how to cite research book

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APA Style (7th Edition) Citation Guide: Books & Ebooks

• Introduction
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Films/Videos/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Book In Print With One Author

Book in Print More Than One Author

Chapters, Short Stories, Essays, or Articles From a Book (Anthology or Collection)

Article in an online reference book (e.g. encyclopedias, dictionaries).

Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

This Microsoft support page contains instructions about how to format a hanging indent in a paper.

Authors/Editors

An author won't necessarily be a person's name. It may be an organization or company, for example Health Canada. These are called group or corporate authors.

If a book has no author or editor, begin the citation with the book title, followed by the year of publication in round brackets.

If an author is also the publisher, omit the publisher from the reference. This happens most often with corporate or group authors.

When a book has one to 20 authors or editors, all authors' names are cited in the Reference List entry. When a book has 21 or more authors or editors, list the first 19 authors followed by three spaced ellipse points (. . .) , and then the last author's name. Rules are different for in-text citations; please see the examples provided.

Cite author names in the order in which they appear on the source, not in alphabetical order (the first author is usually the person who contributed the most work to the publication).

Capitalize the first letter of the first word of the title. If there is a colon (:) in the title, also capitalize the first letter of the first word after the colon.

Capitalize the first letter of proper names in titles, such as names of places or people. 

Italicize titles of journals, magazines, newspapers, and books. Do not italicize the titles of articles or book chapters.

Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of the article title. If there is a colon in the article title, also capitalize the first letter of the first word after the colon.

Place of Publication

Do not include the publisher location in the reference. Only for works associated with a specific location, like conference presentations, include the location. For cities in the US and Canada list the city name and the province or state code. For other countries, list the city name and the country. Examples: Toronto, ON ; Tokyo, Japan

Electronic Books

Don't include the format, platform, or device (e.g. Kindle) in the reference. Include the publisher name. For audiobooks, include the narrator and audiobook notation.

Ebooks from Websites (not from library databases)

If an ebook from a website was originally published in print, give the author, year, title, edition (if given) and the url. If it was never published in print, treat it like a multi-page website.

Book In Print With One Author or Editor

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication).  Title of book: Subtitle if given  (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name.

Note: If the named person is an editor, place "(Ed.)." after the name.

Mulholland, K. (2003). Class, gender and the family business . Palgrave McMillan. 

In-Text Paraphrase:

(Author's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Mulholland, 2003)

In-Text Quote:

(Author's Last Name, Year, p. Page Number)

Example: (Mulholland, 2003, p. 70)

Book in Print More Than One Author or Editor

Last Name of First Author, First Initial. Second Initial if Given, & Last Name of Second Author, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication).  Title of book: Subtitle if given  (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name.

Note: Authors' names are separated by commas. Put a comma and an ampersand (&) before the name of the last author cited.

Note : For works with three or more authors, the first in-text citation is shortened to include the first author's surname followed by "et al."

Note: If the listed names are editors rather than authors, include "(Eds.)." at the end of the list of names. The below example shows a list of editors.

Reference List Example:

Kaakinen, J., Coehlo, D., Steele, R., Tabacco, L., & Hanson, H. (Eds.). (2015). Family health care nursing: Theory, practice, and research (5th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.

In-text Citation

Two Authors/Editors

(Kaakinen & Coehlo, 2015)

Direct quote: (Kaakinen & Coehlo, 2015, p. 57)

Three or more Authors/Editors

(Kaakinen et al., 2015)

Direct quote: (Kaakinen et al., 2015, p. 57)

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication).  Title of book: Subtitle if given  (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name. URL

Example from Website:

Rhode, D. L. (2002). Divorce, American style . University of California Press. http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=kt9z09q84w;brand=ucpress

Example: (Rhode, 2002)

Example: (Rhode, 2002, p. 101)

If no author or creator is provided, start the citation with the title/name of the item you are citing instead. Follow the title/name of the item with the date of publication, and the continue with other citation details.

Remember: an author/creator may be an organization or corporation, for example Health Canada. If you don't have a person's name as the author, but do have the name of an organization or corporation, put that organization/corporation's name as the author.

If and only if an item is signed as being created by Anonymous, use "Anonymous" where you'd normally put the author's name.

When you have no author, use a shortened version of the title where you'd normally put the author's name.

If you're citing something which is part of a bigger work, like an article from a magazine, newspaper, journal, encyclopedia, or chapter/short story from a book, put the shortened title in quotation marks in your in-text citation:

Example, paraphrase: ("A few words," 2014)

If you're citing an entire work, like a book, website, video, etc., italicize the shortened title in your in-text citation:

Example, paraphrase: ( A few words , 2014)

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of chapter, article, essay or short story. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if Given. Editor's Last Name (Ed.),  Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition, pp. first page number-last page number). Publisher Name.

