How to Cite an Official Statement

In academic writing, citing references and sources for information is absolutely essential to avoid plagiarism charges. Depending on the specific style guidelines required by an assignment, the way in which an official government statement must be cited can vary. The three most common style guides are the Associated Press style manual (AP), the American Psychological Association style manual (APA), and the Chicago Manual of Style. Each system requires the same information be presented in slightly different ways, so it is important to pay attention to specific guidelines for referencing sources.

Things You'll Need

  • References
  • Paper
  • Pencil or pen
  • Style manual reference
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine which style guide you are required to use when creating your citations. Some of the differences are only slight, but missing them can lead to substantially lower grades on your paper.

    • 2

      Collect all the information that you can about your sources. This should include title, author or speaker, date, publication or publisher, place of publication, volume, and Internet address if applicable. Arrange the information in the following order: Author/Speaker, Year, Title of Statement, Location and Publisher.

    • 3

      Format the information according to your style manual's guidelines. For example in APA style, list the author or speaker with their last name first, followed by the year in brackets and a period. Then include the title in italics, the place where it was published or spoken, and the publisher. For example:

      Force, R. (2004). Admiralty and maritime law (Italicize title). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

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