How To Cite A Research Paper

Written by

How to Cite a Research Paper - A Complete Guide

17 min read

What Exactly is a Citation Style?

A citation style is a set of rules for acknowledging the sources of information in academic writing. It dictates how to format citations in your paper, including the arrangement of references, in-text citations, and other elements.

Essentially, it's a standardized way to give credit to the authors and sources that contribute to your work.

Different academic institutions often prefer specific citation styles, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, to maintain consistency and ensure proper attribution of ideas.

Components of a Research Paper Citation

Citing a research paper involves more than just acknowledging the source; it requires a systematic approach that includes various essential components.

Let's dive into the 6 key elements of a research paper citation:

Title of the Paper

The research paper title represents the essence of it. Accurate citation ensures that readers can quickly identify the source and the specific topic under consideration.

Author(s) of the Paper

Citing authors acknowledges their intellectual contribution and provides credibility to your research. It also allows readers to trace the original work for deeper exploration.

Journal or Source Information

Properly citing the journal or source where the paper was published helps readers verify the credibility of the source and locate it for further reading.

Publication Date

Publication dates indicate the currency of the source. In fields where information evolves rapidly, citing outdated sources can misinform readers.

Page Numbers

Page numbers are crucial when citing specific ideas, quotes, or data from a research paper. They allow readers to pinpoint the exact location of the information within the source.

DOI (Digital Object Identifier)

A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to a digital publication. It ensures a stable and permanent link to the source, making it easy for readers to access and verify the paper.

Parts of Citation: In-Text Citations & Bibliography/References

Understanding how to use both in-text citations and the bibliography/reference section is essential for maintaining transparency in your research.

In-Text Citations

These are brief references within your text that point readers to the full citation in the bibliography or references section.

In-text citations usually include the author's name and the publication year, helping readers locate the complete source.

Bibliography/References

This section, found at the end of your paper, provides detailed information about each source you used.

It includes the author's name, the title of the work, publication information, and other details. It allows readers to find and verify your sources.

Below is a table that clearly demonstrates how to use both in different citation styles.

Citation Style	In-Text Citation	Reference Entry (Bibliography/Works Cited)
APA (7th edition)	First citation: (Smith, Johnson, & Brown, 2021) Subsequent citations: (Smith et al., 2021)	Smith, J. A., Johnson, R. B., Brown, M.,... (2021). Title of the Paper. Journal Name, volume(issue), page numbers. DOI (if available).
MLA (8th edition)	(Smith et al. 78)	Smith, John, et al. "Title of the Paper." Journal Name, vol. 7, no. 2, 2021, pp. 76-89.
Chicago (17th edition)	Full Note: First citation: (John A. Smith, Robert B. Johnson, and Mary C. Brown 2021, 76) Subsequent citations: (Smith, Johnson, and Brown 2021, 77) Short Note: First citation: (Smith, Johnson, and Brown 2021, 76) Subsequent citations: (Smith, Johnson, and Brown 2021, 77)	Smith, John A., Robert B. Johnson, and Mary C. Brown. "Title of the Paper." Journal Name 7, no. 2 (2021): 76-89.

How to Cite a Research Paper in Different Referencing Styles?

Citing a research paper involves following specific rules based on referencing styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Let's explore the process of citing research papers in various citation styles:

APA Research Paper Format

The American Psychological Association (APA) format is widely used in social sciences and is known for its clarity and precision in citation. It provides a set of rules and guidelines for formatting papers and citing sources to ensure clarity and consistency in academic writing.

APA Citation Formats for Different Kinds of Source

Source Type	Reference Entry Format	Reference Entry Example
Books	Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher.	Smith, J. (2019). The Art of Writing. Academic Press.
Journal Articles	Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), page range.	Johnson, L. M. (2020). The Impact of Climate Change. Environmental Science, 25(4), 321-335.
Websites	Author, A. A. (Year, Month, Day). Title of web page. Website Name. URL	Brown, S. (2021, May 15). How to Cite in APA Style. Academic Writing Guide. https://www.example.com/cite-apa-style
Newspapers	Author, A.A.. (Year, Month, Date of Publication). Article title. Magazine Title, pp. xx-xx.	Rosenberg, G. (1997, March 31). Electronic discovery proves an effective legal weapon. The New York Times, p. D5.
Magazines	Author, A.A.. (Year, a month of Publication). Article title. Magazine Title, Volume(Issue), pp.-pp.	Tumulty, K. (2006, April). Should they stay, or should they go? Time, 167(15), 3-40.

