Citation Styles

A citation serves two purposes: it gives credit to the author, artist, or creator and it enables your reader to locate the sources you cited. You should cite sources you have paraphrased, quoted, or otherwise used in your research paper. A style guide shows you how to format your footnotes, bibliography, or works cited lists, as well as how to structure your paper. The style you use (AMA, APA, Chicago, MLA) depends on your field of inquiry. Check with your instructor and colleagues to see which style is most appropriate.

The home page of this guide includes citation tools and help, as well as a tutorial on avoiding plagiarism. Use the guide tabs for more specific details on each of the styles.

Citation is your indication that certain material in your work came from another source. It also provides readers with the information necessary to find that source again. Giving credit to the original author by citing sources is the only way to use other people's work without plagiarizing.

The following situations almost always require citation:

• quotation
• paraphrasing
• use of an idea not your own
• specific reference to the work of another
• use of someone else's work to develop your own ideas

Adapted from: Plagiarism.org

The Monmouth University Writing Center provides style sheets for writing, grammar, citing literature, and the writing process on its Resources for Writers page. You can also make an appointment with the writing center for one-on-one help with your writing projects.

OWL: Purdue Online Writing Lab: This handy guide provides reference and instruction on conducting research, preventing plagiarism and use of APA, MLA and Chicago Style citations.

    NoodleTools

This research platform offers tools for note-taking, outlining, citation, document archiving/annotation and collaborative research and writing. You will need to create a personal account to save your work. 

Zotero

This platform offers tools that assist with collecting, organizing and citing research as well as for collaborative research and writing. You will need to create a personal account to save your work.

At MU writing services, you'll find a dedicated team of undergraduates, graduate students, professionals and faculty who are eager to offer writing assistance to the Monmouth community. Our motto is: we help produce strong writers, not just better papers! We offer writing instruction one a one-to-one basis to students at every level, of every major, and at every stage of the writing process. Please make an appointment with us and find out what we are all about!