How to Properly Cite a Source

Citing a source within the text of a paper and at the end is no easy matter. Not all collegiate disciplines use the same formatting style, and each style requires that you cite different types of sources in different ways. Still, there are some overarching guidelines that different styles share. They can point you in the right direction.

Instructions

    • 1

      Include the author's name or last name, the publication year of the work and the page number after any exact quotation. Most often this information should appear between parentheses. Each piece of information inside the parentheses should be separated by a comma. The period should go to the right of the last parenthesis.

    • 2

      Include the author's name or last name and the year of publication after a paraphrase or information taken from that specific piece of work. Do not include the page number. Most often this information should appear between parentheses. Each piece of information inside the parentheses should be separated by a comma. The period should go to the right of the last parenthesis.

    • 3

      Check the guidelines of your specific style to know how to correctly cite a source according to that style. MLA and APA, the two most popular formats, both provide different citation instructions.

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