Citation Resources

What are the commons types and parts of a citation across different citation styles? This video shows the difference between in-text and reference citations and looks at how the same elements of a citation get put together in common citation styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago.

In general, when you cite, there are two types of citation that you use: in-text citations and reference citations. Each have their own role in crediting your sources.

In-Text Citations

• These are citations are included directly in your writing to acknowledge your sources to your reader as you use them.
• They are short citations that often only include a couple citation elements. Enough information is included for your reader to find the full citation in the reference citations.
• They are usually done by putting the citation in a parentheses (a parenthetical citation) or by adding a number or numeral that refers to a note that includes the citation. This note is located either at the bottom of the page (a footnote) or at the end of the source (an endnote).

Reference Citations

• A complete citation that includes all of the citation elements your reader needs to get access to the source.
• Your reader will use the information in your in-text citation to determine which reference citations to look at.
• These are usually located at the end of our source, often in a separate section. This section has different names depending on the citation style you are using, including the Reference List (APA), the Works Cited Page (MLA), or the Bibliography (Chicago Notes and Bibliography).

Common Citation Elements

What parts or elements are included in your in-text and reference citations? While there are many different citation styles, the elements that are included have a lot in common. They may be ordered or formatted differently, but you will see the same elements in many citation styles. Below are the most common elements.

• Author: who created the source.
• Source Title: what the source is called.
• Publication Date: when the source was made public.
• Location: where to find the source, such as page numbers or a link.
• Publication Information: other useful information about how the source was created and where to find it. This might include:
  • Publication Title: the name of a larger source the source is located in, such as an academic journal, a newspaper, or a website.
  • Publisher or Editor: the organization (publisher) or person (editor) that produced the source and ensured its quality and accuracy.
  • Version or Edition: what variant of the source you used if the source has been republished, revised, updated, adapted, or translated.
  • Number: where your source is in an ongoing series, such as the volumes and issues of an academic journal or the seasons and episodes of a television show.

Example of Common Elements in a Reference Citation

Look at these example reference citations for the same academic journal article in three different citation styles. Look at where and how the common elements are included.