Note:  If you have more than one editor list their name(s) after the first editor listed in the book, giving their initials and last name. Put an ampersand (&) before the last editor's name.

When you have one editor the short form (Ed.) is used after the editor's name. If you have more than one editor use (Eds.) instead.

O'Neil, J. M., & Egan, J. (1992). Men's and women's gender role journeys: A metaphor for healing, transition, and transformation. In B. R. Wainrib (Ed.), Gender issues across the life cycle (pp. 107-123). Springer. 

Note: If there is no editor given you may leave out that part of the citation.

(Author's Last Name, Year) 

Example (2 authors): (O'Neil & Egan, 1992)

(Author's Last Name, Year, p. Page Number) 

Example (2 authors): (O'Neil & Egan, 1992, p. 998)

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of article. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if Given. Editor's Last Name (Ed.),  Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name. URL or DOI

Caviness, L. B. (2008). Brain-relevant education. In N. J. Salkind (Ed.), Encyclopedia of educational psychology . Sage Publications. https://login.uportland.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/sageedpsyc/brain_relevant_education/0?institutionId=5407

Example (1 author): (Caviness, 2008)

Example (1 author): (Caviness, 2008, Focus on the brain section, para. 2)

Note: When there are no visible page numbers or paragraph numbers, you may cite the section heading and the number of the paragraph in that section to identify where your quote came from.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources

How to Cite Sources

Here is a complete list for how to cite sources. Most of these guides present citation guidance and examples in MLA, APA, and Chicago.

If you’re looking for general information on MLA or APA citations , the EasyBib Writing Center was designed for you! It has articles on what’s needed in an MLA in-text citation , how to format an APA paper, what an MLA annotated bibliography is, making an MLA works cited page, and much more!

MLA Format Citation Examples

The Modern Language Association created the MLA Style, currently in its 9th edition, to provide researchers with guidelines for writing and documenting scholarly borrowings.  Most often used in the humanities, MLA style (or MLA format ) has been adopted and used by numerous other disciplines, in multiple parts of the world.

MLA provides standard rules to follow so that most research papers are formatted in a similar manner. This makes it easier for readers to comprehend the information. The MLA in-text citation guidelines, MLA works cited standards, and MLA annotated bibliography instructions provide scholars with the information they need to properly cite sources in their research papers, articles, and assignments.

• Book Chapter
• Conference Paper
• Documentary
• Encyclopedia
• Google Images
• Kindle Book
• Memorial Inscription
• Museum Exhibit
• Painting or Artwork
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Sheet Music
• Thesis or Dissertation
• YouTube Video

APA Format Citation Examples

The American Psychological Association created the APA citation style in 1929 as a way to help psychologists, anthropologists, and even business managers establish one common way to cite sources and present content.

APA is used when citing sources for academic articles such as journals, and is intended to help readers better comprehend content, and to avoid language bias wherever possible. The APA style (or APA format ) is now in its 7th edition, and provides citation style guides for virtually any type of resource.

Chicago Style Citation Examples

The Chicago/Turabian style of citing sources is generally used when citing sources for humanities papers, and is best known for its requirement that writers place bibliographic citations at the bottom of a page (in Chicago-format footnotes ) or at the end of a paper (endnotes).

The Turabian and Chicago citation styles are almost identical, but the Turabian style is geared towards student published papers such as theses and dissertations, while the Chicago style provides guidelines for all types of publications. This is why you’ll commonly see Chicago style and Turabian style presented together. The Chicago Manual of Style is currently in its 17th edition, and Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations is in its 8th edition.

Citing Specific Sources or Events

• Declaration of Independence
• Gettysburg Address
• Martin Luther King Jr. Speech
• President Obama’s Farewell Address
• President Trump’s Inauguration Speech
• White House Press Briefing

Additional FAQs

• Citing Archived Contributors
• Citing a Blog
• Citing a Book Chapter
• Citing a Source in a Foreign Language
• Citing an Image
• Citing a Song
• Citing Special Contributors
• Citing a Translated Article
• Citing a Tweet

6 Interesting Citation Facts

The world of citations may seem cut and dry, but there’s more to them than just specific capitalization rules, MLA in-text citations , and other formatting specifications. Citations have been helping researches document their sources for hundreds of years, and are a great way to learn more about a particular subject area.

Ever wonder what sets all the different styles apart, or how they came to be in the first place? Read on for some interesting facts about citations!

1. There are Over 7,000 Different Citation Styles

You may be familiar with MLA and APA citation styles, but there are actually thousands of citation styles used for all different academic disciplines all across the world. Deciding which one to use can be difficult, so be sure to ask you instructor which one you should be using for your next paper.

