* MLA (Modern Language Association): Commonly used in the humanities.
* APA (American Psychological Association): Commonly used in social sciences, psychology, and education.
* Chicago/Turabian: Has several variations; used widely across the humanities and social sciences.
* IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Primarily used in engineering, computer science, and technology.
Each style has specific rules for formatting in-text citations and the bibliography/references page. Here's a general overview and examples using APA and MLA:
I. Information Needed: Before you can cite, gather this information about the article:
* Author(s): Last name, First initial(s). If more than 7 authors, list the first 6 followed by "et al."
* Year of Publication: (YYYY)
* Article Title: In sentence case (only capitalize the first word and proper nouns).
* Journal Title: Italicized.
* Volume Number: (If applicable)
* Issue Number: (If applicable, often in parentheses)
* Page Numbers: (Start page – End page)
* DOI (Digital Object Identifier): A unique alphanumeric string identifying the article. Highly recommended.
* URL (Uniform Resource Locator): If DOI is unavailable. Use with caution, as URLs can change.
II. Examples:
Let's say we have this article:
* Author: Smith, J. D.
* Year: 2023
* Article Title: The impact of social media on adolescent mental health
* Journal Title: *Journal of Adolescent Research*
* Volume: 38
* Issue: 2
* Pages: 150-175
* DOI: 10.1080/07435584.2022.2164552
A. APA (7th Edition):
* In-text citation (paraphrase): Social media's effect on adolescent mental health has been a growing area of research (Smith, 2023).
* In-text citation (direct quote): Smith (2023) argued that "social media usage significantly correlates with increased anxiety levels in adolescents" (p. 165).
* Reference entry:
Smith, J. D. (2023). The impact of social media on adolescent mental health. *Journal of Adolescent Research*, *38*(2), 150–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/07435584.2022.2164552
B. MLA (9th Edition):
* In-text citation (paraphrase): Recent research highlights the link between social media and adolescent mental health (Smith 165).
* In-text citation (direct quote): As Smith notes, "social media usage significantly correlates with increased anxiety levels in adolescents" (165).
* Works Cited entry:
Smith, Jane Doe. "The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health." *Journal of Adolescent Research*, vol. 38, no. 2, 2023, pp. 150-75, doi:10.1080/07435584.2022.2164552.
III. Using Citation Management Software:
For larger projects, citation management software like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote is highly recommended. These tools help you collect, organize, and format citations automatically, minimizing the risk of errors.
IV. Important Considerations:
* Consistency: Maintain consistency throughout your paper in terms of the citation style you choose.
* Accuracy: Double-check all details to ensure accuracy. Errors can impact the credibility of your work.
* Consult a Style Guide: Always refer to the official style guide for your chosen citation style (e.g., the *Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association* for APA). These guides offer detailed rules and examples for various types of sources.
This information provides a basic framework. For precise formatting and handling of special cases (e.g., multiple authors, online-only articles, etc.), consult the specific style guide relevant to your assignment.