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Citation: An Overview by Liz Teoli-Thomason

citations everyone needs themIn all types of research and scholarly writing, it is important to cite your sources in order to:

1. Help readers identify and locate the source you used.

Readers may want to locate the source you have cited, to verify the information or to learn more about the topic. A proper citation includes all of the information for readers to locate the source.

2. Provide evidence that your position is well-researched.

Scholarly writing is grounded in research. Citations strengthen your argument by demonstrating that your position is thoroughly researched.

3. Give credit to the author of ideas which are not your own, and thereby avoid plagiarism.

Giving proper credit to those whose ideas, words, and thoughts you use is not only respectful to those authors, but also helps you avoid plagiarism. 

 

Citation Guides

The guides linked below will help you better understand the ins and outs of citation in both APA and MLA Style. NoodleTools will help you create, annotate, and organize all of your citations in APA, MLA, & Chicago Style. 

 

Citations provided by databases and other citation generators are often incorrect. Always be sure to check any pre-generated or copied citations for accuracy.

What are Hanging Indents?

A hanging indent is the indentation of all lines other than the first within a paragraph. These are typically only used in bibliographies, as they allow for easy differentiation between sources. APA and MLA require the use of hanging indents in reference lists.

APA: For information on hanging indents in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association see section 2.12, "Reference List."

MLA: For information on hanging indents in The MLA Handbook see section 1.6, "Placement of the List of Works Cited."

What are Footnotes?

Footnotes are short numbered notes that are placed at the bottom of the page in an essay or article. They are used for a variety of reasons including citing materials, providing notes on a source or topic, and to acknowledge copyright status.

Although you will find footnotes in many journal articles, they are not typically required in APA or MLA formatted essays.

APA: For information on footnotes in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association see section 2.13.

MLA: For information on footnotes in The MLA Handbook see section 7.

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Except where otherwise noted, content in these research guides is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.