2. Some Citation Styles are Named After People

While a majority of citation styles are named for the specific organizations that publish them (i.e. APA is published by the American Psychological Association, and MLA format is named for the Modern Language Association), some are actually named after individuals. The most well-known example of this is perhaps Turabian style, named for Kate L. Turabian, an American educator and writer. She developed this style as a condensed version of the Chicago Manual of Style in order to present a more concise set of rules to students.

3. There are Some Really Specific and Uniquely Named Citation Styles

How specific can citation styles get? The answer is very. For example, the “Flavour and Fragrance Journal” style is based on a bimonthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal published since 1985 by John Wiley & Sons. It publishes original research articles, reviews and special reports on all aspects of flavor and fragrance. Another example is “Nordic Pulp and Paper Research,” a style used by an international scientific magazine covering science and technology for the areas of wood or bio-mass constituents.

4. More citations were created on  EasyBib.com  in the first quarter of 2018 than there are people in California.

The US Census Bureau estimates that approximately 39.5 million people live in the state of California. Meanwhile, about 43 million citations were made on EasyBib from January to March of 2018. That’s a lot of citations.

5. “Citations” is a Word With a Long History

The word “citations” can be traced back literally thousands of years to the Latin word “citare” meaning “to summon, urge, call; put in sudden motion, call forward; rouse, excite.” The word then took on its more modern meaning and relevance to writing papers in the 1600s, where it became known as the “act of citing or quoting a passage from a book, etc.”

6. Citation Styles are Always Changing

The concept of citations always stays the same. It is a means of preventing plagiarism and demonstrating where you relied on outside sources. The specific style rules, however, can and do change regularly. For example, in 2018 alone, 46 new citation styles were introduced , and 106 updates were made to exiting styles. At EasyBib, we are always on the lookout for ways to improve our styles and opportunities to add new ones to our list.

Why Citations Matter

Here are the ways accurate citations can help your students achieve academic success, and how you can answer the dreaded question, “why should I cite my sources?”

They Give Credit to the Right People

Citing their sources makes sure that the reader can differentiate the student’s original thoughts from those of other researchers. Not only does this make sure that the sources they use receive proper credit for their work, it ensures that the student receives deserved recognition for their unique contributions to the topic. Whether the student is citing in MLA format , APA format , or any other style, citations serve as a natural way to place a student’s work in the broader context of the subject area, and serve as an easy way to gauge their commitment to the project.

They Provide Hard Evidence of Ideas

Having many citations from a wide variety of sources related to their idea means that the student is working on a well-researched and respected subject. Citing sources that back up their claim creates room for fact-checking and further research . And, if they can cite a few sources that have the converse opinion or idea, and then demonstrate to the reader why they believe that that viewpoint is wrong by again citing credible sources, the student is well on their way to winning over the reader and cementing their point of view.

They Promote Originality and Prevent Plagiarism

The point of research projects is not to regurgitate information that can already be found elsewhere. We have Google for that! What the student’s project should aim to do is promote an original idea or a spin on an existing idea, and use reliable sources to promote that idea. Copying or directly referencing a source without proper citation can lead to not only a poor grade, but accusations of academic dishonesty. By citing their sources regularly and accurately, students can easily avoid the trap of plagiarism , and promote further research on their topic.

They Create Better Researchers

By researching sources to back up and promote their ideas, students are becoming better researchers without even knowing it! Each time a new source is read or researched, the student is becoming more engaged with the project and is developing a deeper understanding of the subject area. Proper citations demonstrate a breadth of the student’s reading and dedication to the project itself. By creating citations, students are compelled to make connections between their sources and discern research patterns. Each time they complete this process, they are helping themselves become better researchers and writers overall.

When is the Right Time to Start Making Citations?

Make in-text/parenthetical citations as you need them.

As you are writing your paper, be sure to include references within the text that correspond with references in a works cited or bibliography. These are usually called in-text citations or parenthetical citations in MLA and APA formats. The most effective time to complete these is directly after you have made your reference to another source. For instance, after writing the line from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…,” you would include a citation like this (depending on your chosen citation style):

(Dickens 11).

This signals to the reader that you have referenced an outside source. What’s great about this system is that the in-text citations serve as a natural list for all of the citations you have made in your paper, which will make completing the works cited page a whole lot easier. After you are done writing, all that will be left for you to do is scan your paper for these references, and then build a works cited page that includes a citation for each one.

Need help creating an MLA works cited page ? Try the MLA format generator on EasyBib.com! We also have a guide on how to format an APA reference page .

2. Understand the General Formatting Rules of Your Citation Style Before You Start Writing

While reading up on paper formatting may not sound exciting, being aware of how your paper should look early on in the paper writing process is super important. Citation styles can dictate more than just the appearance of the citations themselves, but rather can impact the layout of your paper as a whole, with specific guidelines concerning margin width, title treatment, and even font size and spacing. Knowing how to organize your paper before you start writing will ensure that you do not receive a low grade for something as trivial as forgetting a hanging indent.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a formatting guide on APA format .

