Writing Style Guides

There are a number of different styles or formats for citations. Which style you use depends upon the subject discipline in which you are working.

To put it another way: There is no one style that is used universally. If you are uncertain about which style to use, ask the instructor for that class.

Each style for citing sources includes the same basic parts of a citation, but may organize them somewhat differently.

Commonly Used Writing Style Guides

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA)
The APA (American Psychological Association) style is often used by students in the social sciences -- psychology, sociology, business, nursing, etc.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is often used by students in the humanities -- English, history, writing, speech, etc.

The APA and MLA style guide books, with examples, are available at the Reference Desk in the Library. Online help for these two styles of citation are available on the library website within a LibGuide called How To Find/Research Tips under the heading of Citation Guide.

Back | Next