CITATION

What is a Citation?
A citation identifies for the reader the original source for an idea, information,
or image that is referred to in a work.

In the body of a paper, the in-text citation acknowledges the source of

information used.
At the end of a paper, the citations are compiled on a References or Works Cited
list. A basic citation includes the author, title, and publication information of the
source.

Why Should You Cite?

Quoting
Are you quoting two or more consecutive words from a source? Then the
original source should be cited and the words or phrase placed in quotes.

Paraphrasing
If an idea or information comes from another source, even if you put it in your
own words, you still need to credit the source.

General vs. Unfamiliar Knowledge

You do not need to cite material which is accepted common knowledge. If in
doubt whether your information is common knowledge or not, cite it.

Formats
We usually think of books and articles. However, if you use material from web
sites, films, music, graphs, tables, etc. you'll also need to cite these as well.

Plagiarism: is presenting the words or ideas of someone else as your own

without proper acknowledgment of the source.

Parenthetical Notes
In MLA and APA styles, in-text citations usually appear as parenthetical notes
(sometimes called parenthetical documentation). They are called parenthetical
notes because brief information about the source, usually the author's name, year
of publication, and page number, is enclosed in parentheses.
When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This
means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source
should appear in the text, like, for example, (Jones, 1998). One complete
reference for each source should appear in the reference list at the end of the
paper.

● If you are referring to an idea from another work but NOT directly
quoting the material, or making reference to an entire book, article or
other work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of
publication and not the page number in your in-text reference.

● Always capitalize proper nouns, including author names and initials: D.

Jones.

● If you refer to the title of a source within your paper, capitalize all words
that are four letters long or greater within the title of a source:
Permanence and Change. Exceptions apply to short words that are verbs,
nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs: Writing New Media, There Is
Nothing Left to Lose.

● in your References list, only the first word of a title will be capitalized:
Writing new media.

● When capitalizing titles, capitalize both words in a hyphenated compound

word: Natural-Born Cyborgs.

● Capitalize the first word after a dash or colon: "Defining Film Rhetoric:
The Case of Hitchcock's Vertigo.”

● If the title of the work is italicized in your reference list, italicize it and
use title case capitalization in the text: The Closing of the American
Mind; The Wizard of Oz; Friends.

● If the title of the work is not italicized in your reference list, use double
quotation marks and title case capitalization (even though the reference
list uses sentence case): "Multimedia Narration: Constructing Possible
Worlds;" "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry.”
 LONG QUOTATIONS:
The instructions you're referring to describe the proper format for long
quotations in academic writing. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how
you would format a block quote:

● Quotation Length: When a quote is 40 words or longer, it should be

formatted as a block quote.
● Placement: Begin the quote on a new line.
● Indentation: Indent the entire quote by ½ inch from the left margin.
Any subsequent paragraphs within the quotation should be indented
an additional ½ inch.
● No Quotation Marks: Do not use quotation marks around the block
quote.
● Spacing: Keep the quotation double-spaced.
● Parenthetical Citation: Place the citation (author’s last name and
page number) after the punctuation mark of the last sentence of the
quotation.
EXAMPLE:
Formatting a Reference List:
Each source you cite in the paper must appear in your reference list;
likewise, each entry in the reference list must be cited in your text.

● All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list
should be indented one-half inch from the left margin. This is
called hanging indentation.
● All authors' names should be inverted (i.e., last names should be
provided first).
● Authors' first and middle names should be written as initials.
● For example, the reference entry for a source written by Jane Marie
Smith would begin with "Smith, J. M."
● If a middle name isn't available, just initialize the author's first
name: "Smith, J.”
● Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of
the first author of each work.
● For multiple articles by the same author, or authors listed in the
same order, list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to
most recent.
● When referring to the titles of books, chapters, articles, reports,
webpages, or other sources, capitalize only the first letter of the
first word of the title and subtitle, the first word after a colon or a
dash in the title, and proper nouns.
● Do not italicize, underline, or put quotes around the titles of shorter
works such as chapters in books or essays in edited collections.

APA IN -TEXT CITATION:

In-text citations are brief references in the running text that direct readers to the
reference entry at the end of the paper.

The in-text citation can take two forms: parenthetical and narrative. Both types
are generated automatically when citing a source with Scribbr’s APA Citation
Generator.

● Parenthetical citation: According to new research … (Smith, 2020).