3. Double-check All of Your Outside Sources for Relevance and Trustworthiness First

Collecting outside sources that support your research and specific topic is a critical step in writing an effective paper. But before you run to the library and grab the first 20 books you can lay your hands on, keep in mind that selecting a source to include in your paper should not be taken lightly. Before you proceed with using it to backup your ideas, run a quick Internet search for it and see if other scholars in your field have written about it as well. Check to see if there are book reviews about it or peer accolades. If you spot something that seems off to you, you may want to consider leaving it out of your work. Doing this before your start making citations can save you a ton of time in the long run.

Finished with your paper? It may be time to run it through a grammar and plagiarism checker , like the one offered by EasyBib Plus. If you’re just looking to brush up on the basics, our grammar guides  are ready anytime you are.

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Citation Basics

Harvard Referencing

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Research Basics: 5. Citing Your Sources

• 1. Selecting and Narrowing Your Topic
• 2. Effective Searching
• 3. Finding Books/eBooks/Articles
• 4. Evaluating Information
• 5. Citing Your Sources
• 6. Writing Help

The proper citation of sources is how scholars acknowledge the work of earlier scholars. Ideally, citation provides a method for tracking down the research of others by providing information about the original source so it can be easily found. Citations typically include things like article titles, journal titles, authors, dates, and publication information. 

The purpose is to make the original source of any information you reference easily findable by others and also to give credit when you use the original ideas of others. This is our responsibility as researchers. Citation also allows you to avoid plagiarism. Most every educational institution has some sort of academic integrity policy that outlines a student’s responsibilities as a researcher. 

The three most common citation styles at Polk State College are MLA, APA, and Chicago.  If you are unsure of which citation style to use, consult your professor.

What is MLA?

MLA style is a commonly used style found in the humanities including language and literature. MLA is an acronym for Modern Language Association.

MLA Style Online Guides

• MLA Overview from Excelsior OWL
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue University OWL) Be sure to check out the sample paper and Works Cited page!
• MLA Style Center (official)
• MLA Style Citation Guide (Long Island University)
• MLA Handbook Excerpt (PDF)

MLA Style Guide Book

What is APA?

APA style is often used for writing in the fields of psychology, business, communications, nursing, history and social sciences. APA stands for the American Psychological Association.

APA Style Online Guides

• Basics of 7th Edition APA Style tutorial (official)
• APA Style and Grammar Guidelines-7th edition (official)
• APA Style (Excelsior Online Writing Lab)
• APA Formatting and Style Guide-7th edition (Purdue University OWL)

APA Style Guide Book

What is Chicago?

Chicago style citations are unique in that it includes two documentation systems. The first is known as the humanities (notes and bibliography) style and is more often used in the fields of arts and humanities. The second is the author-date system, used more often in the natural sciences.

Chicago Style Online Guides

• The Chicago Manual of Style Online (official)
• Chicago Manual of Style Method (Purdue University OWL) Be sure to check out the sample paper!
• Chicago Style Citation Guide (Long Island University)

Chicago Style Guide Book

Adapted from:  Information Literacy Concepts: An Open Educational Resource .  Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BYNC-SA 4.0)  Adapted from Mastering Academic Research developed at Florida Institute of Technology. Adapted from Research Foundations from Seminole State College of Florida Library.

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Polk State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit polk.edu/compliance .

How to Cite a Book

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• Select style:
• Archive material
• Chapter of an edited book
• Conference proceedings
• Dictionary entry
• Dissertation
• DVD, video, or film
• E-book or PDF
• Edited book
• Encyclopedia article
• Government publication
• Music or recording
• Online image or video
• Presentation
• Press release
• Religious text

Even though we live in an increasingly digital world, it’s still likely that the reference you’ll need to cite the most is the humble book. Whether you’re an English major quoting Shakespeare, or you’re using a textbook to research a topic, there’ll always be a place for books in every student’s stash of sources.

We know that any source used while researching and writing academic papers must be referenced—and that not doing so could amount to accidental plagiarism—but the exact format used will depend on the required style of citation.

APA, MLA and Chicago are all common citation styles, although there are many others such as Harvard Referencing (typically used within the areas of business and law). The required style is often subject-specific, but if you’re at all unsure, your instructor is the best person to ask.

Let’s look at the basics of a general book citation.

What Information Do I Need?

