Citation Style
Citation "style" is a set of rules on how to format your paper and citations/references. There are several citation styles (they vary according to the subject / discipline) but some common ones are:
- APA (American Psychological Association) - commonly used in the Behavioral Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, etc) and Education
- MLA (Modern Language Association) - commonly used in the Humanities (English, Music, Languages)
- Chicago/Turabian - commonly used in Business and Journalism
- Always check with your instructor to find out which style they require/prefer you to use. There are more styles beyond these three so it's best to be certain which style is required before beginning.
Within each "style", there are rules for citation, which is a way of giving credit to sources you use in your research. Citing your sources entails a two step process: including the in-text citation (within your paper) and then listing the full citation (typically appears at the end of your paper in an alphabetical list).
Below are links for the two most frequently used citation styles at our school. Please contact a librarian if you need help with any citation style and/or you would like someone to review your formatting.
MLA (Modern Languages Association) Style
- SCC Library MLA (8th edition) handoutPDF version of the library's MLA 8th edition handout with citation examples, new rules, and a sample Works Cited page. NOTE: MLA is now on 9th edition; stay tuned for a revised handout!
- Excelsior OWL MLA Style | 9th EditionLink to the Excelsior Online Writing Lab's MLA Style Guide; the OWL is an open, grant-funded resource full of helpful info for writers!
- Excelsior OWL MLA Style DemoThe Style Demo includes videos on setting up your paper, in-text citations, and preparing the Works Cited list.
- MLA Style CenterWriting Resources from the Modern Language Association include a quick guide to the Works Cited, and a template you can use to create MLA citations.
MLA Handbook by Call Number: Ref Desk and Vallejo LB2369 .G53 2016ISBN: 9781603292627Publication Date: 2016-04-01
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
- SCC Library APA 7 Citation GuideInformation and examples supporting APA 7th edition citation format.
- APA Style and Grammar GuidelinesThe authority on APA Style and the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual
- Excelsior OWL APA Style | 7th EditionLink to the Excelsior Online Writing Lab's APA Style Guide; the OWL is an open, grant-funded resource full of helpful info for writers!
- Excelsior OWL APA Side by SideThe Side by Side guide shows APA in-text citations next to related entries in the References list so you can see what they look like in action
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by ISBN: 9781433832161Publication Date: 2019-10-01The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style.
Citation Quick Links
MLA Handout
MLA guide 
MLA Sample Paper {coming soon}
APA Handout {coming soon}
APA Sample Paper {coming soon}
APA guide
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