● Narrative citation: Smith (2020) notes that …
 Multiple authors and corporate authors:

Author type Parenthetical citation Narrative citation

One author (Smith, 2020) Smith (2020)
Two authors (Smith & Jones, 2020) Smith and Jones (2020)
Three or more authors (Smith et al., 2020) Smith et al. (2020)
Organization (Scribbr, 2020) Scribbr (2020)

Missing information:
When the author, publication date or locator is unknown, take the steps
outlined below.

Missing element What to do Parenthetical citation

Author Use the source title.* (Source Title, 2020)
Date Write “n.d.” for “no date”. (Smith, n.d.)
Page number Either use an alternative (Smith, 2020, Chapter 3)
locator or or(Smith, 2020)
omit the page number.

APA REFERENCE:
APA references generally include information about the author, publication
date, title, and source. Depending on the type of source, you may have to
include extra information that helps your reader locate the source.

The format for references varies, but most use this general format:
Author’s Last name, First initial. (Date published). Title. URL/DOI

IN BOOK:
Smith, T. (2020). The citation manual for students: A quick guide (2nd ed.). Wiley.
Author, initals. (Publication date). Title (Edition). Publisher.
CHAPTER IN EDITED BOOK:
Author,A.A & Author,B.B (year of publication). Title in chapter and entry.
In.A.editor,B.editor & C.editor (Eds), Title of Book. (pp.xx-xx) Publisher, DOI

EX:
Brotto, V. (2017). Administering medications. In J. Crisp, C. Douglas, G. Rebeiro, &
D. Waters (Eds.), Potter & Perry’s fundamentals of nursing (5th ed., pp. 748–842).
Elsevier.

JOURNAL ARTICLE:
Author, initals .(Publication date). Title. Container title, Volume(Issue), Page
number(s). DOI

EX:
Andreff, W. (2000). The evolving European model of professional sports
finance. Journal of Sports Economics, 1(3), 257–276.
https://doi.org/10.1177/152700250000100304

NEWSPAPER:
Author, initals. (Publication date). Title. title of newspaper. URL.

EX:
Popkin, G. (2020, August 12). Global warming could unlock carbon from
tropical soil. The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/12/climate/tropical-soils-climate-
change.html

Formatting the APA reference page:

On the reference page, you list all the sources that you’ve cited throughout
your paper. Place the page right after the main body and before any
appendices.

On the first line of the page, write the section label “References” (in bold
and centered). On the second line, start listing your references in
alphabetical order.
Apply these formatting guidelines to the APA reference page:

● Double spacing (within and between references).

● All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should
be have a Hanging indent of ½ inch.
● Legible font (e.g. Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11).
● Page number in the top right header.
● Each everycitation in the text of the paper must have a full reference
displayed in the reference list.
● We should intended a second line.
MLA General Format:
MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing
research in writing. MLA Style also provides writers with a system for
referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and
Works Cited pages.

● Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white

8.5 x 11-inch paper.
● Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g.
Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends
that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are
each distinct from one another. The font size should be 12 pt.
● Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks
(unless otherwise prompted by your instructor).
● Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
● Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left
margin. MLA recommends that you use the “Tab” key as opposed to
pushing the space bar five times.
● Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper
right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right
margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you omit the number on
your first page. Always follow your instructor's guidelines.)
● Use italics throughout your essay to indicate the titles of longer
works and, only when absolutely necessary, provide emphasis.
● If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before
your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered,
unformatted).

Heading Information
● Place your heading in the top-left corner of the first page. It should
include the following information, each on a new line:
● Your full name.
● Your instructor’s name.
● The course name and number.
● The date (in day-month-year format, e.g., 6 December 2024).
MLA In-text Citations:
● An MLA in-text citation provides the author’s last name and a page
number in parentheses.
● If a source has two authors, name both. If a source has more than
two authors, name only the first author, followed by “et al.”
● If the part you’re citing spans multiple pages, include the full page
range. If you want to cite multiple non-consecutive pages at the same
time, separate the page numbers with commas.:

Source Divided into Numbered Parts:

Use a comma after the author's name and include the relevant division
(e.g., paragraph, chapter, or section) with an abbreviation.

Format:
(Author, division abbreviation division number)

Example:
(Luxemburg, ch. 26)
(Jones, sec. 4)
(Smith, para. 12)

Source with No Numbered Divisions:

If the source has no numbering system, include only the author’s name in
the in-text citation. If there is no author, use a shortened version of the title
in quotation marks.

