Citation Styles and Guidelines
Most academic writing assignments require you use the work of others in addition to your own observations and analysis. The academic tradition is that you may construct your arguments using building blocks established by other published authors. In doing so, however, you must always give credit to the authors whose ideas or observations you are using. Failure to appropriately cite material constitutes plagiarism, which can have severe consequences for your academic career.
When learning how to properly cite sources, be aware that there is no single standardized referencing system but that the systems vary across disciplines. However, two referencing styles have gained particular status in the academic world: the MLA style, generally used in the humanities, and the APA system which is predominantly used in the natural and social sciences. We suggest you check with your professor as to which documentation style is preferred in your course. (Note that students in COR/GNE111/112 are required to use the MLA style!)
There are many rules and special requirements in citation. The following is a very basic introduction to two widely used systems. For a more extensive explanation of rules of citation, see
1. MLA Style (Modern Language Association)
First, we will lay out the procedures for citation in text (in the body of your paper.) Then, we will mention how to create a list of works cited.
1.1. MLA: Citation in Text
If the author’s name is not mentioned in your text, indicate the author’s last name and the number(s) of the page(s) you are referring to in parentheses just before the final period. Note that there is no punctuation between the author and the page number(s).
This is the key to more effective learning (Bond 12-13).
If the author is mentioned in your text, mention the page number(s) in parentheses (as in the above example), but do NOT repeat the author’s name in the parentheses.
Bond suggests that this is the key to more effective learning (12-13).
When referring to a work with several authors, mention all the author’s last names. For sources with more than three authors, you may choose to use only the first author’s last name and refer to the others by “et al.”.
…(Clinton, Nguyen, and Nutt 20)
…(Clinton, Locke, Samuels, and Berg 50-52)
…(Clinton et al. 50-52)
If your paper includes more than one work by a single author, give also a shortened version of the title of the work in addition to the author’s name and the page number.
…(Johnson, Consumerism 25)
When citing a work by an unknown author, use the title of the work in a shortened form. The shortened version should begin with the word determining the place of the work in the alphabetized reference list at the end of your essay.
…(“Potential” 150)
When you cite a corporate or government author in your text, you are required to give either the full name or a shortened version of the organization in the parentheses depending on the length of the name. For short names, use the full name; for long names, use a shortened version. If you mention the author in the actual text (not in parentheses), use the full name even if it is long.
…(European Commission 24)
…(Washington State Board 4) - Instead of “the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges”
…The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges considers…as its main goal (4).
1.2. List of Works Cited
The MLA style requires that each entry on the list of works cited (list of references) at the end of your paper includes the name of the author (LastName, FirstName) or authors (LastName, FirstName, and Firstname Lastname) if known, the title of the work, the edition (if applicable), the place of publication, the publisher, and the year of publication, in that order.
Axelrod, Rise B., and Charles R. Cooper. The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2001.
2. APA Style (American Psychological Association)
2.1. APA: Citation in Text
The main difference between the MLA and APA styles is that the latter requires you give the year of publication (instead of the page number) in the parentheses. However, if the citation is a direct quote, you should also provide the page number(s). Separate the elements [name, year, (page)] by commas, and type “p.” (in case of a single page) or “pp.” (for several pages) before the page number(s).
…and he believes this is the main challenge (Stone, 1999)
…to do all we can” (Stone, 1999, p. 54).
If the author is mentioned in your text, give the year of publication right after the author’s name, and the page number(s) in parentheses right before the final sentence period if the text includes a direct quote). Consider the following revision of the example above:
…and Stone (1999) believes this is the main challenge.
2.2. APA: List of Works Cited
The APA style requires that the entries on the list of references at the end of your paper include the name of the author in a particular form (LastName, Initial(s) OfFirstName) or authors (LastName, Initial(s) OfFirstName, and Initial(s) OfFirstName, LastName) if known, the year of publication, the title of the work, the edition (if applicable), the place of publication and the publisher, in that order.
Axelrod, R. B., & C. R. Cooper. (2001). The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
**Adapted from the St. Martin’s Guide to Writing.