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Citation Styles--A Guide to the Resources

One of the least favorite aspects of the research process is CITING. It's true. Very few people enjoy figuring out the minute details required by each style guide. This page will direct you to the manuals and handbooks that explain the styles and what to do with each type of cited document (book, journal article, web site, etc.). You will find examples of citations in most of the resources (both book and web) listed on this page.

Useful Style Guides, Manuals, and Handbooks

MLA handbook for writers of research papers. 2009. Ref 808.027 G35M

Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. (APA) 2009. Ref 808.06615 Am35P

Concise rules of APA style. 2009. Ref 808.06615 C748

The Chicago manual of style. 2003. Ref 808.042 Un3c 2003

A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations: Chicago style for students and researchers (Turabian). 2007. Ref 808.02 T84m

The SBL handbook of style: For ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and early Christian studies. 1999. Ref 808.027 Sb41

Scientific style and format: The CSE manual for authors, editors, and publishers. 2006. Ref 808.066 Sci27C

AMA manual of style: A guide for authors and editors. 2007. Ref 808.06661 Am11 2007

The Columbia guide to online style. 1998. Ref 808.027 W15c

Electronic styles: A handbook for citing electronic information. 1996. Ref 808.02 L61e 1996

Stylebook and briefing on media law. 2007. Main Collection 808.066 St99A

Helpful Hints

Use the features in Databases, the Online Catalog, and WorldCat.org to have citations created for the materials you discover. Nearly every database and catalog has the capability of creating the citation, with all the necessary information, in multiple formats (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) to be ready for your Works Cited, Bibliography, or Reference List page.

Plagiarism is a big deal, a huge problem in academia. It might seem hard to avoid at first, but once you understand the basic methods of avoiding plagiarism, you should be well on your way to writing a strong paper that is all your own. This series of web pages regading avoiding plagiarism was created by a Zondervan Librarian. Browse through at your own pace to learn more.

Refworks can store your citations, create bibliographies, and even format an entire paper in the correct citation style (they have hundreds to choose from). Access it from the Library's Home page from on or off campus. Ask-A-Librarian for the Group Code, if you're trying to open Refworks from off-campus.

Citation Style Information on the Web

The Citation Machine

A very useful tool for constructing citations in APA (American Psychological Association) format or MLA (Modern Language Association format) is The Citation Machine. It is especially valuable because it gives you guidance in citing many different formats from books and journal articles to web pages and personal email messages. The Citation Machine requires that you identify the pieces of information for which it asks. No punctuation is required but you do need to use capitalization where appropriate.

Citation Guides from University of Wisconsin-Madison

Has sections devoted to quoting and paraphrasing sources and numbered references, as well as these styles: APSA (American Political Science Association), APA (American Psychological Association), Chicago/Turbian, CBE (Council of Editors), and MLA (Modern Languages Association).

The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (MLA)

Ohio State's Guide to Common Citation Formats (scroll down for citation guides)

Purdue's OWL Guides to MLA formatting

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Style Manual)

This is the standard guide to citation formatting for much publication in the social and behavioral sciences. In addition to formatting citations and bibliography, it provides many guidelines on presenting data and other publication matters