Research and Instructional Services Librarian
Getting Started
What is a citation?
According to the University of Pittsburgh citation guide, a citation is: "a way of giving credit to individuals for their creative and intellectual works that you utilized to support your research."
Why citations are important?
Citations are important because they give proper credit to the original authors, acknowledging their intellectual contributions and avoiding plagiarism. Additionally, citations provide readers with the opportunity to verify and explore the sources, enhancing the credibility and reliability of the information presented.
There are 3 big citation styles that most disciplines use:
APA - Psychology, Business, Communication, and Engineering
Chicago/Turabian - Humanities and Social Sciences
MLA - English Language and Literature
Other Important Citations
AMA - Nursing
IEEE - Engineering, Information Technology
*Always check with your professor on which style to use for your class.
Other Resources
- Annotated BibliographyThis guide provides information for what an annotated bibliography is, how to conduct one, and examples.
- How Do I... A Guide for New Library UsersThis guide will help you find resources and information such as articles and databases. It also shows how to use databases & other key tools.
- Searching for SourcesThis guide provides information on how to search for sources, as well as, evaluate, and synthesize.
- UA Writing CenterThe writing center can help with many of your citation needs as well as research papers, proofreading, and more.