Nova A.
Nova A.

How to Cite a Research Paper in Different Citation Styles

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Published on: Jul 18, 2021

Last updated on: Mar 5, 2024

How to cite a research paper

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Learning how to cite sources in different ways is important for anyone writing academic papers. Different citation styles, like APA, MLA, and Chicago, have specific rules for how to give credit to the sources you use. 

In this blog post, we'll explore how to cite research papers using these different styles. We'll provide simple guidelines and examples to help you understand how to cite your sources properly. 
Whether you're a student or a researcher, knowing how to cite your sources correctly is essential for showing where your ideas come from and giving credit to other people's work. 

Let's start with the basics of citing research papers in different citation styles.

On This Page

Citing a Research Paper in APA Style

APA Style is a widely used citation format in academic writing, particularly in the social sciences. It employs a specific structure for citing various sources, including books, journal articles, and websites. 

In-text citation 

Include the author's last name and the publication year in parentheses.

Example: (Smith, 2019)

Reference list

Author's last name, followed by initials. Year of publication in parentheses, title of the paper in sentence case, title of the journal in italics and title case, volume number in italics (issue number in parentheses if applicable), and page range.

Example: Smith, J. (2019). Title of the Paper. Journal of Research, 25(3), 123-145.

Here's how to cite different sources in APA Style with examples:

Note: Refer to the official APA Publication Manual for detailed guidance on APA style citation and formatting.

  • Book with One Author:
    • Format: Author Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title of the Book. Publisher.
    • Example: Smith, J. (2019). The Art of Writing. Random House.
  • Journal Article with One Author:
    • Format: Author Last Name, Initials. (Year). Article Title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page Range.
    • Example: Pinchot, R. (2020). Calle 13 and Ana Tijoux’s joyous rebellion: Modeling transnational protest through lyric and song. Latin American Music Review, 41(2), 196–225.
  • Journal Article with Two Authors:
    • Format: Author Last Name, Initials., & Author Last Name, Initials. (Year). Article Title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page Range.
    • Example: Miller, A., & Johnson, L. (2018). The impact of climate change on coastal communities. Environmental Science Journal, 15(4), 112-125.
  • Journal Article with Multiple Authors (more than two):
    • Format: Author Last Name, Initials., et al. (Year). Article Title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page Range.
    • Example: Peterson, H., et al. (2020). Exploring the effects of mindfulness on stress reduction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 30(3), 456-467.
  • Website:
    • Format: Author Last Name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). Title of the Web Page. Website Name. URL
    • Example: Smith, J. (2023, January 15). The importance of digital privacy. Digital Privacy Today. https://www.digitalprivacytoday.com/importance-digital-privacy

Citing a Research Paper in MLA Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely employed in humanities disciplines such as literature, language studies, and cultural studies. In MLA style, the format for citing a research paper includes both in-text citations and a Works Cited page at the end of the document.

In-text citation

Include the author's last name and the page number in parentheses.

Example: (Smith 45)

Works Cited page

Author's last name, first name. Title of the paper in quotation marks. Title of the journal in italics and title case, volume number, issue number in parentheses, year of publication, and page range.

Example: Smith, John. "Title of the Paper." Journal of Research, vol. 25, no. 3, 2019, pp. 123-145.

MLA style requires careful attention to detail when citing sources, ensuring proper attribution and consistency. Below are guidelines and examples for citing different types of sources in MLA style:

  • Book with One Author:
      • Format: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of the Book. Publisher, Year.
      • Example: Johnson, Michael. Gone with the Wind. HarperCollins, 2005.
    1. Journal Article with One Author:
        • Format: Author Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Month Year, pp. Page Range, DOI or URL.
        • Example: Garcia, Maria. "The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities." Environmental Science Journal, vol. 15, no. 4, July 2019, pp. 112-125.
      1. Journal Article with Two Authors:
          • Format: Author Last Name, First Name, and Author First Name Last Name. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Month Year, pp. Page Range, DOI or URL.
          • Example: Brown, Sarah, and James Miller. "The Role of Technology in Education." Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 25, no. 3, Sept. 2020, pp. 67-78.
        1. Journal Article with Multiple Authors (more than two):
            • Format: First Author Last Name, First Name, et al. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Month Year, pp. Page Range, DOI or URL.
            • Example: Peterson, Emily, et al. "Exploring the Effects of Mindfulness on Stress Reduction." Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 30, no. 3, Dec. 2018, pp. 456-467.
          1. Website:
            • Format: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Web Page." Website Name, Publisher (if applicable), Date of Publication, URL.
            • Example: Smith, John. "The Importance of Digital Privacy." Digital Privacy Today, Digital Privacy Foundation, 12 May 2022, www.digitalprivacytoday.com/importance-digital-privacy.

          Note: For precise MLA citation guidelines, refer to the official MLA Handbook.

          Citing a Research Paper in Chicago Style

          The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is widely used in various disciplines. Chicago style offers two main citation systems: the notes and bibliography system, which uses footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography, and the author-date system, which uses parenthetical citations and a reference list. 

