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Citing Sources

A guide to citing sources, citation styles, and citation management tools.

What is a citation style?

A citation style is a set of rules for how to format the sources you use in your research and writing. It tells you how to organize information like author names, titles, publication dates, and page numbers in your in-text citations and bibliography or reference list. Using the correct citation style helps keep your work clear, consistent, and professional.

Different academic fields use different styles. Here are a few common ones:

  • APA (American Psychological Association) — most commonly used in psychology, education, and social sciences
  • MLA (Modern Language Association) — used in literature, arts, and humanities
  • Chicago — most commonly used in history and some humanities
  • CSE — used broadly in the sciences
  • IEEE — commonly used in engineering and computer science

Which citation style should I use?

To choose the best citation style:

  • Check your assignment, syllabus, or journal guidelines — your instructor or publisher may specify a style. 
  • Use the style common in your subject area.
  • Ask your subject librarian or contact the Thompson Writing Studio if you’re unsure.

Many journals have their own style, so if you plan on publishing a journal article, be sure to check out that journal's author guidelines.