When conducting research, ensure that you note the following pieces of information for every book that you use. We’ve used the classic fiction book Of Mice And Men as an example:

• Author Name (or authors, if multiple): John Steinbeck
• Year Published: 2006
• Book Title: Of Mice And Men
• City Published: London
• Publisher: Penguin
• Section of Reference (i.e. page, pages or whole book): Page 12

If you have additional information that may be relevant—for example, the edition of the book, the translator, etc.—you can also add it. Include anything that you feel will help the reader to identify your source easily and accurately.

In-Text Citations

As well as including full citations on your works cited page , you will also usually have to include in-text citations within the body of your work to mark where you have used the source. Remember that citations are not just used when quoting directly from a text. You also need to reference any paraphrased or general ideas that are not your own. How you format an in-text citation also varies, depending on the required style.

Let’s take a look at some examples of how to cite a book in MLA, APA and Chicago styles.

How To Cite A Book In APA Style

In-text Citation:

(Steinbeck, 2006, p. 12)

Full Citation:

Steinbeck, J. (2006). Of mice and men . Penguin.

How To Cite A Book In MLA Style

(Steinbeck 12)

Steinbeck, John. Of Mice And Men . Penguin, 2006.

How To Cite A Book In Chicago Style (author/date style)

(Steinbeck 2006, 12)

Bibliography:

Steinbeck, John. 2006. Of Mice And Men . London: Penguin.

How To Cite A Book In Chicago Style (footnote/bibliography style)

Footnote (with a numerical marker in the text):

John Steinbeck, Of Mice And Men (London: Penguin, 2006), 12.

Chicago Style Annotated Bibliography :

Steinbeck, John. Of Mice And Men. London: Penguin, 2006.

Don’t get the book thrown at you for incorrect citations! The online tools at Cite This For Me make creating book citations easy.

Bibliography entries of comic books are cited in the same way as regular books. The citation must include the author’s name(s), book title, publisher location and name, and the publication year.

Azzarello, Brian, and Meredith Finch. Wonder Woman . New York: DC Comics, 2011.

The footnote for a comic book is formatted the same way one for a regular book. The footnote includes the author’s name(s), book title, publisher location and name, and the publication year. If relevant, include a page number. Remember to only invert the first author’s name in the bibliography entry, not the footnote.

Brian Azzarello and Meredith Finch, Wonder Woman (New York: DC Comics, 2011), 10.

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• Knowledge Base
• Referencing

A Quick Guide to Referencing | Cite Your Sources Correctly

Referencing means acknowledging the sources you have used in your writing. Including references helps you support your claims and ensures that you avoid plagiarism .

There are many referencing styles, but they usually consist of two things:

• A citation wherever you refer to a source in your text.
• A reference list or bibliography at the end listing full details of all your sources.

The most common method of referencing in UK universities is Harvard style , which uses author-date citations in the text. Our free Harvard Reference Generator automatically creates accurate references in this style.

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Table of contents

Referencing styles, citing your sources with in-text citations, creating your reference list or bibliography, harvard referencing examples, frequently asked questions about referencing.

Each referencing style has different rules for presenting source information. For in-text citations, some use footnotes or endnotes , while others include the author’s surname and date of publication in brackets in the text.

The reference list or bibliography is presented differently in each style, with different rules for things like capitalisation, italics, and quotation marks in references.

Your university will usually tell you which referencing style to use; they may even have their own unique style. Always follow your university’s guidelines, and ask your tutor if you are unsure. The most common styles are summarised below.

Harvard referencing, the most commonly used style at UK universities, uses author–date in-text citations corresponding to an alphabetical bibliography or reference list at the end.

Harvard Referencing Guide

Vancouver referencing, used in biomedicine and other sciences, uses reference numbers in the text corresponding to a numbered reference list at the end.

Vancouver Referencing Guide

APA referencing, used in the social and behavioural sciences, uses author–date in-text citations corresponding to an alphabetical reference list at the end.

APA Referencing Guide APA Reference Generator

MHRA referencing, used in the humanities, uses footnotes in the text with source information, in addition to an alphabetised bibliography at the end.

MHRA Referencing Guide

OSCOLA referencing, used in law, uses footnotes in the text with source information, and an alphabetical bibliography at the end in longer texts.

OSCOLA Referencing Guide

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In-text citations should be used whenever you quote, paraphrase, or refer to information from a source (e.g. a book, article, image, website, or video).

Quoting and paraphrasing

Quoting is when you directly copy some text from a source and enclose it in quotation marks to indicate that it is not your own writing.

Paraphrasing is when you rephrase the original source into your own words. In this case, you don’t use quotation marks, but you still need to include a citation.

In most referencing styles, page numbers are included when you’re quoting or paraphrasing a particular passage. If you are referring to the text as a whole, no page number is needed.

In-text citations

In-text citations are quick references to your sources. In Harvard referencing, you use the author’s surname and the date of publication in brackets.

