AMA CITATION FORMAT GUIDE TO CITE YOUR MEDICAL PAPERS
AMA format is a tool to keep an academic paper organized. It helps to present the ideas of other writers and make the structure clear for the reading audience. Would you like to learn more about AMA format paper? The article below introduces the major rules of this referencing style, learning tips, and some examples.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Is AMA Format
Citations and References
How to Write in AMA Format
Short Version of AMA Citation Guide
Free Example and Template
What is AMA Format?
Have you heard of this writing style before? The American Medical Associationpublished AMA citation guide in 2017, and it did not introduce many changes since that year.
The goal was to make it simpler for those students studying health care, medicine, & nursing to structure their essays and research papers.
Every tutor insists that the paper be correctly referenced with appropriate sources. It is done to explain where another writer’s study has contributed to or supported a discovery/theory within the project.
AMA style citation has numerous variations for various educational institutions and publications. To provide a complete answer to the question, we should analyze the parts of this writing style.
What Are AMA Style Citation and References?
The discussed writing style has 2 major elements:
AMA format in-text citation (direct & indirect)
Reference (the list of references shows up at the end of the essay after the conclusion).
The goal of the AMA format citation is to provide an evidence from credible sources to support the writer’s arguments.
References list offers the details about the chosen sources. It allows the readers to find more information on the covered topic and go on researching the problem in-depth.
The citations appear throughout the text while the references are included on a separate page of the essay. A writer should link both elements by a number. The number is predetermined by order of appearance within the essay (beginning with 1, 2, etc.)
The next stage in learning how to write in AMA format is understanding the purposes of using this writing style.
How to Write a Paper in AMA Format?
It is important to master AMA reference format for several reasons:
Structure the paper in a logical manner
Make it easier to follow the text
Defend writer’s arguments and thesis statement
Motivate readers to continue their own research
Distinguish the names of the talented contributors
Avoid issues with plagiarism
Finally, using AMA reference format is one of the medical research paper’s requirements. It is impossible to earn full credits without formatting your work.
Without citing the sources, a student risks having problems with plagiarism, and they often result in an F.
Once you know the purpose, explore the ways to cite the paper in detail.
Short Version of AMA Citation Guide
We have mentioned that AMA citation guide has not changed dramatically since 1962. What are the basic principles? Each time a writer needs to add an AMA citation, they need to come up with a number in superscript where the source makes sense.
In many situations, a quotation appears with a quote or at the end of the sentence where the material has contributed. It is important to make sure the numbers are in chronological order.
Memorize these basic rules of formatting:
The number will make it possible to discover the complete reference on AMA Works Cited page.
The complete references must begin with the corresponding number.
A lot depends on the type of source a student has to cite. Knowing how to cite a website does not mean a student automatically knows how to cite a book as these sources require different approaches.
A bibliography should have the writer’s last name and the first & middle initial without punctuation. Apply a comma to divide more than one writer.
Example: Roland K, Momsen PJ.
Apply sentence case for the titles without any exceptions (capitalize the 1st word of the title – no need to do it with the rest of the words). Abbreviate and italicize titles of materials based on the National Library of Medicine database.
Separate every reference with periods into bibliographic categories; every category must have bibliographic elements divided with the help of punctuation marks.
A comma. In case the items are sub-elements of a bibliographic component or a set of interconnected components like writers’ names.
A semicolon. If the elements in the category vary from each other (the release date & title of the source) / if numerous occurrences of interconnected components are available within a group + before the volume identification information.
A colon. Put it prior to the writer’s name, between the heading and the subheading, and after a connective element/transition word (example: “At the end”)
We suggest that you look at the summary of the citation guide. It will help to master the art of citing & referencing faster.
Number the quoted material following the sequence;
Each citation number should match the reference number;
Apply Arabic superscript numerals;
Invert the names of the writers. Use initials for the 1st and middle names without putting periods between initials;
Capitalize the first words and abbreviations in the headings;
Add issue numbers in parentheses after the volume number (for journals).
Free AMA Format Example & Template
To make it clear, we would like to share a universal AMA format example with you. We hope our infographic will help!
The American Medical Association made the lives of students worldwide complicated by releasing the guide. The point is a student should read 1032 pages (!) to find out how to write in AMA format. Oxford University Press offered the 10th edition in 2007. It might be time-consuming to cover the entire guide. Save time on formatting and writing your academic papers thanks to the professional authors available 24/7. The team of essay writers for hire will cite your paper better than any citation generator online!
APA stands for the American Psychological Association. It is a citation style that is most commonly used to format papers on psychology. Additionally, this style is utilized in works on humanities, education, nursing, and social sciences. EssayPro’s handy guide will show you how to properly format your paper in APA style.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How To Write In APA
Title Page
Abstract
Example 1
Style Guide with Examples
APA Citation Guide
Outline
Format Template
Reference Page
Example 2
How to write in APA
The general format consists of the following rules:
Clear font: Times New Roman 12pt font double spaced
1” margins on all sides
Include heading on the top of every page that includes the shortened title of your essay (>50 characters)
Use a clear font that is highly readable
Insert a page number on the right
APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font
Additionally, the APA essay format is divided into four parts:
Title Page
Abstract
Main Body
References
The cover page is the first page of your essay. The abstract is the next page, then the main body. The last page is the bibliography otherwise called the “References” page.
Title Page
The title page, also called the cover page, should include the title of your paper, your name, and the name of your institution.
You should include a page header on the left of your paper. Your page number should go on the right.
All text in your article, including the title page, should be double-spaced.
Your title should be centered in the upper half of the page. APA recommends keeping the title short (≤12 words). Make sure your title contains no abbreviations or words with no purpose.
Heading examples
Example of a BAD title: How is AAV Harmful to the American Education System and Possible Solutions to the Issue
Example of a GOOD title: African American Vernacular and the American Education System
The bad example contains 15 words and an abbreviation. The good example is shorter and contains no abbreviation.
After the title, type your full name: first, middle initial(s), and last name(s). Do not, however, include titles such as Dr. or degrees (Ph.D.). Beneath your name, type your institutional affiliation. That would be your school, university, or anything else of that matter.
Abstract
Your abstract should be on the following page after your title page. Your abstract should already include the header on the top left.
On the 1st line, center the word “Abstract”. It should not have any additional formatting (no bold, italics, underlining, quotation marks, etc.)
Next, write an abstract. Your abstract is a concise summary of what your research was about. It should contain:
Research question
Participants
Methods
Results
Data analysis
Conclusion
Your abstract should be between 150-250 words.
