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Chicago Author-Date

About chicago 17th ed.: author-date.

The Chicago Manual of Style Author-Date system is used by scholars in the social sciences and sciences. For arts, history, and humanities, see the  Notes/Bibliography system.

Citing sources in this style consists of two parts:

• An in-text citation
• A reference list

The in-text citation points the reader to the full information about the source found in the reference list.

See How to Format In-Text Citations , How to Format the Reference List , and the examples of types of sources in the left navigation for further details.

How to Format In-Text Citations

An in-text citation provides your reader with two pieces of information:

• The the last name of the author(s) used in the corresponding reference list entry
• The year the work was published

Standard Formatting of the In-Text Citation

For more detailed information see Chicago Manual of Style , 15.21 - 15.31 .

• Enclose the author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses with no intervening punctuation. (Smith 2016)
• For no author , see the "How do I deal with ____?" section.
• For two to three authors, include the last names of authors using commas and and (Smith, Lee, and Alvarez 2016)
• For four or more authors, include the last name of the first author and et al. (Smith et al. 2016)
• When editors, translators, or compilers are used as the author, do not include their role (trans., ed., comp.) in the in-text citation.
• When the reference list has works by authors with same last name , include their first initial in the in-text citation (B. Smith 2016) (J. Smith 2009)
• If an author has published multiple works in the same year , alphabetize the titles in the reference list and then add a, b,c, etc. to the year (Lee 2015a) (Lee 2015b)
• To cite specific page(s) , add a comma and the page number(s) (Smith 2016, 21-23)
• If the author's name appears in the sentence, do not include the name again in the parentheses Smith (2016) indicates that good citation practices are important.
• To cite more than one reference in a single in-text citation, separate the references by semicolons. If the works are by the same author, use just the year and separate with a comma. See CMOS 15.30  for details. (Smith 2016; Lee 2015) (Smith 2016, 2013; Lee 2015)

How to Format the Reference List

General formatting of the reference list.

For more detailed information see Chicago Manual of Style , 1 5.10 - 15.20

The reference list provides the full details of the items you have cited in your paper. Here are some general features of the reference list:

• Usually titled References or Works Cited  
• Entries begin with author(s) and date of work; other required elements depend on the type of source. See examples in the left navigation.  
• alphabetize using the letter-by-letter system, in which an entry for “Fernández, Angelines” would come before the entry for “Fernán Gómez, Fernando” (d in " Fernández" comes before G in " Gómez")  
• If there is no author , use the first word of the title of the work (excluding The, A, An).  
• Single-author  entries precede  multiauthor  entries beginning with the same name.  

Du Bois, W. E. B. 1898. "The Study of the Negro Problems." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 11 (January): 1-23. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1009474.

———. 1903. The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches . Chicago: A. C. McClurg.

———. 1947. The World and Africa: An Inquiry into the Part Which Africa Has Played in World History . New York: Viking.  

Olney, William W. 2015a. "Impact of Corruption on Firm-Level Export Decisions." Economic Inquiry 54 (2): 1105–27.

Olney, William W. 2015b. "Remittances and the Wage Impact of Immigration." Journal of Human Resources 50 (3): 694-727.

How do I deal with ___?

Missing citation elements.

(World Bank 2011)

( New York Times  1912)

If the author is unknown, start the reference list entry with the title. For the in-text citation, use the title, which can be shortened as long as the first word matches the reference list entry ( CMOS ,  15.34 )

(Human Rights Campaign, n.d.)

(Library of Congress, n.d., under "Slave Narratives and the New Debate about Slavery")

• Place: Use n.p. if it is unknown. If it can be surmised, put in brackets with a question mark. ( CMOS , 14.132 )
• Publisher: If not listed on the title page or copyright page, use "self-published" or "printed by author." (CMOS,  14.137 )

More than one author

• List authors in order they appear on title page
• In the reference list, invert the first author's name only and place a comma before and after the first name
• Use the word "and," not an ampersand (&)
• For works with 4-10 authors, list all names in the reference list, but only use the first author's name followed by et al. in the in-text citation.
• For works with more than 10 authors, only include the first 7 authors and et al. in the reference list ( CMOS ,  15.9 , 15.16 ,  15.29 ,  14.76 )

In-text Citations:

(Geis and Bunn 1997, 17)

(Chih-Hung Ko et al. 2009, 600)

Reference List:

Geis, Gilbert, and Ivan Bunn. 1997. A Trial of Witches: a Seventeenth-Century Witchcraft Prosecution . London: Routledge.

Ko, Chih-Hung, Ju-Yu Yen, Shu-Chun Liu, Chi-Fen Huang, and Cheng-Fang Yen. 2009. "The Associations between Aggressive Behaviors and Internet Addiction and Online Activities in Adolescents." Journal of Adolescent Health 44 (6): 598-605.

Using a source quoted in a secondary source

It is always better to consult the original source, but if it cannot be obtained, give information about the original source in the running text and include "quoted in" in your in-text citation for the secondary source. Include only the secondary source in your reference list. ( CMOS , 15.56 )

In his 1844 book Thoughts on the Proposed Annexation of Texas to the United States , Theodore Sedgwick opines "The annexation of Texas instead of strengthening the Union, weakens it" (quoted in Rathbun 2001, 479).

Rathbun, Lyon. 2001. "The Debate over Annexing Texas and the Emergence of Manifest Destiny." Rhetoric & Public Affairs 4 (3): 459-493.

Examples: Books, Chapters

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.9 , 15.40 - 15.45

Author Last Name, First Name. Year. Book Title . Place: Publisher.

For e-books, include the provider of the book, the URL, or e-book application/device at the end of the citation. (CMOS, 14.159 - 14.163 )

Feder, Ellen K. 2007. Family Bonds: Genealogies of Race and Gender . Oxford: Oxford University Press. ProQuest ebrary.

Nairn, Tom. 1997. Faces of Nationalism: Janus Revisited . London: Verso.

Stewart, K. J. 1864. A Geography for Beginners . Richmond: J. W. Randolph. http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/stewart/stewart.html.

