According to Long Island University, the five major types of bibliographical citation include: American Psychological Association; Modern Language Association; American Medical Association; Turabian; and the Chicago Manual of Style. APA style relates to psychology and social sciences papers and MLA is appropriate for arts and humanities-related versions. AMA citation is necessary for medical and biology-related papers, while Turabian and Chicago, according to the University of Chicago, are very similar -- the former used for academic theses and the latter for non-academic work.
Bibliographies are the official chapter for works cited in an academic or non-academic paper. Once you reference the bibliographical style appropriate for your publication, it is essential to maintain uniform font and sizing with every work cited. Asking your professor, advisor or editor about whether citations should be listed in alphabetical or sequential order is a wise move, prior to the writing of your bibliography.
Bibliographies include all pertinent information regarding the text, recording or subject from which you are citing. Every citation incorporates the name of an author or film director, for example, as well as any publication dates relevant to a work. Work titles, page numbers and a publication company, for instance, are other inclusions. Each citation style demands a different type of formatting; perhaps similar, but ultimately distinct from additional styles.
Plagiarism is a serious literary offense. More specifically, plagiarism involves the use of ideas or phrases, attributable to other sources, without proper citation. While citing common knowledge is not considered plagiarism, according to Capital Community College, citing specific facts or details -- without referencing their source -- may violate copyright laws. Stating general information, such as well known actor Al Pacino studied acting in New York City, for example, is common knowledge -- and requires no specific reference. While stating a specific fact -- such as Al Pacino and his late teacher and mentor, Lee Strasberg, were very close friends, according to Colorado Thespians – in turn, requires a specific reference.