Format:
(Author) or (Shortened Title)

Example:
(Rajaram)
(“Global Economy”)
 If two or more sources by the same author appear in your Works
Cited, the in-text citation includes:
(Author Last Name, Shortened Title Page Number)
Use the shortened title in quotation marks for articles or chapters and italicize
titles for books.
Omit page numbers if the source doesn’t have them.

Examples of Multiple Sources by the Same Author

Books by the Same Author:
Works Cited:
● Orwell, George. 1984. Secker & Warburg, 1949.
● Orwell, George. Animal Farm. Harcourt, 1945.
● In-Text Citations:
(Orwell, 1984 23)
(Orwell, Animal Farm 15)

Articles or Chapters by the Same Author:

Works Cited:
● Smith, John. "The Role of Media in Politics." Journal of Modern
Studies, vol. 5, no. 2, 2019, pp. 45-60.
● Smith, John. "Social Media's Impact on Youth." Digital Trends
Quarterly, vol. 3, no. 4, 2020, pp. 101-120.
● In-Text Citations:
(Smith, "Role of Media" 47)
(Smith, "Social Media's Impact" 105)

Sources Without Page Numbers:

If the source has no page numbers, include just the author and the
shortened title.
Example:
(Smith, "Role of Media")
(Smith, 1984)

Distinguishing Between Authors with the Same Last Name

If two different authors have the same last name, include their first initial in the
in-text citation.
Example:
● (J. Smith 45)
● (L. Smith, "Social Media" 12)

Citing sources indirectly:

When citing an indirect source in MLA style (a source quoted or paraphrased in
another source), you should clarify that you are using information secondhand.
Here’s how to do it:
General Rule In your in-text citation, include:
● The original author’s name (if known).
● Add the phrase "qtd. in" (quoted in) to indicate the source you accessed.
Format:
(Original Author qtd. in Accessed Author Page Number)

Example
Works Cited Entry:
The source you accessed should appear in your Works Cited list, not the original
work.
Example:
● Smith, John. The History of Communication. Harper, 2000.
In-Text Citation:
If you reference a quote from Johnson’s work that you found in Smith’s book:
● (Johnson qtd. in Smith 45)

Explanation
● Original Author: Johnson wrote the original content.
● Accessed Author: You read Johnson’s quote in Smith’s work.
● Page Number: The page in Smith’s work where the quote appears.

Indirect Paraphrasing
For paraphrased content, the same format applies:
(Original Author qtd. in Accessed Author Page Number)

Why Avoid Indirect Sources?

Whenever possible, try to locate and cite the original source. However, if this is
not feasible, using the "qtd. in" format is acceptable in MLA.
MLA Works Cited:
In MLA style, the list of Works Cited (also known as a reference list or
bibliography) appears at the end of your paper. It gives full details of every
source that you cited in an MLA in-text citation.

Like the rest of an MLA format paper, the Works Cited should be left-aligned
and double-spaced with 1-inch margins.

Formatting the Works Cited page:

● Title the page Works Cited, centered and in plain text (no italics, bold, or
underline).
● Alphabetize the entries by the author’s last name.
● Use left alignment and double line spacing (no extra space between
entries).
● Use a hanging indent on entries that run over onto additional lines.
● Include a header with your last name and the page number in the top right
corner.

Examples of Works Cited entries:

Author. “Title of the Source.” Title of the Container, Other contributors,
Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location.

IN BOOK:
Last Name, First Name. Title of The Book. Edition, Publisher, Publication date.
Ex: Smith, Thomas. The Citation Manual for Students: A Quick Guide. 2nd ed.,
München, Germany, Wiley, 2020.

Published before 1900:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication, Publication
Date.

Book chapter:
If a book is a collection of chapters by different authors, you should cite
the author and title of the specific work. The container gives details of the
book, and the location is the page range on which the chapter appears.
EX: Andrews, Kehinde. “The Challenge for Black Studies in the
Neoliberal University.” Decolonising the University, edited by Gurminder
K. Bhambra et al., Pluto Press, 2018, pp. 149–144.
Journal Article:
Journals usually have volume and issue numbers, but no publisher is required. If
you accessed the article through a database, this is included as a second
container. The DOI provides a stable link to the article.

EX: Salenius, Sirpa. “Marginalized Identities and Spaces: James Baldwin’s

Harlem, New York.” Journal of Black Studies, vol. 48, no. 8, Jul. 2016, pp.
883–902. Sage Journals, https://doi.org/10.1177/0021934716658862.