Edited Book

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.9 , 15.36

Author Last Name, First Name, ed. Year. Book Title . Place: Publisher.

Dmytryshyn, Basil, ed. 1999. Imperial Russia: A Source Book, 1700-1917 . New York: Academic International Press.

Chapter or Essay in Book

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.9 , 14.106 - 14.112

Roell, Craig H. 1994. "The Piano in the American Home." In The Arts and the American Home, 1890-1930 , edited by Jessica H. Foy and Karal Ann Marling, 193-204. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press.

Entry in a Reference Book

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 14.232 ,  14.233 ,  14.234

Well-known encyclopedias and dictionaries are usually cited in the running text only. For other reference works, cite as a book or book chapter.

Examples: Articles

Journal article.

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.9 , 15.46

Author Last Name, First Name. Year. "Article Title." Journal Title Volume (Issue): Page Range of Article. URL/DOI.

For journal articles consulted online, use a URL based on a DOI (begins with https://doi.org/). Otherwise, use the URL provided with the article.

Hunter, Margaret. 2016. "Colorism in the Classroom: How Skin Tone Stratifies African American and Latina/o Students." Theory into Practice 55 (1): 54-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405841.2016.1119019.

Thompson, Maxine S., and Keith Verna M. 2001. "The Blacker the Berry: Gender, Skin Tone, Self-Esteem, and Self-Efficacy." Gender and Society 15 (3): 336-57. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3081888.

Magazine Article

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.4 9

Magazine articles can be cited in the running text (e.g., As Scott Spencer mentions in his May 1979 Harper's article "Childhood's End," ....) and not included in the reference list. However, if a formal citation is needed, follow the example below, repeating the year with the month and day.

Author Last Name, First Name. Year. "Article Title." Magazine Title , Month Day, Year, Page Range of Article.

If citing an online magazine, end the citation with the URL, library database, or app.

Spencer, Scott. 1979. "Childhood's End." Harper's , May 1979, 16-19.

Tobar, Héctor. 2016. "Can Latinos Swing Arizona?" New Yorker. August 1, 2016. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/01/promise-arizona-and-the-power-of-the-latino-vote.

Tobar, Héctor. 2016. "Can Latinos Swing Arizona?" New Yorker (iPhone app). August 1, 2016.

Newspaper Article

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.49 ,  14.191  -  14.200

Newspaper articles can be cited in the running text (e.g., As John Eligon mentioned in his November 18, 2015 New York Times article ....) and not included in the reference list. However, if your professor requires it, follow the examples below, repeating the year with the month and day.

Author Last Name, First Name. Year. "Article Title." Newspaper Title , Month Day, Year. sec. Section.

Page numbers are not included because articles can appear on different pages in different editions. For regularly occurring columns, cite with both the column name and headline or just the column name. If citing an online newspaper, include the URL at the end. If citing from a library database, include the database name.

Eligon, John. 2015. "One Slogan, Many Methods: Black Lives Matter Enters Politics." New York Times , November 18, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/19/us/one-slogan-many-methods-black-lives-matter-enters-politics.html.

Erlanger, Steve. 1998. "Pact on Israeli Pullback Hinges on Defining Army's Role." New York Times , May 8, 1998, sec. A.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1966. "Negro Faces Dixie Justice." My Dream. Chicago Defender , April 23, 1966. ProQuest Historical Newspapers.

Examples: Web Pages, Blogs, Social Media

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.51 , CMOS quick guide

Author Last Name, First Name. Last Modified Year. "Page Title." Website Title. Last modified Month Day, Year. URL.

If there is no personal author, start with the page title or site sponsor. If there is no last modified date, use n.d.

DeSilver, Drew. 2018. "The Real Value of a $15 Minimum Wage Depends on Where You Live." Pew Research Center. Last modified October 10, 2018. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/10/the-real-value-of-a-15-minimum-wage-depends-on-where-you-live/.

Human Rights Campaign. n.d. "Maps of State Laws and Policies." Accessed April 25, 2019. http://www.hrc.org/state_maps.

Blog Posts and Comments

For more information see:  Chicago Manual of Style ,  15.51  and  14.208

Blog posts and comments are generally cited in the running text and omitted from the reference list. If a reference list entry is needed, follow the example below.

Author Last Name, First Name. Year. "Post Title," Blog Title (blog), Month Day, Year. URL.

If the blog has the word "blog" as part of its name, "(blog)" should not be included in the citation. If the blog is a part of a larger publication, include that title, too.

Stewart, Jenell. 2016. "Natural Hair Creates a More Inclusive Standard," My Natural Hair Journey (blog), Huffington Post , July 12, 2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jenell-stewart/natural-hair-creates-a-more-inclusive-beauty-standard_b_10949874.html.

Social Media

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 14.209 and 15.52

Citations for social media content can often be incorporated into the text:

Reacting to the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, Obama tweeted, "Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins" (@POTUS44, June 26, 2015).

If you cite an account frequently or an extensive thread, use the format below for the reference list. Direct or private messages shared through social media are treated as personal communication (see COMS , 15.53 ).

Use the screen name in the author position if there is no real name. If you have already fully quoted the text of the post, that element is not needed in the note. If relevant, include media type (photo, video, etc.) after the name of the social media service.

Examples: Music, Film, TV, Images

Note: In many cases media can be cited in the running text or grouped in a separate section or discography, but author-date style citation can be created by adapting the format used in the notes/bibliography style, moving the year to the second position. You can choose whom to list as the author depending on the focus of your citation. While you should always cite the format you used, the original date of the work, if known, should be privileged in the citation. ( CMOS , 15.57 )

Music Score

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 14.255

Published music scores are cited like books and book chapters.

Composer Last Name, First Name. Year. "Song Title." In Book Title , edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Inclusive Pages for Song. Place: Publisher.

Johnson, Charles L. "Crazy Bone Rag." 1997. In Ragtime Jubilee: 42 Piano Gems, 1911-21 , edited by David A. Jasen, 41-45. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications.

Music Recording

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 14.263

Performer or Conductor Last Name, First Name. Original Release Year. Album Title . Record Label Catalog Number, Year of Format Used, Medium or Streaming Service or File Format. 

