There are a variety of online tools that generate citations. While these can be valuable time savers, they should be used with caution and always double-checked for accuracy!
There are a variety of citation styles available to researchers, though each field is typically partial to a particular style or standard. Some of the most common styles include APA, MLA, and Chicago.
| Style features | Fields | More info | |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA (American Psychological Association) | brief in-text citations in the text that refer to an alphabetical list of references | social sciences, business, and some of the life sciences | |
| MLA (Modern Language Association) | brief parenthetical citations in the text that refer to an alphabetical list of works cited | humanities, especially in writing on language and literature | |
| Chicago | parenthetical in-text citation and full details are provided in a reference or works cited list | physical, natural, and social sciences | "Turabian" style, widely used for decades by students, is essentially a simplified version of Chicago Style. |
Credit: University of Washington University Libraries Research Guide, Citing Source, accessed September 5, 2023
APA provides numerous guidelines on topics ranging from citations and bias-free language to grammar and the publication process
Purdue University offers a number of resources for MLA and Chicago styles