Expert Tip

For multiple authors, you do not have to add all the authors in the list or even in the in-text citation. To understand more, read a complete APA format guide and learn to style your paper and citations accordingly.

MLA Research Paper Format

MLA also known as Modern Language Association Style is commonly used in the humanities and liberal arts. It emphasizes the author's name and page number in in-text citations and provides guidelines for formatting research papers.

MLA Citation Formats for Different Kinds of Source

Source Type	Reference Entry Format	Reference Entry Example
Books	Author(s). Title of Book. Publisher, Year.	Smith, John. The Art of Writing. Academic Press, 2019.
Journal Articles	Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal, volume, issue, year, page range.	Johnson, Lisa M. "The Impact of Climate Change." Environmental Science, vol. 25, no. 4, 2020, pp. 321-335.
Websites	Author(s). "Title of Web Page." Website Name, URL.	Brown, Sarah. "How to Cite in MLA Style." Academic Writing Guide, www.example.com/cite-mla-style.
Magazines	Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Magazine Name Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.	Smith, John. “Obama inaugurated as President.” Time 21 Jan. 2009: 21-23. Print.
Newspapers	Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Name Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.	Smith, John. “Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2 Feb. 2009: 4-6. Print.

Expert Tip

A comprehensive MLA format guide will help you know and understand this style guide properly.

Chicago Style Research Paper Format

Chicago Style is a citation style widely used in history, literature, and other humanities disciplines. It offers two citation systems: the notes and bibliography system and the author-date system.

Chicago Citation Formats for Different Kinds of Source

Source Type	Reference Entry Format	Reference Entry Example
Books	Author(s). Title of Book. Publisher, Year.	Smith, John. The Art of Writing. Academic Press, 2019.
Journal Articles	Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal volume, no. issue (Year): page range.	Johnson, Lisa M. "The Impact of Climate Change." Environmental Science 25, no. 4 (2020): 321-335.
Websites	Author(s). Year. "Title of Web Page." Website Name. URL.	Brown, Sarah. 2021. "How to Cite in Chicago Style." Academic Writing Guide. www.example.com/cite-chicago-style.
Newspapers	Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Name, Publication Date.	Smith, John. “Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 2, 2009.
Magazines	Last Name, First Name. Article title. Magazine Title, Month Date, Year of publication.	Chan, Dan. The art of pandas. Panda Magazine, Nov 10, 1985.

Expert Tip

Chicago style format has many other conventions also, and you can learn them by going through a detailed guide.

ASA Research Paper Format

ASA (American Sociological Association) Style is commonly used in sociology and related fields. It provides guidelines for formatting research papers and citing sources.

ASA Citation Formats for Different Kinds of Source

Source Type	Reference Entry Format	Reference Entry Example
Books	Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. Title. Country of Publisher: Publisher.	James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Barnes & Noble Books.
E-Books	Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. Title. Country of Publisher: Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.	James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Penguin Books Kindle Version. Retrieved January 18, 2017. {link}
Journal Articles	Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. "Title." Journal Name issue #: inclusive page numbers.	Feekins, Bo. 2008. “Chasing Tree Frogs.” National Geographic #182. 6-10.
Magazine Articles	Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Pub. "Title." Magazine Name, Month Year, pp. Inclusive page numbers.	Geary, Rachel. 2012. “The Issue with Mastery Learning.” New York Times, April 2002, pp. 15-23.
Websites	Author’s Last and First Name. Date of Publishing. Title. Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.	Lee, Bruce. 03.09.2004. Birth of a Nation. Retrieved 18.01.2017. {link}.

Expert Tip

Read this complete ASA format and citation guide to know more about the citation style.

IEEE Style Research Paper Format

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Style is primarily used in engineering and technology fields for research papers and reports.