Up to three authors are included in a Harvard in-text citation. If the source has more than three authors, include the first author followed by ‘ et al. ‘

The point of these citations is to direct your reader to the alphabetised reference list, where you give full information about each source. For example, to find the source cited above, the reader would look under ‘J’ in your reference list to find the title and publication details of the source.

Placement of in-text citations

In-text citations should be placed directly after the quotation or information they refer to, usually before a comma or full stop. If a sentence is supported by multiple sources, you can combine them in one set of brackets, separated by a semicolon.

If you mention the author’s name in the text already, you don’t include it in the citation, and you can place the citation immediately after the name.

• Another researcher warns that the results of this method are ‘inconsistent’ (Singh, 2018, p. 13) .
• Previous research has frequently illustrated the pitfalls of this method (Singh, 2018; Jones, 2016) .
• Singh (2018, p. 13) warns that the results of this method are ‘inconsistent’.

The terms ‘bibliography’ and ‘reference list’ are sometimes used interchangeably. Both refer to a list that contains full information on all the sources cited in your text. Sometimes ‘bibliography’ is used to mean a more extensive list, also containing sources that you consulted but did not cite in the text.

A reference list or bibliography is usually mandatory, since in-text citations typically don’t provide full source information. For styles that already include full source information in footnotes (e.g. OSCOLA and Chicago Style ), the bibliography is optional, although your university may still require you to include one.

Format of the reference list

Reference lists are usually alphabetised by authors’ last names. Each entry in the list appears on a new line, and a hanging indent is applied if an entry extends onto multiple lines.

Different source information is included for different source types. Each style provides detailed guidelines for exactly what information should be included and how it should be presented.

Below are some examples of reference list entries for common source types in Harvard style.

• Chapter of a book
• Journal article

Your university should tell you which referencing style to follow. If you’re unsure, check with a supervisor. Commonly used styles include:

• Harvard referencing , the most commonly used style in UK universities.
• MHRA , used in humanities subjects.
• APA , used in the social sciences.
• Vancouver , used in biomedicine.
• OSCOLA , used in law.

Your university may have its own referencing style guide.

If you are allowed to choose which style to follow, we recommend Harvard referencing, as it is a straightforward and widely used style.

References should be included in your text whenever you use words, ideas, or information from a source. A source can be anything from a book or journal article to a website or YouTube video.

If you don’t acknowledge your sources, you can get in trouble for plagiarism .

To avoid plagiarism , always include a reference when you use words, ideas or information from a source. This shows that you are not trying to pass the work of others off as your own.

You must also properly quote or paraphrase the source. If you’re not sure whether you’ve done this correctly, you can use the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker to find and correct any mistakes.

Harvard referencing uses an author–date system. Sources are cited by the author’s last name and the publication year in brackets. Each Harvard in-text citation corresponds to an entry in the alphabetised reference list at the end of the paper.

Vancouver referencing uses a numerical system. Sources are cited by a number in parentheses or superscript. Each number corresponds to a full reference at the end of the paper.

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Research Project Guide

How To Cite A Research Paper In APA Format In 8 Easy Steps

Learn how to cite a research paper in APA format with this simple 8-step guide. Perfect for precise, accurate citations every time.

Nov 6, 2024

You’ve started a significant research project! Now, you're knee-deep in articles, books, and data, and it's time to write it all down. How do you properly cite all these sources? It's tempting to skip this step, but it can cost you credibility and grades. Plus, adequate citation is an essential part of starting a research project right in the first place. Don't worry; this guide will help you through the process of how to start a research project , helping you conduct fast research and write efficiently.

Meet Otio, your AI research and writing partner, to make things even more accessible. This tool can streamline your research and writing processes so you can focus on what matters: your ideas.

Table Of Contents

Formats of research paper citations, 7 best research paper citation tools, citation mistakes to avoid, supercharge your researching ability with otio — try otio for free today.

MLA format , established by the Modern Language Association, is the go-to for humanities disciplines. It's unique because you cite sources by author and page number instead of the usual author and date combo. Here's how you do it:

Works Cited Entry 

Davidson, Clare. “Reading in Bed with Troilus and Criseyde .” The Chaucer Review, vol. 55, no. 2, Apr. 2020, pp. 147–170.

In-Text Citation

(Davidson 155)

Navigating the APA Style

The 7th edition of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual defines APA style. Although it was designed for use in psychology, it’s today widely used across various disciplines, especially in the social sciences:

Reference Entry

Wagemann, J. & Weger, U. (2021). Perceiving the other self : An experimental first-person account of nonverbal social interaction. The American Journal of Psychology, 134(4), 441–461. 