The Beatles. 1970. Let it Be . Capitol 3 82472 2, 2009, compact disc.

Beyoncé. 2016. Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, MP3.

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 14.265

bibliography:

Director First Name Last Name, dir. Original Film Release Year. Film Title . Place: Studio/Distributor, Release Year of Medium Used. Medium.

Scott, Ridley, dir. 1991. Thelma & Louise . Santa Monica, CA: MGM Home Entertainment, 2004. DVD.

Online Video

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 1 4.267

The format of citations depends on the information available. Generally, include details about the original published source (if applicable) and details related to the digitized copy such as source type, length, and where it is posted. See the two examples of format below.

Video Creator Last Name, First Name. Original Release Year. Video Title . Original Production Company. From Provider of Online Video. Source Type, Running Time. URL.

Digitizing Organization. Original Year. "Video Clip Title." Source Type, Running Time. From Original Performance or Source Date. Posted Date. URL.

U.S. Federal Civil Defense Administration.1951.  Duck and Cover . Archer Productions. From Internet Archive, Prelinger Archives. MPEG video, 9:15. http://archive.org/details/DuckandC1951.

John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. 1960. "TNC:172 Kennedy-Nixon First Presidential Debate, 1960." YouTube video, 58:34. From televised debate September 26, 1960. Posted September 21, 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbrcRKqLSRw.

Director Last Name, First Name, dir. Year aired.  TV Show Title. , Season number, episode number, "Episode Title." Aired Month Day, Year, on Network. Medium or URL for online access.

Silberling, Brad, dir. 2014.  Jane the Virgin. Season 1, episode 1, "Chapter One." Aired October 13, 2014, on The CW. https://www.netflix.com/title/80027158.

For more information see: CMOS Shop Talk

Images are usually not included in the reference list. In the running text or caption indicate the artist, year the work was created, title of the work, and where it is located.

Examples: Government Documents

For more information see:  Chicago Manual of Style , 1 5.58  and 15.59

If you make extensive use of legal or government documents, cite them in the  Chicago Notes  format as supplementary footnotes instead of as in-text citations. See  CMOS   15.31 . 

If you are using just a few documents, cite them in the running text using the legal citation form recommended in The Chicago Manual of Style , 14.269 - 14.305  and in the Chicago Notes section of this guide.

In Griswold v. Connecticut (381 U.S. 479 (1965)), the court ruled that ...

In remarks about the DREAM Act on the Senate floor (156 Cong. Rec. S10259 (daily ed. December 15, 2010)), Senator Durbin discussed ...

Examples: Unpublished/Archival

Interview/discussion.

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.48

Unpublished interviews are cited as an in-text citation only; they do not appear in the reference list.

• In the parenthetical citation, put "personal communication" after the name of the person being interviewed. (Maud Mandel, personal communication)
• For class discussions, put the course number, "class discussion," and the date of the class. (ECON 110 class discussion, April 19, 2019)

Manuscript/Archival Material

For more information see: Chicago Manual of Style , 15.49

Manuscript materials are cited in the running text indicating the date of the cited item and using the name of the manuscript collection in the in-text reference. 

The reference list provides details about the manuscript collection only, not the individual items.

If only one item from a collection is cited, the details of that item can be included in the reference list and the author used in the in-text citation.

Collection Name. Repository Name. Place.

Author Last Name, First Name. Year of Item. Item Description. Month Day, Year of Item. Collection Name. Repository Name, Place.

If the item was accessed online, include the URL at the end of the citation.

Hopkins Family Papers. Williams College Special Collections. Williamstown, MA.

(Hopkins Family Papers)

Hopkins, Mark. 1861. Letter to Jaime Margalotti. March 22, 1861. Hopkins Family Papers. Williams College Special Collections, Williamstown, MA.

(Hopkins 1861)

Need More Info?

• Chicago Style Q&A Provides official answers to questions submitted by users of the Chicago Manual of Style .
• CMOS Shop Talk A blog by the editors and staff of the Chicago Manual of Style , which includes posts and pages for students writing papers.

What Needs to be Cited?

• Exact wording taken from any source, including freely available websites
• Paraphrases of passages
• Summaries of another person's work
• Indebtedness to another person for an idea
• Use of another student's work
• Use of your own previous work

You do not need to cite common knowledge .

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Chicago Citation Guide, Author-Date and NB, 17E: Author-Date Templates and Examples

• Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition
• Author-Date Templates and Examples
• Notes and Bibliography Templates and Examples
• Paper Formatting (NB)
• Introduction
• Collecting Citations
• Backing-Up/Syncing
• Placing Citations in a Document

Supplemental Files

• Chicago Author-Date PDF Printable PDF of this tab
• Chicago Author-Date Powerpoint Used in the 25-minute workshop.

Tips Before Turning In

Before submitting your paper to the instructor, be sure to review these tips and make corrections to your reference list.

• If your instructor’s preferred style differs from this suggested style, always follow your instructor’s directions.
• The Author-Date format uses a reference list, called References or Works Cited or Literature Cited, rather than a bibliography.
• The reference list only includes those items cited in parenthetical citations.
• The reference list is first alphabetical by author, then chronological by year, then alphabetical by title. Include but ignore initial A, An, and The when alphabetizing by title. 
• Author-date format does not recommend authors use the ------ for repeated  names in a reference list. Repeat the names for each entry, then sort chronologically.
• In the reference list, if there are two or more citations with the exact same author(s) AND the same year, place them in alphabetical order by title. Then add a, b, c, etc. directly after the year. Use this year with a letter in the parenthetical citation.  Include but ignore initial A, An, and The when alphabetizing by title.
• For in-text parenthetical citation, punctuation follows the closed parenthesis, if it is needed at all.
• Use et al. in parenthetical citations for four or more authors, using only the first author's last name, then et al., followed immediately by the year  (e.g., Caballero et al. 1990, 55). The reference list citation includes all authors in the order they appear on the item.
• For a Web page, if there is no publication or revision date, you place n.d. as the publication date then include and access date, using Accessed Month date, YYYY.
• Note that n.d. has no space between the letters, takes a comma-space before it with in-text citation, and stays lower case always.
• The reference list is formatted using a hanging indent (Ctrl+T). Each entry is single spaced, but there is an empty line between each citation.