It is optional to list keywords in your abstract. You have to create a new paragraph and type keywords in italics and then list your keywords.
Note that some teachers/professors maybe have deviations to some of the characteristics that the APA format originally requires, such as those listed above.
The last page of your paper should be a References page. Here are the most common citation examples:
How to Cite Books: Author [last name], A.A [first and middle initial]. (Year of Publication). The title of work. Publisher City, State: Publisher.
Example: Miller, A.(1953). The Crucible. New York: Viking Press.
How to Cite E-Books: Author [last name], A.A [first and middle initial]. (Year of Publication). The title of work [E-Reader Version]. Retrieved from {link}
Example: Miller, A. (2008). The Crucible [Kindle Version]. Retrieved from {link}
How to Cite a Film: Producer [last name], A.A. [first name middle initial] (Producer), & Director, A.A. (Director). (Release Year). The title of motion picture [Motion Picture]. Country of Origin: Studio
Example: Hitchcock, A. (Producer & Director). (1960). Psycho [Motion Picture]. United States: Paramount.
How to Cite a Photograph: Photographer, A.A.. (Photographer). (Year, Month Date of Publication). Title of photograph [photograph]. City, State of publication: Publisher/museum.
Example: Adams, A. (Photographer). (1942). Close-up of leaves In Glacier National Park (1942) [photograph]. New York, NY: New-York Historical Society.
How to Cite a Website: Author [last name], A.A [first and middle initial]. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title. Retrieved from {link}
Example: Monbiot, G. (2014, October 14). The Age of Loneliness is Killing Us. Retrieved from {link}
How to Cite a Journal: Author [last name], A.A [first and middle initial]. (Publication Year). Article title. Periodical Title, Volume (Issue), pp.-pp.
Example: Bellamy, M. (1999). Show-Business: A Chain of Inspiration. Music Theory Today: Influence of Alternative Rock. 13(3-4), 147-148.
How to Cite a Newspaper: Author [last name], A.A [first and middle initial]. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title. Magazine Title, pp. xx-xx.
Example: Maly, S. (2017, January 15). How to Write an Essay Online APA Style. Essaypro, pp 9-12.
APA Citation Guide
When constructing APA Style in-text citations, you need to do the following:
Capitalize author name and initial.
When referring to the title of the source, capitalize all the letters.
Italicize or underline titles of longer works such as books, movies, documentaries, music albums, and television series.
Put quotations around articles, television series episodes, and song titles.
In short quotes (>40 words) you will want to introduce the phrase with the author’s last name and include the date of publication in parenthesis. At the end of the quote, you will need to add a page number for reference.
If the author is not named, place the author’s name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses after the quotation.
In quotations that are over 40 words, block quotes are used. Indent the quote ½ from the left margin in a new paragraph. The citation should come after the punctuation mark.
When summarizing or paraphrasing, you input your in-text reference (author and year of publication). The page number is optional.
Outline
It is the best to keep track of your sources. You can do so by listing a point and adding information (Author name, page number, URL) in the subheading.
Format template:
Keep in mind that when writing an outline, your information in headings should be of equal importance.
The main point of paragraph #1
From: source.
Subpoint of paragraph
From: source
The main point of paragraph #2
From: source
Subpoint of paragraph
From: source
The main point of paragraph #3
Subpoint of paragraph
From: source
Reference Page
A References page usually appears at the end of the paper. In other paper formatting styles, it may be called “Bibliography” or “Works Cited.”
Center “References” at the top of your page. Do not boldface, underline, or put quotation marks around it.
Your reference page should be double-spaced. All lines after the first line in your reference list should have a hanging indent. Indent one-half an inch from the left margin.
Authors names are “last name, first name.” If the piece has more than one author, list their names as initials.
Your list should be in alphabetical order.
Italicize books and journals. Put quotes around articles and essays.
The field of sociology is where you would most commonly find an ASA style paper or manuscript. ASA itself means ‘American Sociological Association,’ and its style bears a close resemblance to the widely used APA style.
The biggest similarity is that both styles use parenthetical references. These appear at the end of the paper in the “References” section. MLA style papers need that section to be called “Works Cited” and formatted in a different way. Another noticeable trademark of the ASA citation format is its emphasis on the date. It always follows the author’s name.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Format
Title Page
Abstract
Subheadings
Footnotes And Endnotes
When To Use In-Text Citations
Reference Page
ASA Writing Style
General ASA Citation Format
There are a few general formatting requirements that need to be applied when using ASA citation. Stick to the following format, unless instructed otherwise:
Make sure all written text (including footnotes, etc.) is in font size 12 and double-spaced.
Place margins at 1 ¼ inches on each side.
The first page (that follows the title page and abstract) begins with the paper’s title.
Pages, tables, figures, footnotes, and endnotes are numbered sequentially (1,2,3…) or (Table 1, Table 2, Table 3…)
Title Page
A title page is what one sees when picking up any paper. ASA format title pages usually contain the following information:
Full title of the work
Names and institutions of the writers
A total word count
Address of the author, or one who receives communication regarding the work
Credits or acknowledgments of all contributors or sponsors
Abstract
The abstract appears on a separate page between the title page and the beginning of the essay. It usually contains about 150-200 words. If an abstract page is included, it often lists several keywords that help identify the essay’s main points of study.
Subheadings
An ASA style paper uses subheadings to organize body paragraphs. They do not serve as ‘sections’ of the document. Using Introduction in a subheading wouldn’t be a great choice. Subheadings are always left-aligned and never written in the bold letters. Note that the editing style of the following subheadings correspond with the way they should appear in the text:
FIRST-LEVEL SUBHEADING
Letters in caps signify the first-level subheading
Here’s a Second-Level Subheading
Italicized
Title case (the first letter of each word is capitalized except for articles and prepositions)
Third-level subheading
Italicized
Only first word is capitalized
Footnotes And Endnotes
Footnotes appear on the same page as the material being underlined or expanded upon. Endnotes are listed at the end of the paper after the ‘References’ section. Both are numbered for the ASA style citation. There must always be some harmony in how they are utilized.
For example, if you use footnotes to define difficult vocabulary in the text, do not do the same thing in endnotes. Avoid mixing them up to give the paper stronger continuity.
How And When To Use In-Text Citations
The ASA citation style is similar to APA when it comes to in-text citations. These are used when presenting information from any source. The general rule for the ASA in-text citation is to state the last name of the author and the initial publishing date of the referenced material. Here are some in-text citation examples:
If the author’s name is in the sentence, simply include the year:
When Vasari (1550) studied the renaissance painters…
If not – put the author’s last name inside the parentheses:
When the renaissance painters were studied (Vasari 1550)…
When citing reprinted work with several publish dates, list the first date and then the most recent one, separated with a slash.