          Footnote citation

          Use a superscript number at the end of the sentence, followed by a footnote with the full citation.

          Example: Smith, John. "Title of the Paper." Journal of Research 25, no. 3 (2019): 123-145.

          Bibliography

          Author's last name, first name. Title of the paper in sentence case. Title of the journal in italics and title case, volume number, issue number in parentheses, year of publication, and page range.

          Example: Smith, John. "Title of the Paper." Journal of Research 25, no. 3 (2019): 123-145.

          Below are examples of citing different types of sources in the notes and bibliography system:

          • Book with One Author:
              • Format: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of the Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
              • Example: Smith, John. The Art of Writing. New York: Random House, 2019.
          • Journal Article with One Author:
              • Format: Author Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Month Year): Page Range. DOI or URL.
              • Example: Garcia, Maria. "The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities." Environmental Science Journal 15, no. 4 (July 2019): 112-125.
            1. Journal Article with Two Authors:
                • Format: Author Last Name, First Name, and Author First Name Last Name. "Article Title." Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Month Year): Page Range. DOI or URL.
                • Example: Brown, Sarah, and James Miller. "The Role of Technology in Education." Journal of Educational Technology 25, no. 3 (Sept. 2020): 67-78.
              1. Journal Article with Multiple Authors (more than two):
                  • Format: First Author Last Name, First Name, et al. "Article Title." Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Month Year): Page Range. DOI or URL.
                  • Example: Peterson, Emily, et al. "Exploring the Effects of Mindfulness on Stress Reduction." Journal of Applied Psychology 30, no. 3 (Dec. 2018): 456-467.
                1. Website:
                  • Format: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Web Page." Website Name. URL.
                  • Example: Smith, John. "The Importance of Digital Privacy." Digital Privacy Today. www.digitalprivacytoday.com/importance-digital-privacy.

                Note: For comprehensive guidance on Chicago style, consult The Chicago Manual of Style.

                Other Less Common Citation Styles

                In addition to widely used citation styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago, there are several other less common styles tailored to specific disciplines or preferences. Let's explore a few of them:

                Harvard Style

                Commonly used in the UK and Australia, Harvard style features in-text citations that include the author's last name and the publication year within parentheses, followed by a full reference list at the end of the document.

                For example:

                • In-text citation: (Smith, 2019)
                • Reference list: Smith, J. (2019). The Art of Writing. London: Publisher.

                Note: For comprehensive guidance on Harvard Style, refer to the detailed Harvard Style Guide

                Vancouver Style

                Primarily used in biomedical and scientific fields, the Vancouver style utilizes numbered citations within the text that correspond to a numbered reference list at the end of the document. Each reference is listed in the order it appears in the text.

                For example:

                • In-text citation: (1)
                • Reference list: 1. Smith J. The Art of Writing. London: Publisher; 2019.

                Note: For detailed guidance on Vancouver style citation, refer to the official Vancouver 2nd Edition guide.

                AMA Style (American Medical Association)

                Predominantly used in medical and biological sciences, the AMA style employs numeric superscript in-text citations that correspond to a numbered reference list. It often includes details like article title, journal name, and page numbers. For example:

                • In-text citation: 1
                • Reference list: Smith J. The Art of Writing. Journal of Writing Studies. 2019;25(3):123-145.

                Note: For concise guidance on AMA style, consult the official AMA Manual of Style.

                IEEE Style (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

                Commonly used in engineering and computer science, the IEEE style employs numeric citations within square brackets in the text, referencing a numbered list of sources at the end of the document.

                For example:

                • In-text citation: [1]
                • Reference list: [1] J. Smith, "The Art of Writing," Journal of Writing Studies, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 123-145, 2019.

                Note: For comprehensive guidance on IEEE Style, refer to the IEEE Editorial Style Manual

                ASA Style (American Sociological Association)

                Frequently used in sociology and related disciplines, the ASA style uses parenthetical author-date citations in the text and a corresponding reference list. It emphasizes clarity and simplicity in citing sources within social science research.

                • In-text citation: (Smith 2019)
                • Reference list: Smith, John. 2019. The Art of Writing. New York: Publisher.

                Note: For ASA Style guidelines, refer to the official American Sociological Association (ASA) Style Guide

                In Summary, knowing how to cite research papers in different styles is essential for academic success. By following the guidelines and examples provided, you can make sure your citations are correct and consistent in your academic writing.

                Always check the official style guides for any specific details or updates in citation rules. Accurate citations help maintain the quality of academic writing, showing respect for the contributions of fellow scholars.

                If you are looking for further assistance with your academic writing, consider checking out CollegeEssay.org.  We offer a range of services, including essay writing, editing, and proofreading, as well as expert guidance on various aspects of academic writing. 

                Hire our college essay writing service today and take the first step towards achieving your academic goals.

                Nova A.

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                Nova A. (Literature, Marketing)

                As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

                As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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