For More Information

For more detailed information and examples, please see:

The Chicago Manual of Style , 17 th ed.

Z253 .U69 2017

held at the Reserve Desk and the Reference Desk. Chapter 15 (pp. 891-921) relates to Chicago’s Author-Date format.

Article (two authors)

Book (one author), essay acting like a chapter in an edited book (three authors + editor), web page (no publication or revision date and with a publication date), multiple sources.

An in-text citation with multiple sources separates each of them with a semi-colon. The order in the citation may be alphabetical, chronological, or may be in order of importance. It is the author's choice or what is required by the professor, journal, or publisher.

YouTube Video

Citing a YouTube video or other similar source, starts with the same pieces as previous examples. You need author, date, title, source (YouTube), and URL.

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Go to Index

Author-Date: Sample Citations

Go to Notes and Bibliography: Sample Citations

The following examples illustrate the author-date system. Each example of a reference list entry is accompanied by an example of a corresponding in-text citation. For more details and many more examples, see chapter 15 of The Chicago Manual of Style . For examples of the same citations using the notes and bibliography system, follow the Notes and Bibliography link above.

Reference list entries (in alphabetical order)

Grazer, Brian, and Charles Fishman. 2015. A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life . New York: Simon & Schuster.

Smith, Zadie. 2016. Swing Time . New York: Penguin Press.

In-text citations

(Grazer and Fishman 2015, 12)

(Smith 2016, 315–16)

For more examples, see 1 5 . 40 – 45 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Chapter or other part of an edited book

In the reference list, include the page range for the chapter or part. In the text, cite specific pages.

Reference list entry

Thoreau, Henry David. 2016. “Walking.” In The Making of the American Essay , edited by John D’Agata, 167–95. Minneapolis: Graywolf Press.

In-text citation

(Thoreau 2016, 177–78)

In some cases, you may want to cite the collection as a whole instead.

D’Agata, John, ed. 2016. The Making of the American Essay . Minneapolis: Graywolf Press.

(D’Agata 2016, 177–78)

For more details, see 15.36 and 15.42 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Translated book

Lahiri, Jhumpa. 2016.  In Other Words . Translated by Ann Goldstein. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

(Lahiri 2016, 146)

For books consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database in the reference list entry. For other types of e-books, name the format. If no fixed page numbers are available, cite a section title or a chapter or other number in the text, if any (or simply omit).

Austen, Jane. 2007. Pride and Prejudice . New York: Penguin Classics. Kindle.

Borel, Brooke. 2016. The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ProQuest Ebrary.

Kurland, Philip B., and Ralph Lerner, eds. 1987. The Founders’ Constitution . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/.

Melville, Herman. 1851. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale . New York: Harper & Brothers. http://mel.hofstra.edu/moby-dick-the-whale-proofs.html.

(Austen 2007, chap. 3)

(Borel 2016, 92)

(Kurland and Lerner 1987, chap. 10, doc. 19)

(Melville 1851, 627)

Journal article

In the reference list, include the page range for the whole article. In the text, cite specific page numbers. For articles consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database in the reference list entry. Many journal articles list a DOI (Digital Object Identifier). A DOI forms a permanent URL that begins https://doi.org/. This URL is preferable to the URL that appears in your browser’s address bar.

Keng, Shao-Hsun, Chun-Hung Lin, and Peter F. Orazem. 2017. “Expanding College Access in Taiwan, 1978–2014: Effects on Graduate Quality and Income Inequality.” Journal of Human Capital 11, no. 1 (Spring): 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1086/690235.

LaSalle, Peter. 2017. “Conundrum: A Story about Reading.” New England Review 38 (1): 95–109. Project MUSE.

Satterfield, Susan. 2016. “Livy and the Pax Deum .” Classical Philology 111, no. 2 (April): 165–76.

(Keng, Lin, and Orazem 2017, 9–10)

(LaSalle 2017, 95)

(Satterfield 2016, 170)

Journal articles often list many authors, especially in the sciences. If there are four or more authors, list up to ten in the reference list; in the text, list only the first, followed by et al . (“and others”). For more than ten authors (not shown here), list the first seven in the reference list, followed by et al.

Bay, Rachael A., Noah Rose, Rowan Barrett, Louis Bernatchez, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Jesse R. Lasky, Rachel B. Brem, Stephen R. Palumbi, and Peter Ralph. 2017. “Predicting Responses to Contemporary Environmental Change Using Evolutionary Response Architectures.” American Naturalist 189, no. 5 (May): 463–73. https://doi.org/10.1086/691233.

(Bay et al. 2017, 465)

For more examples, see 1 5 . 46–49 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

News or magazine article

Articles from newspapers or news sites, magazines, blogs, and the like are cited similarly. In the reference list, it can be helpful to repeat the year with sources that are cited also by month and day. Page numbers, if any, can be cited in the text but are omitted from a reference list entry. If you consulted the article online, include a URL or the name of the database.

Manjoo, Farhad. 2017. “Snap Makes a Bet on the Cultural Supremacy of the Camera.” New York Times , March 8, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/technology/snap-makes-a-bet-on-the-cultural-supremacy-of-the-camera.html.

Mead, Rebecca. 2017. “The Prophet of Dystopia.” New Yorker , April 17, 2017.

Pai, Tanya. 2017. “The Squishy, Sugary History of Peeps.” Vox , April 11, 2017. http://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/11/15209084/peeps-easter.

Pegoraro, Rob. 2007. “Apple’s iPhone Is Sleek, Smart and Simple.” Washington Post , July 5, 2007. LexisNexis Academic.

(Manjoo 2017)

(Mead 2017, 43)

(Pegoraro 2007)

Readers’ comments are cited in the text but omitted from a reference list.

