Basic citation styles: when and how to use them

If you’re writing an essay or dissertation, you cannot do without different citation styles. Every student faces this more than once. Citation adds expertise, structures the text, and minimizes plagiarism. So, sit back and learn about the main citation styles and how to use them. It’s time to understand the citation definition in full. 

Different citation styles and their meaning 

What's a citation? Why is there no one type for all? Each one meets the specifics and needs of a particular scientific discipline. They appeared gradually depending on development and demand. Let's look at what's what so you can choose the right one for your research. 

Choose the right among different citation styles  

Keep these factors in mind to avoid making mistakes: 

1. Formatting style. MLA, APA, Chicago, and others have their own requirements for citation styles. Look before you write. 
2. Type of research. In academic papers, parenthetical citation styles are often more appropriate to support arguments. In journalistic works, footnotes are more suitable for additional comments.
3. Context. Consider what you need this quote for - a better understanding, a note, a conveyance of emotions, etc. Different citation styles have their own purpose. 
4. The length of the text. Sometimes, it’s limited, such as in an article or an excerpt, and then the numerical types of citation prevail. 

So, consider your tasks and needs. In your case, it may be best to combine several citation styles. If you’re not sure, ask your teacher or specialized websites. Use paper writing services for less critical subjects and have experts write a high-quality paper for you. 

Parenthetical citation styles

Parenthetical citation styles are the most common, so you should know about them. It gives:

• Clarity and unambiguity. Readers can immediately see where you’re using someone else's information and can go to the source. 
• Versatility. This citation style is used in many disciplines, making it convenient for researchers and students of any field. 
• Ease of use. Online tools work for you by automatically formatting the text in parentheses. 

Compared to other citation styles, numbers are inconvenient if the reader doesn’t have time to search for information in the list. Notes, in turn, can be unreadable and interfere with reading the text. Now, let's dive into each subtype. 

AAA (American Anthropological Association)

This citation style is used in anthropology and archeology. It’s based on the author-date system and uses parentheses to insert information about the source into the text. Basic rules: 

1. Place the author's last name in parentheses.
2. Place the year of publication after the author's last name.
3. If citing a specific page, indicate it after the year of publication.
4. If you cite several paper sources in a row, separate them with commas.
5. For electronic sources, use the URL and date of access.

Here are examples of citing in AAA style:

• In the text: "The community explored various aspects of human-nature interaction (Smith 2010)."
• References: Smith, John. 2010. "Human-Environment Interaction: An Anthropological Perspective." American Anthropologist 35(2): 112-128.

APA (American Psychological Association)

It’s a must in psychology, pedagogy, sociology, and other social sciences. The citation style first appeared in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association in 1929. Now, it is the standard for articles, dissertations, reports, and other scientific documents in these fields. As in the previous one, we see the author-date format. Example: 

• "Research has shown that emotional intelligence (EI) correlates with the ability to successfully communicate interpersonally (Goleman, 1995)."
• Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.

APSA (American Political Science Association) 

The primary feature of the APSA style is the use of in-text notes for citations. It gives more flexibility in embedding sources in the text. Also, the list of references contains detailed information about the authors and publications. However, the citation style is still similar to the previous two, but we find it in political papers. Here are some excellent examples: 

• In-text: "According to a study conducted by the author (Smith 2019), political mobilization is a critical factor in forming civil society.
• List of references: Smith, John. 2019. "Political Mobilization: A Case Study." American Political Science Review 25(2): 45-60.

ASA (American Sociological Association)

ASA emerged as an attempt to standardize the formatting of research papers in the sociological field. The first mention is in the ASA Style Guide from 1997. Again, there are a few changes here, but scientists had to separate the citation style into a category. The growing interest in sociology and the need to avoid plagiarism simply demanded it. Use it like this: 

• In the text: "According to (Smith 2017), population diversification has a significant impact on the structure of society."
• In-text citation: Smith, John. 2017. "Population Diversification and Social Structure." American Sociological Review 42: 125-140. 

Note citation style

You’ve definitely seen notes at least once in the text. That’s what we’re talking about. Instead of including the author and publication year in the text as in other citation types, we provide this information separately at the end of the page. The main features of a note citation style are:

• Numerical references. 
• Explanatory footnotes. 
• Ease of use. 

But, as we mentioned above, some people don't like to be distracted and look for a note to understand a particular term or something else. 

Bluebook

This citation style is used in legal documents in a footnote format. The notes are inserted at the bottom of the page and then listed in the reference list. For example:

• Text: "According to the court's decision, compensation was awarded.¹"   
• Note: "1. Smith v. Jones, 123 U.S. 456 (2000)."

Chicago

Don’t confuse it with the Chicago author-date, which we mentioned above. It’s two different citation styles. This one uses numerical notes at the top of the page or the end of a section. The notes are explained by referencing the source in the bibliography. Example:

• Text: "As shown in previous studies.²"
• Note: "2. Emile Durkheim, The Division of Labor in Society (New York: Free Press, 1997), 35."

OSCOLA

Legal research papers cannot do without the Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities. Footnotes are inserted at the top of the page or the end of a section and are explained as bibliographic entries. Example:

• Text: "Legal doctrine often indicates the need for such measures.³"
• Comment: "3. Smith v. Jones [2000] 1 AC 123."

Numerical types of citations

Obviously, we use numerical references to sources here. The list of references is traditionally at the end of the document. Students use these citation styles in research papers, theses, dissertations, and anything else that requires citing many sources. This way, readers can focus on the text and avoid being distracted by minor details and years of publication. For example: 

"According to study [1], social trends affect..."

[1] Smith, J. (2020). "Social Trends: Impact and Analysis." Journal of Sociology, 10(2), 45-60.

ACS (American Chemical Society)

In this case, we use numerical references in square brackets in the order they appear in the text. In the bibliography, the numbers that correspond to these references are also included. For example:

• "According to a study [1], chemical reactions…”
• [1] Smith, J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77, 123-130. 

AMA (American Medical Association)

Same thing as in previous types of citations, with slight differences. For example: 

• In the text: "A study showed [1] that certain medications..."
• References: Smith J. JAMA. 2005;293(3):293-301.

CSE (Council of Science Editors)

CSE citation style gives us two options: by source name and by citation order. In the former case, we list the sources alphabetically. Examples in a sentence: 

• "According to a study by (Smith et al. 2010)..."
• "The study showed [1] that..."

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

In this citation style, numerical references are inserted in square brackets in the order they appear in the text. For example: 

• "As shown in [1], technologies..."
• References: [1] J. Smith, "Technologies," IEEE Trans. on Tech., 2012, 45(3), 123-130.

NLM (National Library of Medicine)

Here, we use numerical references in square brackets in the order they appear in the text. It’s quite common for all types of citations. 

• "The study showed [1] that..."
• [1] Smith J. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1234-1245.

Vancouver

The principle is similar to the previous types of citation; the only difference is in the types of work. 

• In the text: "According to [1], certain medical indicators... "
• References: Smith J, Jones R. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:123-130.

FAQ on citation styles

What is the purpose of using different citation styles?

Citation types ensure that references to information sources are clear and correct. Citation styles depend on the kind of work, the scope, your purpose, etc. See more factors above.

How do I choose among different citation styles for my paper?

We advise contacting the journal or scientific publication where you plan to publish your work. They’ll provide all the requirements. If it’s a university essay, ask your supervisor or professor about different citation styles. It’s also worth looking at the relevant examples. 

Can I switch citation styles within the same document?

Yes, you can, but it’s better not to overdo it. Too many citation styles in one text can be confusing for readers. A single citation style adds to uniformity and clarity.