* MLA (Modern Language Association): Primarily used in the humanities.
* APA (American Psychological Association): Commonly used in social sciences, education, and psychology.
* Chicago/Turabian: Used in history, literature, and other disciplines. Has two main styles: author-date and notes-bibliography.
* IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): Used in engineering and computer science.
* Vancouver: Used in medicine and related fields.
Each style dictates the format for both in-text citations (within the body of your paper) and the bibliography or works cited page (at the end of your paper). Here's a general overview and examples using APA and MLA:
General Steps for Any Style:
1. Identify the key information: You'll need the author(s)' name(s), the title of the paper, the title of the journal or book (if applicable), the volume and issue number (for journals), the page numbers, the publisher (for books), the publication date, and often a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL.
2. Use a citation manager (recommended): Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote help you collect, organize, and format citations correctly.
3. Consult a style guide: Always refer to the official style guide for the specific style you're using. These guides provide detailed rules and examples.
Examples:
Let's say we're referencing this fictional paper:
* Author: Jane Doe
* Paper Title: "The Impact of Coffee on Productivity"
* Journal Title: *Journal of Caffeine Studies*
* Volume: 10
* Issue: 2
* Pages: 55-70
* Year: 2023
* DOI: 10.1234/jcs.2023.10.2.55
APA (7th Edition) Example:
* In-text citation: (Doe, 2023) or Doe (2023) found that...
* Reference List entry:
Doe, J. (2023). The impact of coffee on productivity. *Journal of Caffeine Studies*, *10*(2), 55–70. https://doi.org/10.1234/jcs.2023.10.2.55
MLA (9th Edition) Example:
* In-text citation: (Doe 55)
* Works Cited entry:
Doe, Jane. "The Impact of Coffee on Productivity." *Journal of Caffeine Studies*, vol. 10, no. 2, 2023, pp. 55-70. https://doi.org/10.1234/jcs.2023.10.2.55
Key Differences Highlighted:
* In-text citation: APA uses author-year, while MLA typically uses author-page number.
* Reference list/Works Cited format: Notice the different ordering of elements and punctuation.
For other styles (Chicago, IEEE, Vancouver, etc.): Search online for "[Style Name] citation guide" to find detailed instructions and examples. Many universities have their own style guides available online as well. Always check your assignment guidelines for the correct style to use.