Citation is a key component while writing a research paper as it helps you avoid plagiarism in your work. It shows what you read, where you got the materials, and when the words were spoken. You must know how to cite a research paper, as it gives credibility to your work. How to Cite a Research Papers:
Whether you are writing a research paper for work or class, you should learn different citation format types to help you choose the right one for your paper. Continue reading this blog to learn how to cite an academic paper correctly using various formatting styles.
What is a citation style?
A citation style is a set of standards for citing sources. It helps researchers and students format a paper in a particular way. Citations identify the source for an image, information, or idea that is referred to in a work. Whenever you refer to someone else work by quoting their words, paraphrasing, referring to a data set, reprinting a long passage, or adopting a figure or table, you must cite the source to avoid plagiarism.
Citations should show what you read, where you got the materials, and when the words were spoken. Below are the benefits of citing sources;
- It helps in the formulation of new information regarding the topic
- It helps keep a record of sources used while researching
- It helps the reader to trace the sources used while researching
- It gives credibility to your work, helping you not to lose credit for other’s work
- It helps in avoiding plagiarism, making your wiring trustworthy
- It gives proper credit to the author who conducted research in the past
Different referencing styles for citations
Referencing styles contain a reference list and an in-text citation. Below are the most prevalent referencing styles used in academic papers;
- American Psychological Association (APA) is used in social sciences, psychology, and education.
- Modern Language Association (MLA) is used in humanities, literature, arts, and English.
- Chicago citation style is used in everyday publications like newspapers, books, and magazines.
How to cite a research papers in MLA format?
Below are basic formatting rules for writing a research paper in MLA format;
- The article should be 8.5 *11 inches with a 1″ margin on all sides
- Use a readable font, preferably Times New Roman 12 pts,
- Double-space all the lines and indent new paragraphs half-inch
- Include a page header at the top right corner of each page with your last name and page number.
- MLA does not have a cover page, so include relevant information on the left side of the first page, including your name, instructor’s name, course name, and due date.
- The title should be double-spaced and centered with title case capitalization.
- Include in-text citations within the text for work quoted or paraphrased with the author’s last name and page number, e.g. (Heller 42)
Include a work cited page on a separate page titled “work cited.” List the entries alphabetically, double-space them, and use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. Below are the most common sources that you may site in your paper and how to format them;
- Book: Author last name, first name. Book title. Publisher city: name, publication year. E.g., Smith, John. The Sample Book. Pittsburgh: Bibme, 2008. Print.
- Website: Last name, first name. “page title.” Title of Website, publisher or sponsoring organization, publication date, month, year, URL, date accessed.
- Magazine: Last name, first name. “Title of periodical.” Title of Newspaper, publication day, month and year, pages.
- Newspaper: Last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Newspaper title, publication day, month and year, pages.
How to cite a research papers in APA format?
The research paper in APA should include the title page, abstract, main body, and references. Below are basic formatting guidelines for writing a research paper in APA;
- Use a readable font like Times New Roman, 12pts
- The article should be 8.5 * 11 inches with a one-inch margin on all sides
- The title should be between 10 to 12 words, center aligned, bold, and double-spaced with title case capitalization
- Double-space all the lines throughout the paper
- For professional papers, include a running head on each page with the paper’s title in the upper left corner.
- Include a page number in the upper right corner, including the cover page.
- Begin the paper with a title page presenting information about the title, your name, university name, course name and code, professor’s name, and the date, respectively.
- A table of contents is recommended for lengthy papers, but it’s not compulsory.
- The abstract should not be more than 120 words and do not indent it
- The title page, abstract, and references should be on their page
- For tables and figures, indent them with the second-level headings and number them sequentially, followed by an italic title that explains the content in the figures and tables.
While writing in-text citations in APA format, you should know which ideas come from whom and when. In-text citation in APA contains two elements: the author and the date. You can write in a parenthetical reference format or narrative. For example;
- For a single author (Smith, 2000) for parenthetical and Smith (2000) for a narrative.
- For two authors; (Smith &Johnson, 2000) for parenthetical and Smith &Johnson (2000) for a narrative.
- For three or more authors (Smith et al., 2000) for parenthetical and (Smith et al. (2000) for narrative.
Please include a reference list at the end of the research paper, list the entries alphabetically, double-space them, and use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. The reference list in APA contains four elements: the author, date, title, and sources. Below are common sources that you may site in your paper and guidelines for citing a paper in APA;
- Book: Author’s name. (Publication year). Title. Publisher.
- Journal: Author’s name. (Year). Article title. Journal name, Volume (issue), page range. DOI or URL.
- Magazine: Author’s name. (Year and Month). Title of the article. Title of the magazine, Volume (Issue), page range.
- Newspaper: Author’s name. (Year, month, and day of publication). Title of the Article. Title of the newspaper, page range.
- Website: Author’s name. (Year, month, and day of publication). Title of the article. URL.
How to cite a research papers in Chicago format?
Below are guidelines for formatting a research paper in Chicago style;
- The article should be 8.5 * 11 inches with a 1-inch margin on all the sides
- Use double-line spacing and indent new paragraphs 0.5 inch
- Use a readable font, preferably Times New Roman font, 12-point size
- Include page numbers on the upper right side
For author-date format, include the in-text citation with the author’s name, date, and page number, e.g. (Larry 2022, 10) and a reference list at the end of the document using the author’s last name, year of publication, book title, place of publication, and publisher. For notes-bibliography format, use superscript for footnotes and include a bibliography list at the end of the document.
The bibliography and reference list should have the titles “reference” or “bibliography” in the upper center and bold. List the entries alphabetically, double-space them, and use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. Below are common sources and guidelines for citing a paper in Chicago format;
- Book: Author’s name, book title. State of publication, publisher, publication year.
- Website: Author’s name, “Page title.” Title of website. Date accessed. URL.
- Newspaper: Author’s name, “title of the article.” Title of the newspaper, publication month, date, and year.
- Magazine: Author’s name, “article title,” Title of magazine volume number, {issue number} publication month, day and year, pages.
Tips for citing a research papers
Citing a research paper is crucial as it helps the reader while searching for resources on the topic. It also shows the reader that your work is professional and should be taken seriously as a contribution to a given field. Also, giving other people credit shows that you respect their work. Below are citation tips to consider;
- Stick to one format throughout to enhance a logical flow
- Keep track of your resources to save time later
- The information in each citation should correspond to entries in the reference list at the end of the paper.
- Use the available sources to get the latest rules for formatting your paper.
- Use the required format from the start to save time in the editing stage
- Proofread your work to ensure you have used the correct format throughout.
Bottom line
Citations identify the source for an idea or information you referred to in your work. Whenever you refer to someone else work, you must cite the sources to avoid plagiarism and include a reference list at the end of the paper. Learning how to cite research papers is essential whether you are writing a paper for class or work. It shows what you read, where you got the materials, and when the words were spoken. Use the guidelines in this blog to cite your research paper.
