Library Tip # 5

Citing Sources

This guide will help you understand the importance of citing your sources, familiarize you with different citation styles, and provide you with resources  to help you cite sources in a variety of different formats (articles, books, websites, etc.).

Image credit: Sullivan Library (Dominican College)

Citing Sources: What you need to know

Citing your sources refers to giving credit to authors whose work you use.  Citations are written in a standard format using a style manual. As a college student, you'll mainly use APA and MLA citation styles.

Both styles provide guidelines for quoting and documenting your sources. The citation style you should use depends on the requirements and instructions from your teacher/professor.  It will also depend on your major and the subject you are writing for.  For example, a student enrolled in a Psychology course would use APA style in writing his/her papers.  An English major would use MLA style in his/her papers.

What does "MLA" and "APA" stand for?

MLA = Modern Language Association :  used in English and in some other disciplines in the humanities. 

APA = American Psychological Association : the most common style in the social sciences. 

Why is it important to cite your sources?

4 reasons why citing your sources is important:

• Gives credit to authors whose works and ideas you have used.
• Provides a trail by which others (students, professors, etc.) can locate the materials you consulted.
• Provides evidence of your research.
• Properly citing materials is one strategy to help you avoid plagiarizing.  (Please see the library guide: Plagiarism)

This video was created and uploaded by the Ohio University Libraries

Online Style Guides

Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University 

APA Style Guide

MLA Style Guide

Free citation tools

The following tools are helpful for creating citations for books, articles, websites, etc. It is recommended that you compare (to a style manual) and double-check all citations for accuracy. 

BibMe

Citation Builder

Citation Machine

EasyBib

Citefast

 Last Updated: July 13, 2015

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