(Eduardo B [Los Angeles], March 9, 2017, comment on Manjoo 2017)

For more examples, see 15 . 49 (newspapers and magazines) and 1 5 . 51 (blogs) in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Book review

Kakutani, Michiko. 2016. “Friendship Takes a Path That Diverges.” Review of Swing Time , by Zadie Smith. New York Times , November 7, 2016.

(Kakutani 2016)

Stamper, Kory. 2017. “From ‘F-Bomb’ to ‘Photobomb,’ How the Dictionary Keeps Up with English.” Interview by Terry Gross. Fresh Air , NPR, April 19, 2017. Audio, 35:25. http://www.npr.org/2017/04/19/524618639/from-f-bomb-to-photobomb-how-the-dictionary-keeps-up-with-english.

(Stamper 2017)

Thesis or dissertation

Rutz, Cynthia Lillian. 2013. “ King Lear and Its Folktale Analogues.” PhD diss., University of Chicago.

(Rutz 2013, 99–100)

Website content

It is often sufficient simply to describe web pages and other website content in the text (“As of May 1, 2017, Yale’s home page listed . . .”). If a more formal citation is needed, it may be styled like the examples below. For a source that does not list a date of publication or revision, use n.d. (for “no date”) in place of the year and include an access date.

Bouman, Katie. 2016. “How to Take a Picture of a Black Hole.” Filmed November 2016 at TEDxBeaconStreet, Brookline, MA. Video, 12:51. https://www.ted.com/talks/katie_bouman_what_does_a_black_hole_look_like.

Google. 2017. “Privacy Policy.” Privacy & Terms. Last modified April 17, 2017. https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Yale University. n.d. “About Yale: Yale Facts.” Accessed May 1, 2017. https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

(Bouman 2016)

(Google 2017)

(Yale University, n.d.)

For more examples, see 1 5 . 50–52 in The Chicago Manual of Style . For multimedia, including live performances, see 1 5 . 57 .

Social media content

Citations of content shared through social media can usually be limited to the text (as in the first example below). If a more formal citation is needed, a reference list entry may be appropriate. In place of a title, quote up to the first 160 characters of the post. Comments are cited in reference to the original post.

Conan O’Brien’s tweet was characteristically deadpan: “In honor of Earth Day, I’m recycling my tweets” (@ConanOBrien, April 22, 2015).

Chicago Manual of Style. 2015. “Is the world ready for singular they? We thought so back in 1993.” Facebook, April 17, 2015. https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoManual/posts/10152906193679151.

Souza, Pete (@petesouza). 2016. “President Obama bids farewell to President Xi of China at the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit.” Instagram photo, April 1, 2016. https://www.instagram.com/p/BDrmfXTtNCt/.

(Chicago Manual of Style 2015)

(Souza 2016)

(Michele Truty, April 17, 2015, 1:09 p.m., comment on Chicago Manual of Style 2015)

Personal communication

Personal communications, including email and text messages and direct messages sent through social media, are usually cited in the text only; they are rarely included in a reference list.

(Sam Gomez, Facebook message to author, August 1, 2017)

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Citing Sources: Sample Author Date Citations

• Style Links & Samples
• Sample Reference List Citations
• Sample Notes and Bibliography Citations
• Sample Author Date Citations
• Citing Nontraditional Sources in Chicago
• Sample Citations
• Major Changes to the New MLA
• Capitalization and Personal Names in Foreign Languages
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The following examples display the entry first as it would appear in the References list, then the in-text citation .

Books with One Author:

     References:

Pollan, Michael. 2006.  The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. New York: Penguin. 

     In-text:

     (Pollan 2006, 99–100)

Books with Two Authors:

Ward, Geoffrey C., and Ken Burns. 2007. The War: An Intimate History, 1941–1945 . New York: Knopf.

     (Ward and Burns 2007, 52)

Work in an Anthology (edited volume originally published elsewhere ):

Cicero, Quintus Tullius. 1986. “Handbook on Canvassing for the Consulship.” In Rome: Late Republic and Principate , edited by Walter Emil Kaegi Jr. and Peter White. Vol. 2 of University of Chicago Readings in Western Civilization , edited by John Boyer and Julius Kirshner, 33–46. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Originally published in Evelyn S. Shuckburgh, trans., The Letters of Cicero , vol. 1 (London: George Bell & Sons, 1908).

     (Cicero 1986, 35)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. 2007. "Nature." In The Norton Anthology of American Literature , 7th ed., edited by Nina Baym, 1110-1138. New York: Norton & Company.

     (Emerson 2007, 1112)

Book with Editor in Place of Author:

Greenberg, Joel, ed. 2008.  Of Prairie, Woods, and Water: Two Centuries of Chicago Nature Writing . Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

     (Greenberg 2008, 100)

Book with Editor or Translator in Addition to Author:

Taylor, Edward B. 1964.  Researches into the Early Development of Mankind and the Development of Civilization . Edited by Paul Bohannan. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 

     (Taylor 1964, 50)

Electronic Books and Books Consulted Online:

Austen, Jane. 2007. Pride and Prejudice . New York: Penguin Classics. Kindle edition.

     (Austen 2007)

Kurland, Philip B., and Ralph Lerner, eds. 1987. The Founders’ Constitution . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/.

     (Kurland and Lerner, chap. 10, doc. 19)

Articles,  Magazines,  and Newspapers

Scholarly Article:

Bagley, Benjamin. 2015. “Loving Someone in Particular.” Ethics 125, no. 2 (January): 477–507.

Liu, jui-ch’i. 2015. “beholding the feminine sublime: lee miller’s war photography.” signs 40, no. 2 (winter): 308–19. https://doi.org/10.1086/678242..

     (Bagley 2015, 484–85)

     (Liu 2015, 312)

Popular Article (Magazine or Newspaper):

Mendelsohn, Daniel. 2010. “But Enough about Me.” New Yorker , January 25.

     (Mendelsohn 2010, 68)

Stolberg, Sheryl Gay, and Robert Pear. 2010. “Wary Centrists Posing Challenge in Health Care Vote.” New York Times , February 27. Accessed February 28, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/us/politics/28health.html.

     (Stolberg and Pear 2010)

• Specialized Formats

Google. 2009. “Google Privacy Policy.” Last modified March 11. http://www.google.com/intl/en/privacypolicy.html.