(Reed and Christgau 1978/2013)
Citing Quotes
Short quotations are cited in quotation marks and include the page number after a colon. There is no space between the year number and the page number.
In his studies, Newton (1704:21) discovered that…
Quotations of more than 40 words (block quotations) remain separate from the main text and made single-spaced. Such quotes do not require quotation marks.
ASA Citation for Multiple Authors
Below are a few examples of using the ASA in-text citation for multiple authors. For two, write both their surnames.
(Bockris and Malanga 2003)
For three or more, include all last names in the first citation. In later citations, include the first name and ‘et al.’.
(Breton, Magritte, and Dali 1961) – first citation
(Breton et al. 1961) – later citations
If the work does not provide the writer’s name, give enough information to find the work in the reference list.
(U.S. Department of Justice 1977:82)
For multiple citations, separate the references with a semicolon and place them sequentially.
(Rutt, 1950; Smith 1952)
(Kenway et al. 1934; Stewart 1981)
ASA Format Reference Page
All references are double-spaced and use a hanging indent. Title case is used in all references. Capitalize everything except for prepositions, articles, and conjunctions.
References are listed in alphabetical order based on the authors’ last names.
First and middle names are included for all authors unless they used initials in the publication.
If the author repeats, still include their full name on all the references. Arrange the work in chronological order from oldest to newest.
The ASA reference page looks similar to APA with a few deviations. Here is how to cite the most common types of references:
How to Cite Books: Author [Last, First]. Year of Publication. Title. Country of Publisher: Publisher.
Example: James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Barns & Noble Books.
How to Cite E-Books: Author [Last, First]. Year of Publication. Title. Country of Publisher: Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.
Example: James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Penguin Books Kindle Version. Retrieved January 18, 2017. {link}
How to Cite a Journal Article: Author [Last, First]. Year of Publication. “Title.” Journal Name issue #: inclusive page numbers.
Example: Feekins, Bo. 2008. “Chasing Tree Frogs.” National Geographic #182. 6-10
How to Cite a Magazine Article: Author Last, First. Year of Pub. “Title.” Magazine Name, Month Year, pp. Inclusive page numbers.
Example: Geary, Rachel. 2012. “The Issue with Mastery Learning.” New York Times, April 2002. Pp. 15-23.
How to Cite a Web Page ASA Style: Author [Last, First.] Date of Publishing. Title. Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.
Example: Lee, Bruce. 03.09.2004. Birth of a Nation. Retrieved 18.01.2017. {link}
ASA Writing Style
There are a few simple rules when it comes to the ASA writing style.
This type of work avoids using the first person unless instructed otherwise.
Since the paper will be heavily referenced, it is best to avoid giving opinions unless the essay is argumentative.
The writing must be straightforward and written in active voice. Jargon, common expressions, slang, and superlatives are always best avoided.
Words like percent and verses are always spelled and not abbreviated unless they appear as data in tables or graphs.
Gendered terms are only used if they are crucial in specific analysis. Otherwise, avoid using references such as mankind and instead use non-gendered terms such as humanity or the global population, etc.
Racial and ethnic stereotyping are another thing to be cautious about. Be specific when describing a race or ethnicity. Use Japanese instead of Asian; Mexican instead of Latino.
If the text requires acronym usage, provide the full name with the acronym in parentheses. After this, you can stick to the acronym:
(first time) Based on a report conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)…
HOW TO WRITE AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY STEP-BY-STEP
Around 200 BCE, the renowned Greek poet Callimachus created the first bibliography ever; arranging and documenting Greek literature up to that time.
Today, we use bibliographies to validify our unpopular opinions on controversial issues in college essays. Scholars need trustworthy sources to prove any argument in academia.
However, bibliographies are mostly dull and hard to navigate, right? Well, this might not be true for annotated bibliographies.
As a scholar, you should LOVE annotated bibliographies for two simple reasons:
1. They make it SUPER EASY to find the correct, reputable source fast. 2. They provide insight into the content of the source, so you don’t waste time skimming through it.
So what is an annotated bibliography exactly and how do you write it?
Let’s dig right into the definitive guide.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Is An Annotation
Annotation vs. Abstract
What Is An Annotated Bibliography?
Types of Annotated Bibliographies
Writing an Annotated Bibliography
Final Thoughts
What is an Annotation?
An annotation briefly describes the content (or discussion) of a specific article, book or source.
Annotations are similar to metadata in blogs, or good essay titles. They effectively inform the reader, allowing them to decide whether the following material will be useful in their studies.
There are two types of annotations, descriptive and critical. We will investigate them further in the blog.
Annotations and Abstracts: Is There a Difference?
Annotations are quite different from abstracts.
Abstracts merely summarize content. They are found in scholarly articles, periodical indexes, or similar work of, or relating to, academia. Darwin’s Origin of Species has an abstract, summarizing his methods and findings.
Annotations go beyond summarizing. They include descriptive content, often evaluating and critiquing the source. As an informed scholar, you are expected to identify the intended audience, expose the author’s biases, explore relationships with other sources, and much more.
What Is An Annotated Bibliography?
A bibliography is a list of sources (books, articles, etc.), just like the ones you’ll find in any essay or scholarly article.
However, an annotated bibliography is different. It is distinguished by the fact that an annotation from the author follows each source.
This format allows the reader to conclude whether the source is relevant and accurate.
Different purposes of an annotated bibliography
The bibliography may serve several purposes. This is determined by whether your work aims to explore, review, or formulate a convincing argument.
Here are five possible case scenarios:
You aim to review the source, as in a typical literature review.
You aim to give a reader background to heighten the impact or comprehension of your thesis.
You wish to demonstrate the lengthy research you have done to build credibility.
You’re simply providing examples of major sources connected to your topic.
(Assuming the reader is a researcher) You are giving the reader a foundation for further reading.
Keep in mind that these are merely techniques, like rhetorical devices in literature.
When it comes to types of annotated bibliography, there are only two major ones. Let’s dive straight in!
Types of Annotated Bibliographies
As mentioned earlier, annotated bibliographies can be:
Descriptive or informative
Analytical or critical
Descriptive or informative annotated bibliography (with an example)
Most people confuse a descriptive or informative annotated bibliography with an abstract – and for a good reason. Both serve the same purpose: to summarize a source, describing its content and how it applies to the subject at hand. This format is not rooted in critical analysis. It merely represents the arguments and conclusions of the author of the source.
