The style for listing references is widely used for research papers:

A citation style is a set of rules on how to cite sources in academic writing. Whenever you refer to someone else’s work, a citation is required to avoid plagiarism.

Citation style guidelines are often published in an official handbook containing explanations, examples, and instructions. The most common citation styles are the following:

• MLA style in the humanities [e.g. literature or languages].
• APA style in the social sciences [e.g. psychology or education].
• Chicago notes and bibliographyin history.
• Chicago author-date in the sciences.

However, there are many other widely used styles. In this guide, we will cover all the main citation styles used by universities and journals.

If you are following MLA or APA style, you can use the free citation generator to easily create your citations.

MLA Citation Generator APA Citation Generator

Citation Style Guide Overview

If you have ever written any type of research document, then chances are you have come across an academic style guide.

What is a style guide?

A style guide or manual explains how to cite your sources properly. But that’s not all it does. It also tells you how to format your citations, bibliography [if you’re using one], headings, footnotes, and endnotes—all the things you need to know to avoid academic dishonesty or plagiarism and make sure your work is clear and accurate.

Besides attribution, citation style guides are also used to clarify your writing process, identify elements as points of emphasis, and give credibility to your research arguments. This is especially important when it comes to passing thepeer review process, where your research will be closely scrutinized by other researchers in your field.

In general, citation style guides are used to ensure that all references within a document are formatted consistently. This helps make the document easier to read and less prone to errors that can be confusing to the reader.

What are documentation styles?

A documentation style is a standard approach to the citation of sources that the author of a paper has consulted, abstracted, or quoted from. It prescribes methods for citing references within the text, providing a list of works cited at the end of the paper, and even formatting headings and margins.

Different academic disciplines use different documentation styles; your instructor may require you to use a particular style, or may allow you use one of your choosing.

It is important to fully understand the documentation style to be used in your paper, and to apply it consistently.

Furthermore, documentation styles allow you to give credit for secondary sources you have used in writing your paper.

Citing sources not only gives credit where it’s due, but also allows your reader to locate the sources you have consulted. In short, the reader of your paper must be able to use the information you provide, both in the text and in appended list[s], to duplicate the research you have done.