     (Google 2009)

McDonald’s Corporation. 2008. “McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy Safety Facts.” Accessed July 19. http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/about/factsheets.html.

     (McDonald’s 2008)

References:

Guggenheim, Davis, dir. 2006.  An Inconvenient Truth . DVD. Hollywood, CA: Paramount.

(Guggenhim, dir. 2006)

Table of Contents

Use this list to jump to specific sample types:

• Articles, Magazines, and Newspapers

Specific Information about Author-Date

The Author-Date style of Chicago citations uses in-text parenthetical citations with the author(s) name(s) and date of publication, rather than footnotes or endnotes. The bibliography entries (called References or Works Cited) follow the same general format as used in the Notes and Bibliography style, though see the provided examples for specific formatting differences. 

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Table of Contents

Chicago citations: author-date system 17th edition.

The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed. Ref. Z 253.U69 2017 or  online ) is composed of two different documentation systems:

• Author-Date system : preferred by those in the sciences
• Notes-Bibliography style : preferred by those in the humanities

The examples on this page are in the Author-Date system . Be sure to find out from your professor which Chicago documentation system they would like you to use* *Note : The Fairfield University History Department requires its students to use  Notes-Bibliography style .

Choose a book type

More in-text Citation Information

Book with One Author

Chicago Manual 15.9

Book with Two or Three Authors

Book with four or more authors, book with author and editor/translator, book with organization as author.

Chicago Manual 15.37

Governmental and Organizational Reports

Chicago Manual 15.37 , 15.3 , 14.291 (NB) , and 14.84 (NB)

Chicago Manual 15.34

Foreword, Preface, Introduction, or Afterword

Chicago Manual 14.110 (NB)  and 15.3

Book Chapter

Chicago Manual 15.9 and 14.107 - 108 (NB)

Collection of Essays

Chicago Manual 15.9 , 14.104 (NB) , and 14.106 - 107 (NB)

Chicago Manual 15.9 and 14.106 - 108 (NB)

Chicago Manual 14.253 - 254 (NB) , 14.106 - 107 (NB) , and 15.3

Edition Other Than First

Chicago Manual 14.113 (NB) and 15.3  

Translated Work

Chicago Manual 15.9 and 14.104 (NB)

Multivolume Work Published over Several Years (Citing Only One Volume)

Chicago Manual 15.41 and 14.116 - 122 (NB)

Multivolume Work Published over Several Years (Citing all the Volumes)

Encyclopedia entry.

Chicago Manual 14.232 - 234 (NB)

Choose an ebook type

Ebook (Chapter)

Chicago Manual 15.9 , 14.106 (NB) , 14.23 (NB) , and 14.159 - 14.163 (NB)

Ebook (Entire Book)

Chicago Manual 15.9 , 14.23 , 14.159 - 14.163 (NB)

Journal Article

Choose a journal type

Note: For the treatment of author variations, such as multiple authors, corporate authors, or no author listed, please see  Book  citation as a model for this element of the citation. 

Journal Article from Library Database

Chicago Manual 15.9 , 14.23 (NB), and 14.175 (NB) 

Online Journal Article

Chicago Manual 15.9 , 14.23 (NB) , and 14.175 (NB) 

Print Journal Article

Chicago Manual 15.9 , 14.23 (NB) , and 14.168 - 174 (NB)

Chicago Manual 15.9 and 14.201 - 14.204 (NB)

Magazine Article

Choose a magazine type

Magazine Article from Library Database

Chicago Manual 15.49 and 14.188- 189 (NB)

Magazine Article from Online Website

Chicago Manual 15.49, 15.22 , and 14.188 - 14.189 (NB)

Print Magazine Article

Chicago Manual 15.49 , 15.22 , and 14.188 (NB)

Newspaper Article

Choose a newspaper type

Newspaper Article From a Library Database

Chicago Manual 15.49 ,  14.191 (NB) and 14.198 (NB) 

Article From Newspaper Website

Chicago Manual  15.49 ,  14.191 (NB) and 14.198 (NB)      

Print Newspaper Article

Chicago Manual  15.49 ,  14.191 (NB) and 14.198 (NB) 

Newspaper Article with an Unknown Author

Letter to the editor.

Chicago Manual  14.196 (NB) and 14.198 (NB) 

Generative AI

For more information see the Chicago Manual of Style’s website.

Always check your syllabus to see what your professor’s policy on AI is. If it’s not on the syllabus, just ask.

Website, Blog, or Social Media

Choose a source type

Chicago Manual 15.50 and 14.207 (NB)

Website, No Author

Chicago Manual  15.50 and 14.207 (NB)

Blog Posting

Chicago Manual  15.50 and 14.208 (NB)

Social Media

Chicago Manual   15.52 and 14.209 (NB)

E-mail, List-serv or Personal Communication

Chicago Manual 15.53 and 14.214 (NB) 

Electronic Mailing List (List-serv)

Chicago Manual 15.53 and 14.210 (NB)

Personal Communication

Chicago Manual  15.53  and 14.214 (NB)

Audio/Video

Online video.

Chicago Manual 15.57 and 14.267 (NB) 

Motion Picture

Chicago Manual 15.57 and 14.265 (NB) 

Sound Recording

Chicago Manual  15.57 and 14.263 (NB)

Television Episode

Chicago Manual 15.3 and 14.265 (NB) 

Television Series

Note: The Chicago manual does not provide specific guidance on how to cite a Television Series, but the library suggests that you cite as described below based on guidelines for similar citations.

Image or Advertisement

Online images.

Chicago Manual 15.3, 14.235 (NB) , and 8.198 (NB)

Work of Art

Chicago Manual 15.3,   14.235 (NB) , and 8.198 (NB) 

Advertisement

Note: The Chicago manual does not provide specific guidance on how to cite Advertisements, but the library suggests that you cite as described below based on guidelines for similar citations.

