately is a critical skill for academic success and beyond.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of authors | If there are multiple authors, use "et al." for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles after the second author. |
| Author name | Include the full name of the author. |
| Year of publication | Include the year of publication. |
| Title of article | Include the title of the article. For MLA, the title appears in quotation marks. |
| Title of journal | Include the title of the journal. For MLA, the journal title is in italics. |
| Volume number | Include the volume number. For MLA, the volume number is in italics. |
| Issue number | Include the issue number. |
| Page range | Include the page range. |
| URL or DOI | Include the URL or DOI. |
| Date accessed | Include the date the source was accessed. |
| Type of citation | In-text citation, footnote, or end-of-text citation. |
| Citation style | APA, MLA, or Chicago style. |
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What You'll Learn
Citing an article from an academic journal
Regardless of the chosen style, you will need an in-text citation and a corresponding reference. The in-text citation usually includes the author's last name, the publication year, and, when needed, the page number. This information can be included as part of the sentence or in parentheses.
For the reference, you will need the following details:
- Name(s) of the author(s): In APA and MLA styles, list up to two authors in the in-text citation and the reference entry. For three or more authors, use "et al." (meaning "and others"). In Chicago style, use "et al." for three or more authors in the in-text citation and ten or more authors in the bibliography.
- Publication date: Include the year of publication in all styles. In MLA and Chicago styles, also include the specific month or season of publication if available.
- Article title: In APA style, the article title is in plain text and sentence case. In MLA style, the article title appears in quotation marks.
- Journal name: In APA and MLA styles, the journal name appears in italics and in title case.
- Volume and issue numbers: Include these in your reference.
- Page range: Provide the page range of the article.
- URL or DOI: When accessed online, include either the DOI (preferred) or the URL. If the article was accessed in print or a DOI is not available, omit this part.
Ruxton, C. (2016). Tea: Hydration and other health benefits. *Primary Health Care*, *26*(8), 34-42. https://doi.org/10.7748/phc.2016.e1162
Remember to check with your university or course guidelines for any specific requirements or preferred citation styles.
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When to cite
Citing sources is an important aspect of academic writing, and it is generally better to cite too much than too little. You should cite whenever you refer to, summarise, paraphrase, or quote another source. This includes any source that contributes, either directly or indirectly, to your knowledge and understanding of the material and the formulation of your arguments.
When using another source, you must cite the original source as much as possible. This means citing the source every time you incorporate research, words, ideas, data, or information that is not your own. For example, if you are using facts, statistics, dates, or unoriginal information, you should cite the source. It is particularly important to build your arguments from reliable sources. For instance, a statistic from the U.S. Census is a more credible source than a Facebook poll.
However, there are some instances when citing may not be necessary. Common knowledge, for example, does not require a citation. If a fact can be found in five credible sources, you do not need to cite it. For example, you do not need to cite that the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, or that water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. Similarly, generally accepted or easily observable facts do not need citations. For example, “smoking may be bad for your health” or “most people use cell phones” are statements that are generally accepted and easily observable.
There are several different citation styles, and it is important to choose one and use it consistently throughout your text. The main styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago. APA Style is the most popular and is widely used in the social and behavioral sciences. MLA style is the second most popular and is mainly used in the humanities. Chicago notes and bibliography style is also popular in the humanities, especially history. Chicago author-date style tends to be used in the sciences.
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In-text citation
Citing a source typically involves two components: the in-text component and the end-of-text component. The in-text component informs the reader that additional information is available at the end of the page or essay. It also provides information on the source, such as the author's name, title, publication date, and location of the information (e.g., page numbers or hyperlinks).
Author's Name in the Text
If the author's name is included in the text of the sentence, place the year of publication and the page number in parentheses after the quotation. For example:
> Jones (1998) found "students often had difficulty using APA style" (p. 199), but she did not offer an explanation as to why.
Author's Name Not in the Text
If the author's name is not included in the text of the sentence, place the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number in parentheses after the quotation. For example:
> "Students often had difficulty using APA style" (Jones, 1998, p. 199).
Quoting Directly
When quoting directly from a source, introduce the quote with an in-text citation in parentheses. For example:
> According to Shavers (2007), "limitations of studying socioeconomic status in research on health disparities include difficulties in collecting data."
Paraphrasing or Summarizing
When paraphrasing or summarizing an idea from another work, only the author's last name and the year of publication are needed in the in-text reference. Page numbers can be omitted, but APA guidelines encourage including a page range when it helps the reader find the information in a longer work. For example:
> Jones (1998) found a variety of causes for student dissatisfaction with prevailing citation practices.
