* MLA (Modern Language Association): Primarily used in the humanities (literature, languages, cultural studies). It emphasizes author-page citations in the text (e.g., (Smith 123)) and a Works Cited page at the end listing all sources alphabetically by author's last name.
* APA (American Psychological Association): Commonly used in social sciences (psychology, sociology, education). It uses author-date citations in the text (e.g., (Smith, 2023)) and a References page at the end listing sources alphabetically. Focuses on clear and concise communication of research findings.
* Chicago/Turabian: Offers two main styles:
* Notes and Bibliography: Uses footnotes or endnotes to cite sources and a bibliography at the end listing all sources. More common in history and some humanities fields.
* Author-Date: Similar to APA in its in-text citation format but with slightly different formatting for the bibliography.
* IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Primarily used in engineering, computer science, and related fields. Uses numbered citations in the text and a list of references at the end. Focuses on clear technical detail and numerical referencing.
* CSE (Council of Science Editors): Used in the biological and life sciences. Offers both name-year and numbered citation systems, with a References section at the end.
Beyond the major styles: There are also many other citation styles used in specific disciplines or by individual journals. It's crucial to always check the style guide provided by your instructor, institution, or publication to ensure you are using the correct format.
The key differences between these styles often lie in:
* In-text citation format: How the source is briefly cited within the body of the text.
* Bibliography/References/Works Cited format: The structure and order of the list of sources at the end of the paper.
* Punctuation and capitalization rules: Specific rules for punctuation, capitalization, italics, and other formatting elements.
Choosing the correct citation style is vital for avoiding plagiarism and giving proper credit to the sources used in your academic work. Incorrect citation can lead to serious academic consequences.