IEEE Citation Formats for Different Kinds of Source

Source Type	Reference Entry Format	Reference Entry Example
Books	J. K. Author, "Title of chapter in the book," in Title of His Published Book, xth ed. City of Publisher, (only U.S. State), Country: Abbrev. of Publisher, year, ch. x, sec. x, pp. xxx–xxx.	[1] W. K. Chen, Linear Networks and Systems. Belmont, CA: WadsworthPress, 2003.
Conference Papers	J. K. Author, "Title of paper," presented at the Abbreviated Name of Conf., City of Conf., Abbrev. State, Country, Month and day(s), year, Paper number.	D. Caratelli, M. C. Viganó, G. Toso, and P. Angeletti, "Analytical placement technique for sparse arrays," presented at the 32nd ESA Antenna Workshop, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, Oct. 5–8, 2010.
Periodicals	J. K. Author, "Name of paper," Abbrev. Title of Periodical, vol. x, no. x, pp. xxx-xxx, Abbrev. Month, year.	M. Ito et al., "Application of amorphous oxide TFT to electrophoretic display," J. Non-Cryst. Solids, vol. 354, no. 19, pp. 2777–2782, Feb. 2008.
Software Manuals	J. K. Author (or Abbrev. Name of Co., City of Co. Abbrev. State, Country). Name of Manual/Handbook, x ed. (year). Accessed: Date. [Online]. Available: http://www.url.com	L. Breimann. Manual on Setting Up, Using, and Understanding Random Forests v4.0. (2003). Accessed: Apr. 16, 2014. [Online]. Available: http://oz.berkeley/xyz

Expert Tip

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the IEEE style, start by thoroughly reading the comprehensive IEEE citation and format guide.

Citation Checklist for Your Research Paper

Ensuring accurate and consistent citations is paramount in scholarly writing. Use this checklist to fortify the credibility of your research paper:

Checklist Item	Details
Choose the Right Style	Identify and adhere to the required citation style.
Create a Comprehensive Reference List	Compile a detailed bibliography with all cited sources.
Verify Authorship	Confirm accurate spelling and consistency of author names.
Title Accuracy	Double-check book, article, and source titles for precision.
Publication Details	Include precise information like publisher, journal, and date.
Check Page Numbers	Ensure correct page numbers in both in-text citations and bibliography.
Online Sources	Provide URLs or DOIs for online sources when applicable.
Italicize Titles	Italicize book and journal titles in the references.
Review Formatting	Adhere to style requirements for font, spacing, and margins.

Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid

Citation errors can undermine your research. Be mindful of these mistakes:

Missing Details: Omitting author names, publication dates, or page numbers leaves citations incomplete. Always verify and include these essentials.
Formatting Errors: Incorrectly formatting author names, titles, or journal names can lead to inaccuracies. Use style guides for consistency.
Plagiarism: Failing to attribute ideas to their authors constitutes plagiarism. Cite sources accurately and paraphrase when needed.
Inconsistent Styles: Mixing citation styles or lacking consistency confuses readers. Stick to one style for clarity and coherence.

Expert Tip

Explore our blogs for a comprehensive understanding of citation styles beyond the basics. Learn about NLM Citation, APSA Citation, AAA Citation, and AMA Style Citation.

To sum it up, we've taken a comprehensive journey through the ins and outs of citing a research paper in this guide. You've learned the various citation styles and the importance of proper referencing. With the knowledge you've gained, you're now well-equipped to cite your sources effectively and ethically.

But if you still find citing sources difficult, seeking professional help is always an option. MyPerfectWords.com provides a custom research paper services for your writing needs. We are dedicated to delivering quality work while adhering to your specified deadlines.

Contact our writing service and free yourself from academic burden today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the rules for citing figures, tables, and images from research papers?

When citing these elements from research papers, use a caption beneath each, including a figure or table number, title, and source citation. In the text, refer to them by their respective numbers (e.g., "Figure 1" or "Table 2").

What is the consequence of not citing a research paper properly?

Improperly citing a research paper can lead to accusations of plagiarism, academic penalties, and damage to one's credibility. Proper citation is essential for giving credit to original authors and maintaining academic integrity.

What is the difference between a bibliography and a reference list?

A bibliography includes all sources consulted during research, whether cited in the paper or not. A reference list, on the other hand, contains only the sources cited within the text. The key difference is what gets included—everything consulted versus only what's cited.

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Use our AI tool to generate high quality essay

Try AI Essay Writer Free

WRITTEN BY

Nova A.

Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

Struggling With Your Paper?

Get a custom paper written at

50%

DISCOUNT

With a FREE Turnitin report, and a 100% money-back guarantee

Order Now at 50% OFF

LIMITED TIME ONLY!