Using a discipline’s preferred citation style

In any discipline, you must give credit to those whose ideas or words you have borrowed. Avoid plagiarism by citing sources honestly and accurately.

While all disciplines emphasize careful documentation, each follows a particular system of citation that its members have agreed on. Writers in the humanities usually use the system established by the Modern Language Association (MLA). Scholars in some social sciences, such as psychology and anthropology, follow the style guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA); scholars in history and some humanities typically follow The Chicago Manual of Style. Those writing in biology and other natural sciences generally follow the style of the Council of Science Editors (CSE).

Other subject-specific style manuals