Here’s an annotated bibliography example:
(Both annotation examples refer to the article below)
Long-Term Effects Of Marijuana on the Brain by Joshua Gowin, Pd.D. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/you-illuminated/201409/long-term-effects-marijuana-the-brain
Gowin reports on the legalization of marijuana in the states, and how more people are prone to get addicted. He also clarifies that this entry is 1 in a three-part series. Gowin goes on to detail how THC is absorbed by human cells, claiming that it stays there for long enough to have a significant impact on the development of the human brain. The remainder of the article seeks to prove that claim by analyzing how long brain functions are altered following severe marijuana addiction. He bases his conclusions on the report of Andrew Zalesky from The University of Melbourne Australia. In the end, he mentions that Zalesky’s research is a strong reason for concern, however, it does not constitute undeniable facts. To quote the final sentence of the article, “Any conclusions may be premature, but it makes you wonder.”
Pay attention to how the author of the bibliography does not offer opinion or critique. Neutrality is a vital aspect of a descriptive or informative annotated bibliography.
Analytical or critical annotated bibliography (with an example)
The following type of annotated bibliography is a tad more complicated. A critical annotation evaluates the source and its author, offering critique. As a scholar, you are required to present your critical analysis of the source vaguely.
Here’s what to include an in a critical annotation:
A bibliographic citation
The author’s qualifications (if any)
A summary of significant structural elements: the thesis, and primary supporting arguments.
A brief idea of the target (intended) audience.
Author analysis, exposing bias and/or point of view.
Observation of how the source relates to other sources relevant to the subject area.
Proposal or report of solutions or findings or results (conclusion).
Specification of additional features (e.g. tools used in the study, professional comments, surveys, etc.)
Here’s an annotated bibliography example:
In this article from the internet source Psychology Today, Joshua Gowin, Ph.D., starts with the assumption that because of the legalization of marijuana in the United States of America, more people are prone to get addicted to the substance. He also clarifies that this entry is only the first in a three-part series. Gowin bases his conclusions on the article of Andrew Zalesky from The University of Melbourne Australia. The target audience could range from students to adults, or those seeking quick information on the malicious effects of marijuana. Psychology Today usually contains clear definitions of complicated concepts in their articles, which are accessible to any user, despite their level of education. The author is unbiased, presenting his information statistically; it does not seem like the author has an emotional connection to the topic. However, the article does aim to prove that teens and young adults should be aware of the possible dangers of marijuana abuse. Gowin does not provide any valuable or new information on the subject. To quote the final sentence of the article, “Any conclusions may be premature, but it makes you wonder.” This seems to strengthen the fact that any source from Psychology Today could clarify a concept, but does not go beyond the realm of entertainment media.
The bad news is, you’ll mostly be writing critical or annotated bibliographies. Good news is there’s a more natural way of doing it.
Writing an Annotated Bibliography
Now that you’re familiar with the how’s and the why’s, you can begin writing your very own annotated bibliography. Yay!
To get started you need to find your sources and citations for them. Just like with writing essays, there is a citation format you have to stick to (most probably MLA). You may create citations by hand using our citation guide or use any online citation generator, but BEWARE! They are very unreliable.
Next, review the sources. Pick the best ones, and outline the major points. Note down the name of the author, their qualifications, and your thoughts on whether the article is neutral or biased.
And finally, write a brief annotation by organizing all of your notes on the article. Use the bullet points presented in sections above for easy reference.
Pretty simple, huh? That goes to show that a little organization goes a long way!
Here at EssayPro, we firmly believe that writing is only 20% of the work. We always urge students to brainstorm, organize their thoughts, and create an outline before putting pen to paper.
Final Thoughts
Writing an annotated bibliography requires attention to detail and some critical thinking. It may seem complicated, but a little preparation goes a long way.
One final tip: whenever you find a trustworthy source that you’re going to use, ALWAYS create a citation for it right away. This will save you LOADS of time in the future.
Remember to stick to the correct citation format as instructed by your university (APA, MLA, or Chicago styles.) Here is an example of annotated bibliography formatted in MLA style.
Thank you for reading, we hope this blog has been helpful in your academic endeavors.
Chicago Manual of Style or CMS is widely used in a publication of social sciences and historical journals. It is considered the most one of the most widely used and respected styles in the United States.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Turabian/Chicago Style Format
Title Page
In-Text Citation
Footnotes And Endnotes
Bibliography
How To Cite
Turabian/Chicago Style Format
The general style citation follows these rules:
Clear font. Times New Roman 12pt font is recommended
Double spaced except for block quotes.
1” margins
No spaces between paragraphs
Your last name and page number should be at the top right of every page
Do not number the title page. The first page of your essay should begin with a 2.
Chicago style format requires footnotes on paraphrased or quoted passages.
CMS is divided into four parts: Title Page, Main Body, and Bibliography. The title page should be the first cover page of the essay, the main body follows, and the bibliography is all the citations that you used for research.
Title Page
Spacing is a crucial aspect of your title page. Ask your teacher for specific details on how to structure your title page but the general instructions go as follows:
Your title should be at the middle of the page. If it is longer than one line, it must be double spaced.
Center your full name in the middle of the page.
At the down of the page put your course number, your instructor’s name and the date. These should be in separate double-spaced lines.
In-Text Citation
Parenthetical Citation should consist of:
The author’s last name, publication date, and page number.
Do not include abbreviations in your parenthetical citations.
There should be no punctuation between the author’s last name and the date of publishing.
There should be a comma between the year and the page number.
Parenthetical citations should follow direct quotes. You can use footnotes for paraphrased information.
When a source has no author, use a shortened title of the piece.
When the same pages of the source are cited, you only need to cite the source in full after the last reference.
The Chicago Author-Date reference style requires citation after every quote: this can get redundant. Make sure to keep your citations sparse, but remember that it’s better to over cite than to under the cite.
Example:
“Philosophy should not be a core subject in university and school education. If a person doesn’t understand the fundamentals of philosophy, they will never be able to understand the grander scope and merit of the subject; thus, exposing it to them is a waste of the student’s and the professor’s time. Philosophy is for the passionate, the inquisitive, and the truly brilliant.” (Trufold 1982, 32)
Footnotes and Endnotes
As mentioned previously, in a Chicago/Turabian citation style, you should include footnotes or endnotes each time you use a direct quote or a paraphrased summary of a source.
Footnotes are added at the end of the page on which source is referenced.
Endnotes are compilations of source references at the end of each chapter or at the end of the entire document.
