Citing Your Sources

Learn how to cite and format your academic work using APA Style, the most widely used citation style in the social sciences. These resources will help you understand APA’s guidelines and apply them with confidence.

Official APA Manual

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.)

Available at the CSUMB Library Reference Collection: REF BF76.7 .P83 2020

This is the definitive guide to APA Style rules, covering in-text citations, references, formatting and writing style.

Online Guides and Tutorials

• APA Style — Official Site
  The official resource from the American Psychological Association, featuring tutorials, sample papers, citation examples, and detailed formatting instructions.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
  A widely used and student-friendly guide that offers clear explanations and examples for citing and formatting according to APA Style.
• Nova Southeastern University APA Guide
  Provides examples and tips for citing a wide variety of source types in APA Style.
• University of Wisconsin Writer’s Handbook
  Offers guidance on how to cite electronic sources and structure your references using APA conventions.
• Ohio State University Libraries APA Citation Guide
  A concise, easy-to-use guide with examples of common citation types and quick reference tips.

MLA Style, developed by the Modern Language Association, is widely used in the humanities, especially in writing about literature, philosophy and cultural studies. The following resources provide guidance on citing sources, formatting papers and presenting research according to the latest MLA standards.

Official MLA Handbook

MLA Handbook (9th Edition)

Available at the CSUMB Library Reference Collection: REF LB2369 .M52 2021

This authoritative guide covers every aspect of MLA Style, including citation rules, paper formatting and sample research papers.

Online Guides and Tutorials

• Ask the MLA — Modern Language Association
  Find answers to frequently asked questions about MLA Style, straight from the Modern Language Association. Topics include tricky citation situations, grammar and mechanics, and formatting rules.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
  A comprehensive and accessible guide to MLA Style, including citation examples, paper formatting tips and sample works cited pages.
• University of Wisconsin Writer’s Handbook
  This guide focuses on citing electronic sources using MLA format and offers clear instructions for common digital reference formats.
• Ohio State University Libraries MLA Citation Guide
  A concise, easy-to-use reference for citing a wide range of source types using MLA Style.

Chicago Style is commonly used in history, art history and other humanities disciplines, while Turabian Style adapts it for student research papers. These resources will help you understand both formats, from citing sources to formatting papers and presentations.

Official Style Manuals

The Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition)

Available at the CSUMB Library Reference Collection: REF Z253 .U69 2024

The comprehensive guide to citation, grammar, punctuation, manuscript preparation and publishing. Essential for advanced research in the humanities and social sciences.

A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by Kate Turabian (9th Edition)

Available at the CSUMB Library Reference Collection: REF LB2369 .T8 2018

This student-focused guide adapts Chicago Style for college and graduate-level writing, including research papers, theses and dissertations.

Online Guides and Tools

• Chicago Manual of Style Online — Quick Guide
  A free online reference showing citation examples for both the Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date systems.
• Chicago Manual of Style — FAQ
  Answers to frequently asked style and citation questions, provided directly by the editors of The Chicago Manual of Style.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
  A user-friendly guide that covers both citation systems, as well as formatting papers and bibliographies.
• Ohio State University – Chicago Citation Guide
  A concise citation guide with clear examples for books, articles, websites, and more using Chicago Style.

Some academic disciplines use less common citation styles tailored to their specific fields. Below are resources to help you navigate CSE (Council of Science Editors) style, along with select style guides used in anthropology and government research.

CSE (Council of Science Editors) Style

CSE Style is used in many science and health-related disciplines. It includes three documentation systems: Name-Year, Citation-Sequence, and Citation-Name. Always confirm with your instructor which version to use.

Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (7th Edition)

Available at the CSUMB Library Reference Collection: REF T11 .S386 2006

This is the official and comprehensive guide for writing and citing in the sciences.

Additional CSE Citation Resources

• Ohio State University — Council of Science Editors Style Guide
  Overview of CSE style with examples in Name-Year and Citation-Sequence formats.
• Dakota State University — CSE Citation Examples
  User-friendly resource that breaks down citation rules for articles, books, and online sources.
• Weber State University Library — CSE Guidelines
  Provides step-by-step citation instructions and sample reference lists.
• University of Wisconsin Writers Handbook
  Includes tips for both in-text citations and creating bibliographies in scientific writing.

Citing your sources accurately is essential in academic work. These tools help you format citations quickly and manage your references over time. Always double-check generated citations for accuracy and consistency with your instructor’s requirements.

Note: Automatic citation tools are helpful, but not perfect. Review each citation for accuracy, punctuation and formatting before using it in your work.

Citation Generators

Citation generators let you enter key information, like a book title or article URL, and produce a formatted citation in your chosen style. These tools are useful for quick citations, but results may contain errors or formatting inconsistencies.

• ZoteroBib
  Create citations instantly in over 9,000 styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago. No account required.
• Citation Builder
  Supports APA, MLA, Chicago and CSE formats. A simple interface designed by NC State University Libraries.
• KnightCite
  Free citation tool for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles developed by Calvin University.
• NoodleTools Express
  Generate citations in MLA, APA, and Chicago without creating an account.

Database Citation Tools

Most CSUMB Library databases (including OneSearch) include built-in citation features. Look for links or icons labeled “cite,” “citation tools,” or “export citation” when viewing a source.

Citation Managers

Citation managers go beyond generating citations. They help you save, organize and reuse references for research projects and papers. Many also allow you to insert citations directly into Microsoft Word or Google Docs as you write.

CSUMB supports the use of Zotero and Mendeley, two free and widely used citation managers.

• Zotero
  A free, open-source citation manager that helps you collect references, store PDFs, and generate bibliographies. Best for quick setup and web integration.
• Mendeley
  A reference manager and academic social network that lets you organize research, annotate PDFs, and collaborate with others.