Understanding citation styles will help you correctly credit sources and strengthen your academic writing.

What is a Citation?

A citation is a way to show your readers where information in your work came from. It:

• Gives credit to the original author
• Strengthens your work by showing evidence
• Helps you avoid plagiarism (Caulfield, 2022)

A citation style is a set of rules for formatting citations in your writing. You must cite whenever you:

• Quote directly from a source
• Paraphrase someone else’s ideas
• Summarize information from another work

How Do I Choose a Citation Style?

The citation style you use often depends on your course or discipline. In most cases, your instructor will tell you which style to follow. If you’re not sure, ask before starting your assignment.

Most common styles at Galveston College

• APA (7th edition) – used in Education, Psychology, and the Sciences
• MLA (8th edition) – used in the Humanities
• Chicago/Turabian – used in Business, History, and the Fine Arts