If you are reading this article, you are likely a student who has recently started university. The type of writing required for university assignments is very different from the writing you did in high school.
And yet, referencing your writing correctly is one of the fundamental lessons taught at university.
Indeed, referencing correctly will allow your professors and thesis readers to accurately trace your sources (MLA 8th edition, 2016, p.5).
However, there are many fields of study at university, including different types of universities, and this will be accompanied by strict referencing rules imposed by your university.
Whether it is MLA, APA or Chicago Style, this blog post will allow you to reference correctly in all of these citation styles, and provide explanations and examples to help your understanding.
Enjoy reading !
MLA Style
The first and most well-known style, especially in the fields of literature, languages, and cultural studies, is the Modern Language Association referencing system.
This system uses in-text citations that follow an author-page number format. The citation then ends with a « Works Cited » page.
For more information on this referencing system, do not hesitate to consult the #MLA Handbook, 7th edition, published in 2009.
Example
In-text citation: (Smith 12)
Works Cited entry: Smith, John. The Book Title. Publisher, Year.
APA Style (American Psychological Association)
On the other hand, the APA referencing style is the reference system of choice in the fields of humanities and social sciences, and also particularly in psychology or education sciences.
The reference manual of the #American Psychological Association, published in 2020, defines APA referencing. In-text citations, for example, must follow the author-date format (e.g., Smith, 2023).
Example
In-text citation: (Smith, 2023)
References entry: Smith, J. (2023). The book title. Publisher.
Unpacking APA: The Why Behind the Date
The APA style's emphasis on the date of publication stems from the dynamic nature of research in the social sciences.
New findings and interpretations constantly emerge, making it crucial to contextualize information within its temporal framework.
By including the publication date in in-text citations, the APA style allows readers to assess the currency of the research and its relevance to the ongoing scholarly conversation.
As Lenore T. Szuchman (2003) points out in the second edition of « Writing with Style: APA Style for Social Work » « The emphasis on dates in APA style reflects the importance of currency and the evolution of knowledge in the social sciences » (p. 56).
This highlights the APA style's recognition of the dynamic nature of knowledge production in these fields.
The « References » page, similar to MLA's « Works Cited » provides a comprehensive list of cited sources.
However, the APA style's formatting guidelines differ, reflecting the specific needs and conventions of the social sciences.
The emphasis on the date of publication extends to the « References » page, where entries are often organized chronologically to highlight the evolution of research on a topic.
Chicago Style
The Chicago style, prevalent in history, art history, and other humanities disciplines, offers two distinct citation systems: notes and bibliography, and author-date.
The notes and bibliography system utilizes footnotes or endnotes to provide complete bibliographic information, while the author-date system mirrors the APA style with in-text citations and a bibliography.
The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.), which can be consulted via this link, serves as the authoritative guide for this versatile citation style (University of Chicago Press, 2017).
Example
Notes and bibliography:
In-text citation: (Smith 2023, 12)
Bibliography entry: Smith, John. The Book Title. Publisher, 2023.
Author-date:
In-text citation: (Smith 2023)
Bibiiography entry: Smith, John. 2023. The Book Title. Publisher.
Navigating Chicago: Two Systems, One Goal
The Chicago style's flexibility in offering two citation systems caters to the diverse needs of researchers in the humanities.
The notes and bibliography system, with its detailed footnotes or endnotes, allows for extensive commentary and analysis of sources within the text.
This system is particularly valuable in disciplines where in-depth engagement with sources is paramount.
The author-date system, on the other hand, provides a more streamlined approach to citation, resembling the APA style in its conciseness.
This system is often preferred when the focus is on the content rather than extensive source analysis. Both systems, however, share the common goal of ensuring accurate and comprehensive referencing.
Other Citation Styles: A Brief Overview
While MLA, APA, and Chicago dominate the citation landscape, other styles cater to the specific needs of various disciplines.
The CSE style (Council of Science Editors) finds application in the natural sciences, while the Harvard style, similar to author-date systems, enjoys widespread international usage.
In legal writing, the Bluebook style reigns supreme, providing a comprehensive framework for citing legal documents and sources.
Citation Management Tools
In the digital age, citation management tools have emerged as invaluable aids for researchers. Tools like #Zotero, #Mendeley, and #EndNote offer a range of functionalities to streamline the citation process.
They can assist in organizing sources, generating citations in various styles, and creating bibliographies, saving researchers valuable time and ensuring accuracy in their referencing.
Conclusion
To conclude this article, proper citation is not merely a formality; it is an ethical imperative and a testament to the diligence and integrity of a student or researcher.
By adhering to the guidelines of the citation style chosen by your university, you acknowledge the intellectual contributions of other researchers and authors and uphold the standards of academic honesty.
Do not hesitate to ask one of our tutors on MyStudies to help you reference your documents correctly or to proofread your references.
Good work with #MyStudies and #Oboolo !