Secondary Sources

Chicago Manual 15.56

A secondary source is a source that quotes or paraphrases another source. An example would be Sontag's  On Photography  cited in Zelizer's book  Remembering to Forget . Use the format below only if you are unable to examine the original source material (e.g. Sontag's On Photography). The Chicago Manual of Style discourages the use of secondary sources.

In-Text Citation Examples

Chicago Manual 15.21 - 15.23

Placement of In-text Citations

Chicago Manual 15.25 - 15.26 and 13.68 - 13.72

Multiple References

Chicago Manual 15.30

The Bible and Other Classical Works

Chicago 14.238 , 14.239 , 14.240, 14.241 (NB)

Other Resources

For more examples and information on how to format your paper: , online resources.

• Chicago Manual of Style (E-book)
• Chicago Manual of Style Quick Guide
• Purdue Owl Writing Lab (OWL): Chicago
• Author Date Sample Paper - Purdue Owl

Print Resources

• The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. (Ref. Z 253.U69 2017)

For additional help, contact a Research Librarian

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Citing Sources: Chicago Author-Date Style

What is chicago author-date style.

Chicago is a documentation style that has been published by the Chicago University Press since 1906. The Author-Date style (sometimes referred to as "Reference List" style) is recommended for the physical, natural, and social sciences . Sources are cited using parenthetical in-text citation and full details are provided in a reference or works cited list.

"Turabian" style, widely used for decades by students, is essentially a simplified version of Chicago Style.

For information about the Notes and Bibliography style preferred by many arts and humanities disciplines, please see the Chicago Notes & Bibliography style page .

Official Chicago AD Resources

• Chicago Author-Date Style Citation Quick Guide from the Chicago Manual web site
• Turabian Citation guide--Author Date Style A quick guide with citation examples by University of Chicago Press

Other Chicago A-D Guides

• Chicago Author-Date Marked-up sample citations in Chicago Author-Date, from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Library
• Chicago-Turabian Documentation: Author-Date Additional page of examples for in-text citations and an end-of-text reference list, from the Writing Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Books on Chicago Style

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• Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates

Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates

Published on November 19, 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 20, 2023.

The formatting of a research paper is different depending on which style guide you’re following. In addition to citations , APA, MLA, and Chicago provide format guidelines for things like font choices, page layout, format of headings and the format of the reference page.

Scribbr offers free Microsoft Word templates for the most common formats. Simply download and get started on your paper.

APA |  MLA | Chicago author-date | Chicago notes & bibliography

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• Generate a list of tables and figures
• Ensure consistent paragraph formatting
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Table of contents

Formatting an apa paper, formatting an mla paper, formatting a chicago paper, frequently asked questions about research paper formatting.

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in APA Style are as follows:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial.
• Set 1 inch page margins.
• Apply double line spacing.
• If submitting for publication, insert a APA running head on every page.
• Indent every new paragraph ½ inch.

Watch the video below for a quick guide to setting up the format in Google Docs.

The image below shows how to format an APA Style title page for a student paper.

Running head

If you are submitting a paper for publication, APA requires you to include a running head on each page. The image below shows you how this should be formatted.

For student papers, no running head is required unless you have been instructed to include one.

APA provides guidelines for formatting up to five levels of heading within your paper. Level 1 headings are the most general, level 5 the most specific.

Reference page

APA Style citation requires (author-date) APA in-text citations throughout the text and an APA Style reference page at the end. The image below shows how the reference page should be formatted.

Note that the format of reference entries is different depending on the source type. You can easily create your citations and reference list using the free APA Citation Generator.

Generate APA citations for free

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The main guidelines for writing an MLA style paper are as follows:

• Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman.
• Use title case capitalization for headings .

Check out the video below to see how to set up the format in Google Docs.

On the first page of an MLA paper, a heading appears above your title, featuring some key information:

• Your full name
• Your instructor’s or supervisor’s name
• The course name or number
• The due date of the assignment

Page header

A header appears at the top of each page in your paper, including your surname and the page number.

Works Cited page

MLA in-text citations appear wherever you refer to a source in your text. The MLA Works Cited page appears at the end of your text, listing all the sources used. It is formatted as shown below.

You can easily create your MLA citations and save your Works Cited list with the free MLA Citation Generator.

Generate MLA citations for free

The main guidelines for writing a paper in Chicago style (also known as Turabian style) are:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman.
• Use 1 inch margins or larger.
• Place page numbers in the top right or bottom center.

Chicago doesn’t require a title page , but if you want to include one, Turabian (based on Chicago) presents some guidelines. Lay out the title page as shown below.

Bibliography or reference list

Chicago offers two citation styles : author-date citations plus a reference list, or footnote citations plus a bibliography. Choose one style or the other and use it consistently.

The reference list or bibliography appears at the end of the paper. Both styles present this page similarly in terms of formatting, as shown below.

To format a paper in APA Style , follow these guidelines:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial
• Set 1 inch page margins
• Apply double line spacing
• Include a title page
• If submitting for publication, insert a running head on every page
• Indent every new paragraph ½ inch
• Apply APA heading styles
• Cite your sources with APA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a reference page at the end

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

• Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page
• Center the paper’s title
• Use title case capitalization for headings
• Cite your sources with MLA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a Works Cited page at the end

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style are to:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Use 1 inch margins or larger
• Place page numbers in the top right or bottom center
• Cite your sources with author-date citations or Chicago footnotes
• Include a bibliography or reference list

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, January 20). Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/research-paper-format/

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Chicago Author-Date (17th ed.): Citation Examples & Essential Rules

   For NPS theses, papers, and publications: to cite properly, follow the citation examples and apply the essential rules.

• Chicago AD Example List of References

Citation Examples

Essential rules, accessed dates.

Only include date accessed if the source material has no date.

Author Names: Honorifics

Do not include honorifics (Dr., Col., Professor, etc.) when citing author names. Including these titles in the body of your document is acceptable.

Identifying Authors of Official Documents

For the National Security Strategy , cite the president as the author.

For other official documents , the author is the organization immediately responsible for creating the document. In the example below, the author is the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and the publisher is the Department of the Navy.