Both are acceptable in the Chicago/Turabian style. In either case, footnotes and endnotes begin with a superscript number with bibliographic information attached.
The first note for each source must include all relevant information about the source: author’s full name, source title, and publication. When you cite that same source again, the note only requires the surname of the author, a shortened form of the title (if the length of the title is >4) and page numbers. If you cite the same source and page more than two times, use the word “Ibid.” which means “from the same place.” If they are from different pages, use the word Ibid. followed by a page number.
Example:
Footnotes are used in the Chicago/Turabian style paper.1 There are many reasons as to why footnotes are a handy tool: perhaps the main one is the quick and easy access to information.2 To no surprise, students likewise prefer footnotes to long and confusing bibliography pages, as they carry more information; a footnote presents no cons.3
1Jan Hudson, “Chicago/Turabian: Why You Should Use It”. New York Times publication, 2003. Although they are used in the Chicago/Turabian style, they are often used in other citation styles.
2 Hudson, “Why You Should Use” 12-33. A quick and easy access can be granted likewise by a bibliography page at the end of the essay, however, statistics show that very few students take time to access it while many do read the footnotes at the end of the page.
3 Ibid. This is a harsh statement, perhaps, as footnotes do have a single con not addressed in this paper: they sometimes cause the reader to lose their train of thought.
Bibliography
Chicago style papers usually end with a bibliography where the writer lists all the sources they used in writing the paper – including the ones cited in the footnotes. Your bibliography should be:
Listed in alphabetical order
Be titled “Bibliography” at the top center of the page
Includes all the works cited in the work and may include other relevant sources
How to Cite
Author’s Names: List the last and first name of the author.
Titles: Titles of longer works such as books and journals are italicized. Titles shorter works such as articles, chapters, and poems are placed in quotation marks.
Publication Information: The publisher is listed first, followed by a journal name.
Punctuation: In a Chicago/Turabian style paper, all major elements are separated by periods.
Book (one author)
The first footnote: Anastasia Rheinbay, Dancing in Flight: My Journey as an Artist. (New York: Penguin, 2014), 33-45.
The the second footnote: Rheinbay, Dancing in Flight, 9.
In bibliography: Rheinbay, Anastasia. Dancing in Flight: My Journey as an Artist. New York: Penguin, 2014.
Book (two or more authors)
The first footnote: Inna P. James and Ryan Grist, How to Exist: How Not To Exist, 1999–2003 (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2002), 58.
The the second footnote: James and Grist, Exist, 58–33.
In bibliography: James, Inna P., and Ryan Grist. How to Exist: How Not To Exist, 1999–2003. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2002
Book Chapter (Part of a book)
The first footnote: John D. Rockefeller, “How I Made My Millions.” in Easy To Be Rich: The First Man of Steel. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011), 73.
The the second footnote: Rockefeller, “Made Millions,” 72-75.
In bibliography: Rockefeller, John D. “How I Made My Millions.” In Easy To Be Rich: The First Man of Steel. 72-75. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010.
E-Book
The first footnote: Henry James, The Turn of the Screw (New York: Penguin Classics, 2007), Kindle edition.
The the second footnote: James, (The Turn of the Screw*.
In bibliography: James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Penguin Classics, 2007. Kindle edition.
Journal Article
When citing an article, list specific pages in the footnote, but list the whole range of the article in the Bibliography.
The first footnote: Aidan Novak, “Transgender Journey: woMan” Men’s Health 58 (2023): #238.
The the second footnote: Novak, “Transgender,” 52.
Online sources (including scholarly articles) can be mentioned in the text or as a note and in turn omitted from the bibliography. For example: (“As of December 2017, the wall bordering Mexico and the United States will be built, as listed on the national United States Government website…”). If a more formal citation is required, it doesn’t have guidelines. Include an access date or, if available, a date that the site was last modified.
The first footnote: “FDA Guidelines.” Last modified May 18, 2011, {link}
The the second footnote: “FDA Guidelines.”
In bibliography: FDA. “FDA Guidelines.” Last modified May 18, 2011. {link}
HARVARD CITATION STYLE: A DETAILED GUIDE FROM EXPERTS
We have composed this Harvard referencing guide to help you with formatting your custom essay in the AGPS Harvard referencing style. You can find out how to:
Format your paper in general,
Provide in-text citations,
Create a reference list.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is Harvard Format?
General Paper Formatting Guidelines
General Rules
Title, Headers, and Page Numbers
Subheadings
Title Page
Outline
Reference List
Formatting Harvard In-Text Citations
General Rules
Different Types of In-Text Citations + Examples
Formatting the Reference List
General Rules
Books
Periodicals
Other Sources
What is Harvard Format?
Harvard citation style is one of the most popular formatting styles used in academic papers, along with APA, MLA, and Chicago. Harvard style dictates the general format of the paper, including the size of the margins, preferred font, etc. It also contains rules for citing sources—both in the text and in the list of references at the end of the paper. Harvard referencing style is commonly used in the following fields:
Humanities
Behavioral sciences
Philosophy
However, you may be requested to use the Harvard referencing system in other fields as well.
General Paper Formatting Guidelines
General Rules
1-inch margins from all sides.
Times New Roman 12 pt. or Arial 12 pt. are the recommended fonts.
Double spacing between the lines.
The text is aligned to the left.
The first line of each paragraph is indented by 0.5″.
A title in the center of your first page right before the text.
Headers and page numbers (see below).
The paper may include subheadings (dividing it into sections), a title page, an outline (a plan of your paper), and/or a list of references (see below).
Title, Headers, and Page Numbers
Place a title before the text of your paper and make it center-aligned. Capitalize all the main words, for example: How to Write an Essay. Articles, short conjunctions, and prepositions are not capitalized. Do not make your title indented, italicized, underscored, or bold.
Include a page number in the header of your paper, in the top right corner of a page.
Place your last name in the header right before the page number.
Subheadings
Subheadings divide your paper into parts. For example, level 1 headings divide the whole paper into sections. Level 2 headings divide those sections into subsections.
Level 1 headings look just like the title of the paper. In other words, they are centered, capitalized, not bold, not underscored, not italicized, and not indented. After the heading, start typing your text on a new line as usual (indent the first line of your text by 0.5″).
Level 2 headings are also capitalized. However, they are flush left (aligned to the left margin of the paper). They are also italicized. After this subheading, also start typing your subsection on a new line as usual.
Title Page
The title page, also known as the cover page, is the very first page of your paper. It contains the basic info about it, namely:
The title of your paper, written in all caps. It should be centered and placed at approximately one-third of the way down the page.
Your name should be centered and placed at approximately halfway down the page.