A Work in an Anthology, Reference, or Collection

The basic format for this sort of citation:
Last name, First name. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection, edited by Editor's
Name(s), Publisher, Year, Page range of entry.
Example:
Swanson, Gunnar. "Graphic Design Education as a Liberal Art: Design and
Knowledge in the University and The 'Real World.'" The Education of a
Graphic Designer, edited by Steven Heller, Allworth Press, 1998, pp. 13-24.

An Article in a Magazine and Newspaper

The basic format is for this sort of citation:
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical, Day Month Year, pages.
Example:
Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time, 20 Nov. 2000, pp. 70
71.

An Article in a Scholarly Journal

The basic format is for this sort of citation:
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal, Volume, Issue, Year, pages.
Example:
Bagchi, Alaknanda. "Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in
Mahasweta Devi's Bashai Tudu." Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature, vol. 15,
no. 1, 1996, pp. 41-50.
Journal Article in an Online Scholarly Journal
Examples:
Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of
Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb.
2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.20155.
Accessed 26 May 2009.
Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century
England.” Historical Journal, vol. 50, no. 1, 2007, pp. 173-96. ProQuest,
DOI:10.1017/S0018246X06005966. Accessed 27 May 2009.

An Article in a Web Magazine

Example:
Bernstein, Mark. “10 Tips on Writing the Living Web.” A List Apart: For
People Who Make Websites, 16 Aug. 2002, alistapart.com/article/writeliving.
Accessed 4 May 2009.

Authors and titles in the Works Cited list:

Formatting Author Names:
a. Single Author: The author’s name is inverted: Last Name, First Name.
Example:
Smith, John.

b. Two Authors: Only the first author’s name is inverted; the second author’s
name appears in normal order.
Example:
Smith, John, and David Jones.

c. Three or More Authors: List the first author, followed by "et al."
Example:
Smith, John, et al.

d. Corporate Author:Use the name of the organization or company as the author.

Example:
Scribbr.

e. No Author:Begin the entry with the title of the work instead of an author’s
name. Example:The Global Impact of Social Media. Harper, 2020.
Source and container titles:
The titles of sources and containers are always written in title case (all
major words capitalized).

Sources that are part of a larger work (e.g. a chapter in a book, an article in a
periodical, a page on a website) are enclosed in quotation marks. The titles of
self-contained sources (e.g. a book, a movie, a periodical, a website) are instead
italicized. A title in the container position is always italicized.

If a source has no title, provide a description of the source instead. Only the first
word of this description is capitalized, and no italics or quotation marks are
used.
● Kafka, Franz. “The Metamorphosis.” The Metamorphosis and Other
Stories, . . .
● Eliot, George. Middlemarch. . . .
● Mackintosh, Charles Rennie. Chair of stained oak. . . .

Multiple sources by the same author(s):

1-Replace the Author’s Name in Subsequent Entries
● For the first work, list the author’s name as usual.
● For additional works by the same author(s), replace the name with
three hyphens (---) followed by a period.

2-Arrange Entries Alphabetically by Title

● List the works by the same author(s) in alphabetical order by the title
(ignoring articles like a, an, or the).

3-Matching In-Text Citations

When citing multiple works by the same author(s) in-text, include a
shortened title to clarify which source you are referencing.

Example In-Text Citations:

● (Smith, Artificial Intelligence 45)
● (Smith, Future of Technology 12)
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT PUNCTUATION:
1-Colon and Semicolon:
A colon introduces additional information, such as explanations, lists, or quotes.
It signals a relationship between two parts of a sentence where the second part
elaborates on the first.
● Never place a colon between a verb and its object/complement:
● Incorrect: The required variables are: temperature and pressure.
● Correct: The required variables are temperature and pressure.
● Avoid overuse; only use a colon when there’s a clear need for emphasis
or explanation.

A semicolon links closely related ideas or separates items in a complex list. It is

stronger than a comma but not as final as a period.
● Don’t use a semicolon to link dependent and independent clauses:
Incorrect: Although the experiment failed; we learned valuable
lessons.
Correct: Although the experiment failed, we learned valuable
lessons.

● Don’t use a semicolon with conjunctions like and, but, or:

Incorrect: The study was successful; and the results were significant.
Correct: The study was successful, and the results were significant.

2-Brackets:
● Use to add or clarify within a quotation: “The results [of the study]
were significant.”
● Use for citations within parentheses: (e.g., Smith, 2023 [Chapter 2]).

3-Double vs. Single Quotation Marks:

American English: Double quotation marks are standard for direct quotes
(“Method A”). Use single quotes for quotes within quotes: “The term ‘control
group’ is key.”
British English: Single quotes are standard for direct quotes.