(Wagemann & Weger, 2021)

Cracking the Chicago Code

Chicago author-date style is one of the two citation styles presented in the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition). It’s used mainly in the sciences and social sciences. Here’s how you do it:

Encarnação, João, and Gonçalo Calado. 2018. “Effects of Recreational Diving on Early Colonization Stages of an Artificial Reef in North-East Atlantic.” Journal of Coastal Conservation 22, no. 6 (December): 1209–1216.

Author-Date Citation 

(Encarnação and Calado 2018)

The Harvard Style Guide

Harvard style is often used in economics and widely used across disciplines in UK universities. Different universities define various versions of Harvard style—it’s not a style with one definitive style guide.

Bibliography Entry

Hoffmann, M. (2016) ‘How is information valued? Evidence from framed field experiments’, The Economic Journal, 126(595), pp. 1884–1911. doi:10.1111/ecoj.12401.

(Hoffmann, 2016)

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1. Tame the Chaos: Use Otio to Your Advantage

In today’s fast-paced world, researchers are bombarded with information from all sides. It’s overwhelming, and traditional tools just aren’t cutting it. You end up juggling bookmarks, read-it-later apps, and notepads like some circus act. Enter Otio . This AI-powered workspace is a game changer. 

It lets you gather all types of data—from tweets to books to videos—in one place. Extracting key insights becomes a breeze with AI-generated notes and a source-grounded Q&A chat. Need to get started on that first draft? It helps with that, too. With Otio , you can move from a reading list to a polished draft faster. And did I mention the AI-assisted writing? Researchers love it. Try Otio for free and see what a difference it makes.

2. Gather Your Source Materials

Before you start writing, ensure you’ve got all your materials ready. Whether it’s printed books, online articles, or some random PDFs, have them at your fingertips. Some folks prefer jotting down notes by hand, while others like typing them out. Do what works for you, but keep everything close by. That way, when you need to cite something, you’re not scrambling to remember where you saw that one perfect quote.

3. Craft Your In-Text Citations as You Go

One pro tip? Create your in-text citations as you write. Trust me, it’ll save you headaches later. Whenever you use information from another source, include an in-text citation right after. Use the author-date method: put the author’s last name, a comma, and the year of publication in parentheses, like this: (Johnson, 1997). If there’s no publication date, use “n.d.” for no date. Example: (Johnson, n.d.). Simple, right?

4. Get the Author’s Name Right

Finished writing? Great, now it’s time to tackle your bibliography. Start with the author’s last name and first initial. If there’s more than one author, use a comma and an ampersand between their names. Here’s how it looks: Cordova, V. or Cordova, V., & Lockwood, T. 

5. Find and Format the Publication Year

The publishing year. You’ll find it on the copyright page of a book. Place it in parentheses right after the author’s name. Like this: (2015). If there’s no date, use “n.d.” in parentheses. It’s that easy.

6. Titles: Sentence Case vs. Title Case

APA has its quirks, one of which is how you format titles. Use sentence cases for book titles, articles, reports, and web pages. Capitalize the first letter of the first word and any proper nouns. It’ll look like a sentence. Use title case for magazine and newspaper titles—capitalize the first letter of every non-preposition word. Example of sentence case: The phases of the moon. Example of title case: The Phases of the Moon. When you list a book title, use sentence case: Cordova, V. (2015)—the Earth's orbit around the sun.

7. Don’t Forget the Publisher

When citing a book, include the publisher’s name at the end of your citation. You can usually find it on the page before the title page. If not, a quick online search should do the trick. Add it after the title: Cordova, V. (2015). The earth's orbit around the sun. Jackson and Co.

8. Proofread for Perfection

You’ve written your paper, added citations, and finished your bibliography. Now, go back and proofread everything. Check that your citations are accurate and follow the correct format. Use grammar-checking software or ask someone else to review your work. Always aim for clean and error-free writing.

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1. Otio: Your AI Research Partner

Otio is an AI-driven workspace designed for researchers dealing with content overload. It streamlines the process by integrating bookmarking, reading, and note-taking into one platform. Otio lets you collect data from diverse sources, extract critical points with AI-generated notes , and create drafts swiftly.

2. Zotero: The Open-Source Reference Manager

Zotero is a free, open-source tool for collecting, managing, and citing research materials. It offers a desktop app for Mac and Windows and a browser extension to sync online content.

citation management.

Browser extensions for collaboration.

It can be complex to use.

Compatibility issues with certain websites.

3. Mendeley: A Researcher's Dream

Mendeley Cite is a Google Docs add-on that facilitates the insertion of references and bibliographies. It integrates smoothly with the Mendeley desktop app for organizing research.

User-friendly interface.

Good social networking features.

PDF annotation.

Zotero is more customizable.

Limited free storage.

4. EndNote: A Comprehensive Reference Solution

EndNote is a robust reference management software offering comprehensive citation styles and advanced features for organizing references.

Comprehensive citation styles.

Advanced features for organizing references.

Limited free options.