Multiple Authors
When citing a source with multiple authors, include all authors' names in the in-text citation for the first citation, separated by commas. For example:
> Ashing-Giwa, Padilla, Tejero, et al. (2004) conducted a study on the breast cancer experience of women.
For subsequent citations, use "et al." to refer to the same source.
No Author Listed
If there is no author listed for the source, use the title of the source in place of the author's name in the in-text citation. For example:
> ("Breast Cancer Study", 2004)
No Date Listed
If there is no date listed for the source, use "n.d." (meaning "no date") in place of the year in the in-text citation. For example:
> Smith (n.d.) argued that...
Secondary Sources
When citing a source that is cited in another work (a secondary source), mention the original source in your text and provide a reference for the secondary source in which it is discussed. For example:
> According to France (2003, cited in Weingart et al., 2018, p. 24), hospitals use internal reporting procedures...
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Citing a web page
When citing a web page in a university paper, there are a few standard formats you can follow, depending on the referencing style used in your discipline. Two of the most common styles are APA and MLA.
APA Style
The APA style is often used in the social sciences. To cite a web page in APA format, follow this structure:
> Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Date Published). Title of web page. Name of Website. URL
For example:
> Austerlitz, S. (2015, March 3). How long can a spinoff like ‘Better Call Saul’ last? FiveThirtyEight. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-long-can-a-spinoff-like-better-call-saul-last/
Note that not all web pages will have authors or dates. If this is the case, simply omit this information and begin the citation with the title. If the web page is authored by an organisation, treat the organisation name as you would an author name.
MLA Style
The MLA style is commonly used in the humanities. To cite a web page in MLA format, follow this structure:
> Author Last Name, First Name. “Title.” Title of Site, Sponsor or Publisher [include only if different from website title or author], Day Month Year, URL
For example:
> Hamilton, Jon. “Think You’re Multitasking? Think Again.” National Public Radio, 2 Oct. 2008, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95256794
If no author is available, or the webpage is authored by an organisation, begin with the title of the webpage. If there is no date available, include an access date to indicate when you viewed the content.
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Common citation styles
Citing sources is an essential aspect of academic writing, and various disciplines employ specific citation styles. Here is an overview of some of the most common citation styles:
APA Style
The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used in education, psychology, and the social sciences. This style is often employed for in-text citations and reference lists. APA citations typically include the author's last name and the year of publication, followed by additional information such as page numbers when relevant.
MLA Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used in the humanities. MLA citations generally include the author's last name, followed by the page number(s) being referenced. The full reference list entry includes additional details such as the author's full name, publication year, title, and publication information.
Chicago Style
The Chicago Manual of Style, also known as the "Editor's Bible" or "Turabian Style," is one of the most renowned citation styles. It is prevalent in publishing and is used across various disciplines. Chicago Style has two variations: the Notes-Bibliography System, commonly used in literature, history, and the arts, and the Author-Date System, often employed in the physical, natural, and social sciences. The Notes-Bibliography System uses superscript numbers in the text, directing readers to footnotes or endnotes, while the Author-Date System uses parenthetical citations similar to APA style.
Harvard Style
The Harvard style is another popular citation style used in academic writing. It includes in-text citations, which provide brief details about the source within the text, and reference lists or bibliographies, which offer more comprehensive information about the sources at the end of the document.
Vancouver Style
The Vancouver style is commonly used in medical and scientific writing. It primarily focuses on numerical in-text citations, with corresponding numbers directing readers to a reference list at the end of the document.
These are just a few examples of common citation styles. Each style has its own specific guidelines and conventions, and it is essential to consult the relevant style guides for detailed instructions on formatting and content. Additionally, certain disciplines may have their own preferred citation styles, so it is always good to check the requirements for your specific field of study.
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Frequently asked questions
Author. (Year of publication). Title of work. Journal Name, volume number. Page(s).
A works-cited-list entry should include the author, title of the paper (in quotation marks), and date. The name of the course, institution, and type of work are optional: Leland, Dina. "Designing websites with Preschool Learners in Mind: Two Approaches Compared." 4 Sept. 2017. User Experience 101, Dunham College, student paper.
Asmelash, L. (2019, August 14). Social media use may harm teens' mental health by disrupting positive activities, study says. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/13/health/social-media-mental-health-trnd/index.html
