Common Citation Styles:
* MLA (Modern Language Association): Primarily used in the humanities (literature, languages, cultural studies). It emphasizes author-page citations in the text and a Works Cited page at the end.
* In-text citation example: (Smith 123).
* Works Cited example: Smith, John. *Title of Book*. Publisher, Year.
* APA (American Psychological Association): Commonly used in social sciences (psychology, sociology, education). It uses author-date citations in the text and a References page at the end.
* In-text citation example: (Smith, 2023).
* References example: Smith, J. (2023). *Title of Book*. Publisher.
* Chicago/Turabian: Offers two styles: Notes and Bibliography (more common in history and humanities) and Author-Date (similar to APA, used more in social sciences). Notes are placed at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of the chapter/paper (endnotes).
* Footnote/endnote example (Notes and Bibliography): ¹ John Smith, *Title of Book* (Publisher, Year), 123.
* Bibliography example (Notes and Bibliography): Smith, John. *Title of Book*. Publisher, Year.
* In-text citation example (Author-Date): (Smith 2023, 123).
* References example (Author-Date): Smith, J. (2023). *Title of Book*. Publisher.
* IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Used primarily in engineering and computer science. It uses numbered citations in the text and a References section at the end.
* In-text citation example: [1]
* References example: [1] Author, "Title," *Journal*, vol., no., pp., month, year.
Key Elements of a Citation:
Regardless of the style guide, most citations include some or all of the following information:
* Author(s): Last name, first initial (or first name if the style guide specifies).
* Date: Year of publication (and month/day if available).
* Title: Book title (italicized), article title (in quotation marks), website title.
* Publisher/Journal/Website: Where the work was published.
* Page numbers (where applicable): Specific page(s) you're referencing.
* URL (where applicable): For online sources.
* DOI (Digital Object Identifier, where applicable): A unique identifier for online articles.
How to Create Citations:
* Citation management software: Programs like Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote can help you manage your sources and automatically generate citations in various styles.
* Online citation generators: Websites like EasyBib, Citation Machine, and MyBib can assist in creating citations, but always double-check for accuracy.
* Style manuals: Purchase or access the official style manual for the specific style you're using. They provide comprehensive guidelines and examples.
It's crucial to always use the correct citation style and to be accurate and consistent throughout your writing. Incorrect or missing citations constitute plagiarism. If you're unsure about how to cite a particular source, consult the relevant style guide.