* APA (American Psychological Association): Frequently used in social sciences, psychology, education, and some areas of business. It emphasizes author-date citation in the text and a reference list at the end.
* MLA (Modern Language Association): Primarily used in humanities disciplines like literature, languages, and cultural studies. While less common in science, it might be used in some interdisciplinary fields.
* Chicago/Turabian: Offers two styles (notes-bibliography and author-date). The author-date style is becoming more common in some scientific fields, while the notes-bibliography is more traditional for humanities.
* IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Widely used in computer science, electrical engineering, and related fields. It uses numbered citations in the text and a reference list.
* ACS (American Chemical Society): Specific to chemistry and related fields.
* AMA (American Medical Association): Used in medical journals and publications.
To determine the correct citation format:
1. Check the journal's or conference's guidelines: This is the most crucial step. Most journals have author guidelines or instructions for authors explicitly stating the required citation style. Look for sections titled "Instructions to Authors," "Author Guidelines," or "Manuscript Preparation." These guidelines will usually include a link to style guides or examples.
2. Look for a style guide: Once you know the required style, access the complete style manual (often available online or in libraries) for detailed instructions. Many style guides offer templates and examples to help you format citations correctly.
Failing to follow the correct citation style can lead to rejection of your paper. Therefore, always prioritize checking the specific requirements of your target publication.