Citing Sources
How and Why to Cite Your Sources
Citing the ideas and work of others is an integral part of any quality research. Arguments are stronger when backed by evidence from scholarly and academic information sources.
You may be asked to provide a Works Cited page, a Bibliography, an Annotated Bibliography, a Reference List or any combination of proof that you consulted relevant, accurate information sources as part of an assignment.
There are a number of helpful resources available for the major formatting styles. Pay attention to detail, be consistent and you should be okay.
A good citation is meant to provide enough information for anyone to track down the source material. Therefore, a good citation includes:
Who: the person or persons (or, in some cases, institution) responsible for authoring the source
What: the title of the work
When: the publication date — often the year, but this varies depending on the citation style
Where: the location of the work, such as within a publication or accessed online under a URL or DOI
“Cite early and cite often!”
Familiarize yourself with the citation style of your discipline or specific assignment. Citations are almost always required for direct quotes as well as paraphrasing from sources.
Click here to visit the Guide to Citation featuring:
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- American Psychological Association (APA)
Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)Coming soon! In the meantime, Ask a Librarian for help- The Council of Science Editors (CSE)
Journal of Wildlife ManagementComing soon! In the meantime, Ask a Librarian for helpModern Language Association (MLA)Coming soon! In the meantime, Ask a Librarian for helpTurabian StyleComing soon! In the meantime, Ask a Librarian for help