Expensive proprietary software.

5. Paperpile: A Subscription-Based Reference Manager

Paperpile is a lightweight, subscription-based reference management system with an intuitive interface. The paid version includes beta Word plug-ins for Mac and Windows, while a free version is available for Google Docs.

Lightweight and functional.

Well-designed interface.

Works only with Google Docs for now.

6. Cite This For Me: A Quick and Easy Citation Generator

Cite This For Me is a quick and easy citation generator that lets you create citations quickly. Its browser extension offers a one-click citation of sources.

Quick and easy citation generator.

Browser extension for one-click citation.

They limited citation styles.

7. Citavi: An All-in-One Reference Management Software

Citavi is an all-in-one reference management software that integrates citation management with note-taking and has extensive search capabilities.

Integrates citation management with note-taking.

Extensive search capabilities.

Paid software with a steep learning curve.

Don’t Forget to Cite Your Sources

One of the most frequent citation errors happens when writers need to catch up in their work and remember to cite a source. This oversight is easy to make, mainly if you're focused on getting your ideas down. Tracking all sources throughout your research and writing process is essential. Create a habit of citing as you write rather than postponing it until the end. This way, you'll avoid the scramble later on.

Get Your Format Right

Citation styles come with their own sets of rules, and messing them up can diminish your credibility. Each style, like APA or MLA, has specific rules for lists of references. APA calls for a reference list, while MLA wants a Works Cited page. Consistency is key. Make sure you're following the citation style guidelines from start to finish.

Plagiarism: A Major No-No

Using someone else's work without proper credit is plagiarism, and it can lead to severe consequences like failing a course or even expulsion. To avoid this, cite all sources accurately. Tools like Otio can help you manage this. Knowing how to quote, paraphrase, and summarize correctly is crucial for avoiding plagiarism.

Complete Your Citations

Incomplete citations can confuse readers and make it difficult for them to find the sources you mention. Always double-check to ensure your citations are complete and accurate. This includes providing details like the author's name, work title, and publication date. If you're citing an online source, including the DOI or URL is essential.

Accuracy Matters

Mistakes like citing the wrong source or including incorrect citation details can be problematic. This often happens when juggling multiple sources. To prevent this, carefully review every part of each citation. Take the time to proofread your citations and ensure you understand the source material.

Know Your Source Types

Refrain from identifying a source type to avoid incorrect citations. For instance, this mistake is expected if you cite a journal article as a website. Pay attention to where the source originated. Did it come from an academic database? Was it published in a journal? Recognize the distinctions between how different types of sources are cited.

Researchers, students, and knowledge workers are swamped with content in today's digital age. Whether you’re in academia or industry, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming. The problem isn’t just the abundance of content; it’s also the fragmented tools we use to manage it. 

Bookmarking, note-taking, and read-it-later apps each have their own set of limitations. These tools often lack integration, leaving you to cobble together a workflow that’s less efficient than it should be. As content creation becomes more accessible, this problem will only grow. You need a solution to help you navigate this new reality, not just patch up the old one.

Enter Otio: The AI Workspace You Didn’t Know You Needed

Meet Otio, your new AI research and writing partner . This isn’t just another app to add to your arsenal—it’s a workspace designed to streamline your research process. Otio helps you collect various data sources, from bookmarks and tweets to books and YouTube videos. Once you’ve gathered your materials, Otio uses AI to extract critical takeaways and generate detailed notes. 

You can chat with individual links or your entire knowledge base, just like you would with ChatGPT. And when you’re ready to write, Otio assists with drafting outputs , helping you go from reading list to first draft faster. Whether you’re writing a research paper or an essay, Otio’s features will save you time and effort.

Collect, Extract, Create: How Otio Transforms Your Workflow

Otio’s three-step process—collect, extract, create—will revolutionize your work. First, you’ll collect data from many sources, from bookmarks and tweets to books and YouTube videos. Then, Otio uses AI to extract critical takeaways and generate detailed notes. These notes are source-grounded and directly tied to the original material. 

You can also use Otio’s chat feature to ask questions about individual links or your entire knowledge base. Finally, Otio assists with drafting outputs, helping you go from the reading list to the first draft faster. This streamlined process will save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on what matters: your research.

From Reading List to First Draft: How Otio Speeds Up Your Writing

Writing research papers and essays can be daunting, especially when working with a large volume of material. Otio makes this process easier by helping you go from the reading list to the first draft faster. Once you’ve collected your sources and extracted key takeaways, Otio will assist you with drafting outputs. 

You can use the AI-generated notes to guide your writing, ensuring you accurately represent the original material. Otio also offers AI-assisted writing features , allowing you to refine your draft quickly. Whether you’re writing a research paper or an essay, Otio’s features will save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on what matters: your research.

Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today !

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