Citations (APA, MLA Basics)

What Are Citations?

Citations are a way to give credit to the sources you use in your writing. They show where your ideas, quotes, or data come from and help avoid plagiarism. Proper citations also allow readers to find the original sources.

Why Citations Are Important

Citations give credit to original authors, help avoid plagiarism, make your work more credible, and allow readers to locate your sources for further research.

APA Basics (American Psychological Association)

APA style is commonly used in social sciences, psychology, and education. It uses the author’s last name and publication year in in-text citations, and a references page at the end with full source details. Book and journal titles are italicized.

Example of In-Text Citation
Single author: (Smith, 2020)
Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2019)
Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2021)

Example of References Entry for a Book
Smith, J. (2020). Understanding Psychology. New York, NY: Academic Press.

Example of References Entry for a Journal Article
Brown, L., & Green, K. (2019). Learning strategies in education. Journal of Learning, 12(3), 45-58.

MLA Basics (Modern Language Association)

MLA style is commonly used in humanities, literature, and arts. It uses the author’s last name and page number in in-text citations, and a Works Cited page at the end with full source details. Titles of larger works like books or journals are italicized, while smaller works like articles or chapters are in quotation marks.

Example of In-Text Citation
(Smith 23)

Example of Works Cited Entry for a Book
Smith, John. Understanding Literature. New York: Academic Press, 2020.

Example of Works Cited Entry for a Journal Article
Brown, Laura, and Kevin Green. “Learning Strategies in Education.” Journal of Learning, vol. 12, no. 3, 2019, pp. 45-58.

Key Differences Between APA and MLA

APA uses author and year; MLA uses author and page number. APA references page is called References; MLA’s is called Works Cited. APA is often used for sciences; MLA is common in humanities.

Tips for Beginners

Keep track of your sources as you research. Use citation tools carefully and always double-check formatting. Follow your instructor’s preferred style and be consistent throughout your document.