Compare Four Formats (APA, Chicago, MLA, Turabian)

• Citing Sources (Duke)

• APA Style (APA)
• Using APA (Purdue OWL)
• Citation Style Handbook (U.IL Urbana-Champaign)

• print materials
• full-text online (databases)
• Web sources

MLA

• MLA Style (MLA)
• Using MLA (Purdue OWL)
• Citation Style Handbook (U.IL Urbana-Champaign)

• print materials
• full-text online (databases)
• Web sources

• print materials
• full-text online (databases)
• Web sources

Style Composers

• Citation Machine (MLA & APA)
• Easy Bib (MLA - free)
• Citation Builder (NCSU Libraries)

Research papers require the inclusion of a list of sources used as well as "in text" citations. Your instructor will dictate the format by giving you the name of a style manual. The most often used in the study of languages and literature is MLA, Modern Language Association. The most often used in social sciences is APA, American Psychological Association. Other style manuals include Chicago Style Manual and Turabian, based on Chicago.

While the official Web sites for these organizations provide some information on how to cite, the official manuals are the best sources on how to format your citations. The LRC has copies of The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association and The MLA handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Purdue University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provide Web pages with information on how to prepare both "in text" citations and bibliographies in APA and MLA styles. Another valuable online resource is Nuts and Bolts of College Writing, which covers citation style as well as provides information on other aspects of writing a paper.

Pensacola Jr. College librarians have prepared handouts for using APA, MLA and Turabian styles when citing print materials, full-text information from PJC online databases and Web sources. These are provided in Adobe Acrobat format for easy printing.

Several Web based style composers offer fill-in-the blank templates for the automatic creation of bibliographies. Microsoft Office Word 2007 provides help in formating citations and bibliographies under the References tab. Do not presume that these "automatic" citation aids provide correct citations. Check the formats before turning in a research paper.

Please note: your instructor is the final authority on the correct format for your paper.