At two-thirds of the way down the page, place the centered name and number of your course. Then (on the next line) your professor’s name, then (again on the following line) the name of your university, and, finally, the date on the line after that.
Outline
An outline is a plan of your paper. It comes after the title page and lists all the subsections of the paper. So simply write the word “Outline” and place it at the center of the page, in the first line. Then list all your level 1 subheadings that you have in the paper (use a numbered list). Align them to the left, and capitalize them.
If you have level 2 subheadings, list them under the corresponding level 1 subheadings as bullet points. Be careful not to disrupt the numbering of your level 1 subheadings. Align the level 2 subheadings to the left, but probably indent them a bit (say, half an inch) for better appearance. Do not italicize them here, but leave them capitalized.
If you have done everything correctly, your outline should look like the one in the template above.
Reference List
Your list of Harvard references should be entitled “Reference List”. These two words should be capitalized and centered, just like level 1 subheadings. The list must contain a bibliographical entry for every source you cited in the paper. Conversely, each source cited in the paper must have a corresponding reference list entry.
Formatting Harvard In-Text Citations
General Rules
Cite all your sources. When you use information from any sources in your paper, you must provide in-text citations to show where that info came from. Otherwise, your text will be considered plagiarized.
General appearance of in-text citations. In Harvard citation style, in-text citations are parenthetical, consisting of the author’s surname and the year of publication. They look like this: (Smith & Johnson 2018). You may also include the page number, like so: (Smith & Johnson 2018, p. 35).
Direct quotes. In Harvard referencing system, if you provide exact words from some source, you must place that quote in quotation marks, and give the page number in your in-text citation. If you quote a website, you need to include the number of the paragraph the words are taken from, like this: (Smith & Johnson 2018, para. 4). Just count the paragraphs on the web page you are citing.
Mentioning authors in the text. If you mention the name of the authors in the text, do not include it in parentheses. Also, use the word “and” instead of the ampersand (&). For example, you may write: In their book, Smith and Johnson (2018, p. 15) claim that jumping from a skyscraper might be bad for your health.
Citing an author discussed in a different source. If you are referring to an author who is discussed in a secondary source, you should mention the name of the original author, but state that this author is “cited in” the source you are using. For example, if Kraut discusses Plato, you can say: Plato believed that the existence of the soul is independent of the body it inhabits (cited in Kraut 2017). Note: in this case, you will have to provide a bibliographic entry for Kraut and not for Plato in the Reference List.
Several sources in one citation. If you wish to cite several sources in one set of parentheses, you should list them in the same order as they appear in your Reference List, and use a semicolon to separate them, like this: (Johnson 2015; Smith 2014).
Different Types of In-Text Citations + Examples
In Harvard referencing, in-text citations look different depending on the number of the authors in your source. We provide two Harvard referencing examples for each case: in one, the source is not mentioned in the text, and in the other, it is.
One Author
It is recommended to clean your teeth after dinner (Anderson 2015).
Anderson (2015) recommends cleaning your teeth after dinner.
Two Authors
Some students may actually enjoy writing papers (Ironicous & Sarcastish 2016).
According to Ironicous and Sarcastish (2016), some students may actually enjoy writing papers.
Three Authors
Gas giants do not have a hard surface (Peachy, Fluffy & Cozy 2014).
According to Peachy, Fluffy and Cozy (2014), gas giants do not have a hard surface.
Four or More Authors
Punishing children physically is considered an extremely harmful practice (Kickbutt et al. 2016).
Kickbutt et al. (2016) states that punishing children physically is an extremely harmful practice.
Edited Source
Disaster management is pivotal for lowering risks (eds López-Carresi et al. 2014).
According to the book edited by López-Carresi et al. (2014), disaster management is pivotal for lowering risks.
Note: in a parenthetical citation, if there is only one editor, use “ed.” before the name. If there are multiple editors, use “eds” (without a period) before their names. If you mention their names in the text, just say that the source was “edited by” before listing the name(s).
No Authors If the authors of a source are not mentioned, use the title of that source in your in-text citation. Note that in Harvard system of referencing, the title is italicized for books, brochures, periodicals, and reports. However, the title is put in single quotation marks when you need to cite a website, article, newspaper, or chapter name. Only capitalize the first word of the title. For books, periodicals, brochures, and reports:
Some people might work well under pressure (The psychology of pressure: an introduction 2010).
According to The psychology of pressure: an introduction (2010), some people might work well under pressure.
For newspapers, articles, chapter titles, and Web pages:
It is helpfully advised to act wisely in any situation (‘Ten brilliant tips to become successful’ 2011).
The article ‘Ten brilliant tips to become successful’ (2011) helpfully recommends to act wisely in any situation.
Also, you may shorten the title if it is too long. For instance, in the example above, you may write just The psychology of pressure (2010) instead of The psychology of pressure: an introduction (2010).
No Date If there is no date in the source, use the abbreviation “n.d.” (no date) instead. All the other rules apply as usual.
It is stated that the Earth is large (‘The captain’s gazette’ n.d.)
One might not be surprised to learn that having a lot of money is better than having none, according to Allen (n.d.).
Formatting the Reference List
General Rules
Alphabetical order. Your Harvard reference list should be alphabetized according to the first letter of the first word of each reference entry (usually it’s the first author’s surname). However, if a reference entry starts with the words “a,” “an”, or “the,” ignore them and alphabetize according to the first letter of the next word. For instance, if you cite a source whose authors are not listed, and the entry starts with its title, e.g., “The importance of doing things well,” then you should alphabetize it according to the word “importance.”
Placement of entries. In Harvard reference system, each bibliographical entry must start from a new line. They are aligned to the left and not indented at all (which makes your reference list look like a total mess). Maintain double-spacing throughout your Harvard reference list.
Capitalization. In titles of books, book chapters, and articles from the Web, capitalize only the first letter. However, when citing scientific journals or newspapers, capitalize all the main words of their titles (i.e., not prepositions, articles, conjunctions, etc.). See specific Harvard reference examples below.
Referencing multiple authors. Even though in-text citations require you to use “et al.” when there are four or more authors in a source, you need to list all the authors in a bibliographical entry. Yes, all of them, even if there are 25.
Several works by the same author. In Harvard style reference list, sources by the same author should be arranged by the year of publication. If there are several works by the same author published in the same year, arrange them in the alphabetical order of their titles, and add letters “a,” “b,” “c,” etc. after the year, like so: Smith, JH 2014a, A big book, Big Book Publisher, London, UK. Smith, JH 2014b, A small book, Small Book Publisher, London, UK.
