1. MLA (Modern Language Association) Style: This is the standard citation style used in many fields of literary and language studies, including English, rhetoric, and composition. MLA style uses parenthetical citations within the text, followed by a "Works Cited" page at the end of the paper.
* Example of in-text citation: "As Emily Dickinson wrote, 'Because I could not stop for Death – / He kindly stopped for me' (1)."
* Example of Works Cited entry: Dickinson, Emily. "Because I could not stop for Death –." *The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson*, edited by Thomas H. Johnson, Little, Brown and Company, 1960, pp. 227-28.
2. Chicago Manual of Style: This style guide is more commonly used in history and other social sciences, but is also used in some areas of literature and language studies. Chicago style offers two basic citation formats: footnotes/endnotes and author-date citations.
* Example of footnote/endnote citation: ¹ Emily Dickinson, *The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson*, edited by Thomas H. Johnson (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1960), 227-28.
* Example of author-date citation: (Dickinson 1960, 227-28).
Important Considerations:
* Always follow the specific instructions of your instructor or the style guide used by the journal or publication you are writing for.
* Ensure consistency throughout your paper.
* Use reliable and credible sources.
* Check your citations for accuracy and completeness.
In addition to MLA and Chicago, other citation styles used in certain areas of language and literature include:
* APA (American Psychological Association) Style: Used in psychology and some related fields.
* Turabian Style: A student-friendly version of Chicago style.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a style guide and adhere to it consistently throughout your work. This will ensure clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in your writing.