Getting Started: Citation

This guide is intended to help learn about various citation styles and provide assistance in citing sources for academic assignments. 

What is Citation?

A citation is the way you tell your readers that certain material in your work came from another source.

A citation style is a set of guidelines on how to cite sources in your academic writing. You always need a citation whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source to avoid plagiarism (Caulfield, 2022).

How do I choose a citation style?

There are many different ways of citing resources from your research. The citation style sometimes depends on the academic discipline. Your instructor will tell you which citation style you need to follow in your writing. If you’re not sure, it’s best to consult with your instructor. The most commonly used citation styles in your courses at Galveston College are APA (7th edition) and MLA (8th edition). 

• APA (American Psychological Association) is used by Education, Psychology, and Sciences
• MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used by the Humanities
• Chicago/Turabian style is generally used by Business, History, and the Fine Arts