Note: This will let you differentiate between in-text citations: (Smith 2014a; Smith 2014b).
General Book Format Last Name, Initials Year of Publication, Title of the book: subtitle of the book, if any,Publishing House, City, State Abbreviation or Country.
Book With One Author Doel, M 2012, Social work: the basics, Routledge, New York, NY.
Book With Two Authors Tschudin, V & Davis, AJ 2008, The globalisation of nursing, Radcliffe Publishing, Oxford, UK.
Book With Three Authors Cretu, O, Stewart, RB & Berends, T 2011, Risk management for design and construction, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
Book With Four or More Authors Evans, J, Grimshaw, P, Philips, D & Swain, S 2003, Equal subjects, unequal rights: indigenous peoples in British settler colonies 1830s-1910, Manchester University Press, Manchester, UK.
Edited Book López-Carresi, A, Fordham, M, Wisner, B, Kelman, I & Gaillard, JC (eds) 2014 Disaster management: international lessons in risk reduction, response and recovery, Routledge, New York, NY. Note: if there is only one editor, use (ed.) after the name. If there are multiple editors, use (eds) after their names.
Book—Edition Other Than First Field, A 2013, Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics: and sex and drugs and rock’n’roll, 4th edn, SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Translated Book Weber, M 2003, The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism, trans. T Parsons, Dover Publications, New York, NY, original work published 1905.
Chapter in an Edited Book Luna, EM 2014, ‘Community-based disaster risk reduction and disaster management’, in A López-Carresi, M Fordham, B Wisner, I Kelman & JC Gaillard (eds), Disaster management: international lessons in risk reduction, response and recovery, Routledge, New York, NY, pp. 43-63.
No Author The Oxford dictionary of abbreviations 1998, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
E-Book Doel, M 2012, Social work: the basics, Routledge, viewed 19 April 2018, via Google Books.
Periodicals
Journal Articles Viñuales, JE 2013, ‘The rise and fall of sustainable development’, Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 3-13.
Conference Proceedings Bingulac, SP 1994 ‘On the compatibility of adaptive controllers’, Proceedings of 4th Annual Allerton Conference on Circuit and System Theory, New York, NY, pp. 8-16.
Newspaper Articles Waterford, J 2007, ‘Bill of Rights gets it wrong’, Canberra Times, 30 May, p. 11.
Web Pages Jameson, S 2017, Protests in Portugal reached unseen scope, viewed 27 April 2018, <www.website.com/articletwo>.
Blog Articles Brown, A 2016, ‘How to Harvard reference a website and other sources’, Referencing: Harvard Style Blog, web log post, 20 June, viewed 26 April 2018, <www.website.com/blog/articlethree>.
Dissertation or Thesis
Print version: Reed, C 2013, ‘The experiences of leaders who took their lives in their hands’, PhD Thesis, The University of Modern Education.
Retrieved from the Web: Johnston, AC 2017, ‘A study of nursing leadership styles in the today’s clinical setting’, MSc Thesis, The University of Contemporary Nursing, viewed 25 April 2018, <www.website.edu/dissertationone>. Note: Do not forget to specify what type of thesis it is (BA Thesis, MSc Thesis, PhD Thesis, etc.).
Motion Picture (Movie) The lord of the rings: the return of the king 2003, motion picture, Imagine Films, Auckland, NZ. Produced by Steve Pyke; directed by Peter Jackson.
Television Program Stateline 2009, television broadcast, ABC TV, Canberra, 4 September. Presented by Chris Kimball.
Radio Broadcast The book show 2009, radio broadcast, ABC Radio National, Melbourne, 19 November.
Students who study Computer Science should know what IEEE citation refers to.No matter whether you study Information Technologies, Programming, or Web Communication, you will need to master this format. This article will teach you how to cite academic assignments using IEEE Citation format and provide some overall writing recommendations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Is IEEE Citation Format?
How to Cite in IEEE Format?
Creating an IEEE Citation
Developing IEEE Reference
IEEE Citation Example
Reasons to Format Papers
What Is IEEE Citation Format?
The Institute for Electrical & Electronics Engineers is a professional organization supporting various fields of engineering and IT. IEEE has established its own writing style manual to let the students and professionals in these areas organize their works. IEEE format is made up of 2 critical elements:
In-text citations (direct & indirect)
References (Works Cited in MLA)
In-text citations are short quotations taken from primary or secondary sources. They are numbered in square brackets. Every number next to the citation identifies the complete citation listed in the Works Cited list or bibliography page. In APA citation format they call it References. The list of references appears in numerical order. The IEEE Editorial Style Manual is lengthy. That is why we recommend using our brief student’s guide.
How to Cite in IEEE Format?
Every reference has a corresponding IEEE citation within the main body of the essay or research paper. What is the difference between a direct and an indirect in-text citation? A direct citation duplicates the original quote while an indirect one is the same idea paraphrased by the writer.
Each time a writer adds a citation, they should insert a number within square brackets making it possible to find the complete reference on the References page. The references page should be a separate piece of paper.
The full IEEE format reference must include all the necessary information to help the reader find more details about the studied topic:
Author’s surname & initials
The full title of the work
Place of publication
Date of publication
Some smaller details like page number, issue, or volume (if available) Before each reference, a corresponding number should show up.
Creating an IEEE Citation
In-text citing should not necessarily contain a writer’s name, quoted pages, or date of publication. You may mention the source using numbers in a bracket like this: [x], where “x” is the number of the quote. It should match the complete citation in the bibliography.
Insert in-text quotations to support your arguments within the body of the essay, before any punctuation, with a space before the opening bracket.
Number each source in the order they show up during the process. After referring to a source and assigning a number to it, go on using that number each time you quote that source in the text.
Remember: if you cite numerous sources at the same time, the preferred approach is to provide every number separately, in its brackets with the help of a comma or dash between numbers. Example: [2], [4], [6] or [2] – [6].
Most experts recommend following the guidelines from the Murdoch University’s IEEE Style LibGuide. Check the examples of in-text citations from the guide:
“…the best conclusion for my study [12].”
“This hypothesis was initially offered in 1978 [2].”
“Muniz [3] has argued that…”
“The previous investigations of the topic [2], [7], [9], [13] have shown that…”
“Image [8] will illustrate it best of all.”
Developing IEEE References Page
In IEEE, a page with the full bibliography is called a References page / Reference List. It appears at the end of the project. The goal of the reference list is to offer complete citations for every source used to describe the in-text citation. Add the references in numerical sequence (one-by-one after the 1st citation), and do not forget to include the bracketed number at the beginning of every reference.
