Citing Resources
Why Cite? - Which
style should I use? - Major Citation Styles / Citation Manuals
- Legal Citation - Science Citation
- Bibliographic Management Tools (RefWorks and EndNote)- Additional
Resources
Why Cite?
Using information fairly and acknowledging sources accurately is an essential part of any research project. Citations provide information to help readers locate the sources you use and and provide a way for you to credit other scholars for their original ideas or findings.
Learn More About Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Which style should I use?
To allow readers to trace a cited source quickly and accurately, researchers usually follow a certain citation style. These styles are usually outlined in style manuals.
The citation style you use depends on a variety of factors. Many disciplines tend to use one particular style over another (APA for psychology, for example). Your instructors may require you use a certain style, so ask about which manual to use before you start your research. If you are publishing one of your works, your editor may require that you use of a certain style.
If you aren't required to use a certain style, use one that you are comfortable with and that best fits your needs. Just follow the guidelines and be consistent.
Citation Styles
The four most popular citation style guides or manuals are:
APA
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Chicago
The University of Chicago Press. The Chicago Manual
of Style. 15th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.
- Online Version
- Find a copy at the Library
- Chicago Style Quick Guide (Includes Examples)
MLA
Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2003.
- Find a copy at the Library
- Help Guide (Includes Examples)
Turabian
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007.
- Find a copy at the Library
- Turabian Quick Guide (Includes Examples)
Legal Citation
The primary style manual for legal citation is The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. The D'Angelo Law Library has a guide to legal citation, including call numbers for The Bluebook and other sources for legal citation.
Science Citation
Disciplines in the sciences use a variety of style manuals and many science publications use their own unique styles. The John Crerar Library has a complete listing of science style manuals.
Bibliographic Management Tools (RefWorks and EndNote)
Bibliographic management tools, such as RefWorks or EndNote, are programs that help you organize your research and create bibliographies in a variety of citation styles. Both programs allow you to download citations directly from the Library's electronic resources (including the Library Catalog, JSTOR, and subject indexes) into your own database so that you can easily locate and cite sources.
The Library provides free access to RefWorks, a web-based bibliographic management tool, to students, faculty and staff of the University of Chicago. Training sessions are held throughout the year and extensive online help and support is available through our web site.
EndNote is available for purchase from the Campus Computer Store. The Library supports EndNote through training sessions and help guides.
Additional Resources
Citation and style guides can often be confusing. To assist you, the Library has provided links to several helpful web pages below. However, remember that the only way to completely be sure that you are citing your sources correctly is to refer to the most recent edition of the actual manual.
Doing Honest Work in College
Lipson, Charles. Doing Honest Work in College: How to Prepare Citations, Avoid Plagiarism, and Achieve Real Academic Success. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004. Recommended by The College.
Sources: Their Use and Acknowledgment
This guide, by Dartmouth College, discusses the importance of academic honesty and provides information about using the various style guides. Recommended by The College
Writing in College: A Short Guide to College Writing
A helpful guide by Joseph M. Williams and Lawrence McEnerney designed for College students writing papers in the Humanities Core and Social Sciences Core sequences.
Citing Electronic Resources
Links to helpful pages for citing various resources available online or in electronic format.
Resources for Psychology Authors
A guide focusing on resources to assist authors in the field of psychology. Focuses on APA style. Created by the Bibliographer for Psychology.
The University of Chicago Dissertation Office
Information about special style guidelines required by the University of Chicago for dissertations, as well as information on copyright and permissions.
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