Citation Styles: Background and Links to Style Guides
Know Your Assignment!
Your instructor decides which citation style you will use for your research paper. MLA, APA, and other citation styles have different formats to use. The resources linked at the bottom of this page explain what to do. Click here for a video clip on how to generate automatic citations in CU Search, but make sure to check all computer-generated citations for accuracy with the appropriate style guide.
Write and Cite:
Your academic papers must use both in-text citations in your essay paragraphs and full citations at the end. Plagiarism can easily happen if you focus too much on writing without citing. Don't wait until the final draft to add citations. A good habit is to put citations in your rough outline!
In-text Citation vs. Full Citations:
Mentioning the source of information within a paragraph is known as an in-text citation. Any sentence that quotes, summarizes, or paraphrases information from a source must have an in-text citation. Every time you create an in-text citation, you must then provide a corresponding full citation at the end of the paper (in MLA and APA style) or in a footnote. A full citation contains all of the relevant information about the sources formatted according to the style your professor requires.
Skipping in-text citation is a frequent problem for less-experienced writers, so make sure you understand this concept. An in-text citation can be written as part of the flow of the sentence or in parentheses.
Sample in-text citations in MLA style: In these examples, Cooke (find the book here) is the author and the paraphrased information comes from page 7. (MLA always requires page numbers in the in-text citations for books and periodicals).
According to Cooke, disinformation is defined as factually wrong information deliberately spread for a purpose (7).
Cooke defines disinformation as factually wrong information deliberately spread for a purpose (7).
Disinformation is defined as factually wrong information deliberately spread for a purpose (Cooke 7).
Sample in-text citations in APA style: The follow examples cite the same information in the examples above, but in APA format, which requires the year of publication. Including the page number here makes it easier for readers to confirm the information in Cooke's book.
According to Cooke (2018), disinformation is defined as factually wrong information deliberately spread for a purpose (p. 7).
Cooke (2018) defines disinformation as factually wrong information deliberately spread for a purpose (p. 7).
Disinformation is defined as factually wrong information deliberately spread for a purpose (Cooke, 2018, p. 7).
APA Style Resources
- TRY THIS FIRST: Sample Citations of Common Sources for List of References (APA Style - 7th Edition)Sample references by type of source according to American Psychological Association style.
- APA Paper Format - Section-by-Section Guide at apa.orgFind guidelines and helpful examples of how to set up the header, title page, references, and other sections in an APA-formatted paper.
- APA Style and Grammar Guidelines (7th edition)Comprehensive online guide by the American Psychological Association
- APA Format for Artwork ReferencesHow to cite artwork at a museum, museum website, exhibition, or museum plaque
MLA Citation Style
- TRY THIS FIRST: Sample Citations of Common Sources for a Works Cited Page (MLA 9th Edition)How to cite books, articles, images, movies, and other sources on an MLA Works Cited page.
- MLA - Ask the MLAFrequently asked questions about the Modern Language Association style.
IEEE Citation Style
- IEEE Reference Guide - 2023Citation style guide published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for all types of sources.
General Help & Other Citation Styles
- Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)Use this site map to navigate the writing resources of the OWL.
- Chicago Manual of Style OnlineA guide to using the Chicago style.
- AP (Associated Press) Style FAQA sampling of frequently asked questions with examples of use.
- ASA Style Quick TipsA PDF with information on the American Sociological Association Style.
- Scientific Style and Format Quick GuideThe style guide of The Council of Scientific Editors
- Student Supplement for the SBL Handbook of StyleFrom the Society for Biblical Literature.
Citation Formatting Software
- EndNoteEndNote is a paid software to assist in formatting bibliographies, finding full text, and searching for and organizing references.
- MendeleyMendeley Desktop allows you to easily organize and search your personal library, annotate documents, and cite as you write.
- Microsoft Word ReferenceCreate a bibliography, citations, and references in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Word 2007.
- PERRLAUse PERRLA to create perfectly formatted APA & MLA papers from start to finish. Please note: this is a paid subscription service.
- ZoteroZotero is a free, easy-to-use, open source software. It can be used to collect, organize, cite, and share your research.
Videos
Tutoring and Writing Center
Part of the Badgett Academic Support Center at Campbellsville University, The Writing Center provides peer writing consultants to guide undergraduate students through the writing process.
- Tutoring and Writing CenterThe BASC currently offers walk-in English support Monday-Friday from 8 am - 5 pm. Just show up with your assignment instructions and/or draft!
Copyright Info
For current information about copyright issues, use these links:
- Frequently Asked Questions about CopyrightInformation on coyright law from the federal government.
- Copyright BasicsProduced by the U. S. Copyright Office.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of passing off someone else's ideas, words, or production as your own, without giving credit to the source. It is fraud and falls under the definition of academic dishonesty.
The Campbellsville University Student Handbook has this to say about Academic Integrity:
Each person has the privilege and responsibility to develop one's learning abilities, knowledge base and practical skills. We value behavior that leads a student to take credit for one's own academic accomplishments and to give credit to other's contributions to one's work. These values can be violated by academic dishonesty and fraud.
- Avoiding PlagiarismWatch this tutorial about how to avoid plagiarism in your research papers.
- Understanding Copyright, Public Domain, and Fair UseThis tutorial explains copyright and fair use.