The title should be References. Place it in the center or align left at the top of the page.
Come up with a hanging indent for every reference with the numbers in brackets flush with the left side. It identifies the numerical order of the references.
List the writer’s name as the initial, surname like in the example: James Lee Monroe would be cited as J. L. Monroe.
The title of the cited source (book, newspaper, magazine, article, website) must appear in quotation marks.
The title of work must appear in italics.
Where to Find IEEE Citation Example (with Samples)
IEEE updates its manual of writing style regularly. That is why it is essential to keep in touch with their official website and watch every change made to the vital format elements:
Punctuation
Capitalization
Abbreviations
Section Headings
Numbers, equations
Footnotes
How to cite and style references
Biographies
Three rules remain stable despite the new editions. Direct quotation. Place verbatim text from another source in quotation marks. Add a reference to the original source. Rewrite or summarize; and come up with a citation when restating or making a summary of information from another source, including ideas, research, claims, or verdicts. Data, findings, graphics, & tables. Cite the original work while referring to, adapting, or taking any data from another source. Explore the example of IEEE citation reference page to understand the way this section should look (the examples are provided for the online sources):
References [1] V. Gibson. (2015, Nov.) Cache array routing protocol v1.1. Web draft. [Online]. Available: [full link] [2] P. L. Lorenz and M. Killer. (2014, Jul.) The hyper-ref.sty package. [Online]. Available: [full link] [3] T. Freeman. (2016, Oct.) Optimal partition of SSD drive on Mac. Dept. Elect. Eng., Technion. Haifa, Israel. [Online] Available: [full link]
Why Citing is Important for Your Academic Performance
Some students and young writers do not get the point of citing. Citing sources properly is necessary for several reasons:
Formatting weighs something around 10-15% of the final grade per paper;
Plagiarism is unacceptable in the academic world, and incorrect referencing equals to plagiarism;
It is unethical to steal the words of other people as intellectual property is no less valuable than physical assets;
Full references help people to go on with their research, and this way humanity learns more about a specific problem.
Don’t count on the highest grade without having the sources properly cited. IEEE has a special definition of the plagiarism. The organization believes it is the usage of another’s ideas, opinions, research findings, or words without acknowledging the original writer and source. Plagiarism is a severe breach of professional conduct. It involves serious ethical & legal outcomes in most situations. Imagine someone would use your words one day when you’ll become a famous writer or scientist. How would you feel?
MLA stands for Modern Language Association and is most commonly used to reference liberal arts and humanities. An MLA style paper typically includes a header, in-text citations, and a Works Cited page at the end of the paper.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Is MLA Style
General Format Guidelines
Heading
Title Page
In-Text Citation
Works Cited
General Format Guidelines
An MLA style paper has the following rules:
Your font size should be 12
Recommended (preferred) font is Times New Roman
Your entire paper should be double spaced
1” margins on all sides
Indent your paragraphs a half an inch (Tab key)
Use italics throughout the essay for titles of longer works.
Insert your last name and a page number on the upper right-hand corner. (Sometimes the page number is omitted on the first page.)
Heading
First and foremost, your paper does not need an MLA style paper title page unless specifically requested by your advisor. Your header should include the following in the respective order:
Name
Instructor’s name
Course
Date
Like the rest of the essay, it should be double-spaced. After this, on the next line, center the title of your paper in the Title Case. Use quotations or italics in your title only if you are referring to other works. As mentioned prior, include your name and page number in the upper right (unless specified otherwise by your instructor). Sometimes instructors require section headings to improve readability.
Section Headings
To improve your essay readability, add headings in your paper with this format:
Level 1 Heading: bold
Level 2 Heading: italics
Level 3 Heading: bold with tab
Level 4 Heading: italics with tab
Level 5 Heading: underlined
Title Page
The MLA format does not require a specific title page. However, if you don’t receive any specific instructions bar “have an MLA format cover page,” then a good template is this:
The whole page should be double spaced
Skip two lines and include the name of your institution.
One-third of the page down include your title and a subtitle if you have one.
Skip several lines down and type your full name, your course name, instructor name and the date.
In-Text Citation
When paraphrasing or quoting an external source, you must include an MLA format in-text citation. In-text citations are called “parenthetical” citations.
General Guidelines
You do not need MLA style citation for well-known quotations or common knowledge.
Any information that you put as an in-text citation should appear in your Works Cited page.
Your parenthetical citations should go directly after the quote.
A parenthetical citation is two things: Author’s last name and specific page number separated by a comma.
If the author’s last name or page number is mentioned in the body of the sentence, then it can be omitted from the parenthetical citation.
Here are examples for each type of in-text citation:
Author’s name and page number:
As a citation: The coffee bean is believed to be the most influential cash crop (Novak 12).
With the author’s name in the text: Novak states that coffee bean was the most influential cash crop (12).
With multiple authors: The coffee bean is believed to be the most influential cash crop (Novak, Smith, and Johnson 12).
With more than three authors: The coffee bean is believed to be the most influential cash crop (Novak et al. 12).
Article title and page number: Citations with no authors or contributors are cited with the titles of the piece. Italicize novels and longer works and put articles in quotes. If the title is too long, abbreviate the title with the same letter.
Cited article: Caffeine is incredibly damaging to the nervous system (“Coffee Bean Revolution” 12)
Cited novel: “At the bottom of her heart, however, she was waiting for something to happen” (Flaubert 81)
Author and no page number
No page number: The coffee bean is believed to be the most influential cash crop (Novak).
Chapter of a book or subheading of an article: “Coffee was the first step to globalization” (Novak “Globalization”)
Works Cited
An MLA style annotated bibliography is titled “Works Cited” in the top center of references list. Keep in mind that your MLA format works cited page should have hanging indents on each citation. The citations are also in alphabetical order and should match your parenthetical citations. Here are formats and examples from our qualified writer of common MLA format bibliography entry types:
Web Article (with author): Last, First Middle Initial. “Article Title.”Website Title. Website Publisher, Date Month Year Published. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
Example: Quint, Peter. “Turning Screws.” New York Times. New York times. 17.02.2017. Web. 18.03.2017
Web Article (without author): “Website Article.” Website Title. Website Publisher, Date Month Year Published. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
Example: “Turning Screws.” New York Times. New York times. 17.02.2017. Web. 18.03.2017
Books: Last, First M. Book Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year Published. Print.
Example: James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Penguin Publish, 2007. Print
Newspaper: Last, First M. “Article Title.” Newspaper Title [City] Date Month Year Published: Page(s). Print.