In the example above, the author is NOT an umbrella organization, signatory, or any of the following:

• Chief of Naval Operations
• Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
• W. F. Moran
• Department of Defense
• Navy Pentagon
• R. P. Burke
• United States of America​

Do not include acronyms for organizations listed as authors in the List of References or footnotes:

• YES: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
• NO: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO or OCNO).
• NO: CNO or OCNO.

Bibliography vs. List of References

What is the difference between them.

• A List of References  includes all works cited in a text
• A Bibliography  lists all works cited  and consulted

The NPS Thesis Processing Office prefers a List of References for the following: 

• Capstone project report
• Dissertation

For papers, check with your professors for their preference.

Capitalization: Title Case vs. Sentence case

Note: Always format the information in your citations (titles, author names, etc.) according to the requirements of the citation style you are using, regardless of how it appears in the original source.

Country Names with Government Organizations

When naming government organizations, be consistent: for example, either Department of Defense or U.S. Department of Defense. If citing organizations from multiple countries, ensure that it is clear which organization is associated with which country—for example, Australian Department of Defence, South African Department of Defence, Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence, Singapore Ministry of Defence.

Figures / Images / Graphs

A citation is required if you did not wholly create the figure—i.e., if you used someone else's image or data. A citation is not needed when all elements of the figure are your own creation.

See Figure 1 for placement of the title and the in-text citation.

• Put a period and a space after the title.
• If you use the figure exactly as it appears in the source, use “Source: ___.”
• If you alter the original figure or use someone else's image or data to create the figure, use “Adapted from ___.”

Figure 1.    A Figure with a Citation in APA, Chicago Author-Date, or INFORMS Style. Source: Author (2017).

Figure 1.    A Figure with a Citation in APA, Chicago Author-Date, or INFORMS Style. Adapted from Author (2017).

For more details, see the Thesis Template .

• Thesis Template

How Often to Cite?

• Remember: one citation at the end of a string of sentences or a paragraph cannot “cover” the entire section.  
• Cite a source the first time it is used in each paragraph.  
• Note: always use a citation (even if you also use a signal phrase) every time you quote material.

In-text Citation Placement & Signal Phrases

Where in the sentence does my in-text citation go.

• If you name your source(s) in a given sentence, a parenthetical citation containing only the year always follows immediately after the name(s) of the author(s). Example: In contrast to earlier work by Abbott and Costello (1999), Laurel and Hardy (2008) propose an altogether different model for optimizing hat density.  
• “If the sentence ends with a quotation, close the quote, then place the citation between the quotation marks and the punctuation, like this” (Woolf 1931, 14).  
• Do not insert spaces between a parenthetical citation and the punctuation that follows it.

In the paragraph below, the   parenthetical in-text citations are highlighted in yellow , and the  s ignal phrases are in blue . Note that the second sentence is common knowledge, whereas the final sentence is clearly the opinion of the author.

• Using Signal Phrases Effectively

Missing Info

If any information is missing from a source (a journal with no volume number, for example), simply omit that information.  For sources consulted in hardcopy, omit the URL and any additional verbiage that introduces it. Anything retrieved online, however, MUST have a link. The only exception is journals retrieved from a subscription database such as ProQuest. 

Multiple Authors, et al.

• In the reference list, include all of them
• In the text, include all of them  
• In the text, list only the first author, followed by et al. (“and others”)  
• In the reference list, include only the first seven, followed by et al.
• In the text, list only the first author, followed by et al.

Multiple Works by the Same Author / Multiple Sources in One Citation

Examples given are for books; follow the appropriate style for the source type you are citing.

No Date Given

To cite an undated document, use n.d. (no date).

Page Numbers and Other Locators

In-text Citations

• Include page numbers in in-text citations when citing quoted material.
• Example: (Haynes 2009, 70)
• No page number is needed in an in-text citation when you are referring to the  source as a whole . For example: “George W. Bush’s  Decision Points  recounts pivotal moments during his time in office.”

If the source does not contain page numbers, often with electronic formats , include as much information as needed for the reader to locate the material. In citations especially of shorter electronic works presented as a single, searchable document, such locators may be unnecessary.

See  CMOS 15.23: Page and volume numbers or other specific locators in text citations .  

In the list of references/bibliography For portions of larger documents, such as journal articles and book chapters , include the  page range.

R:  Cordesman, Anthony H., Adam Mausner, and David Kasten. 2009. Introduction. In Winning in Afghanistan: Creating Effective Afghan Security Forces, edited by John Smith, 1–12. Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Print vs. Online Sources

When citing a source retrieved online, use the "online" format even when you or someone else printed out the material. For example, if you print out a thesis or your advisor provides you with a printed thesis, it is still categorized as an online document.

Only cite as a print source when the material has been produced by a publisher in hard copy. For example, if you obtain a print journal or book from the library stacks, it is categorized as a printed source.

Secondary / Indirect Sources

An indirect source is a source that cites some other work that you discuss in your text.

Whenever possible, consult primary sources and your sources’ sources yourself. Upon investigation of the primary source, you may find you disagree with the indirect source author’s analysis or methods.

How to Incorporate Indirect Sources

The following passage incorporates a properly credited indirect source. The indirect source information is highlighted in yellow; the primary source information is highlighted in blue.

Walker (200 8) describes Miguel Roig's 1999 experiment , which correlates inadequate paraphrasing in student writing with poor reading comprehension. Citing Roig’s data , Walker explains that "students do in fact possess skills necessary for paraphrasing but … may be impeded from applying those skills when dealing with rigorous text"  (387) .

Note:  Include only the  indirect source  (the source you consulted) in your reference list. 

For more information

See the TPO's " Citing Your Sources’ Sources " handout.

A citation is required if you did not wholly create the table—i.e., if you used someone else's data. A citation is not needed when all elements of the table are your own creation.

See Table 1 for placement of the title and the in-text citation.

• If you use the table exactly as it appears in the source, use “Source: ___.”
• If you alter the original table or if you use someone else's data to create the table, use “Adapted from ___.”

Table 1.    A Table with a Citation in APA, Chicago Author-Date, or INFORMS Style. Source: Author (2017).

Table 1.     A Table with a Citation in APA, Chicago Author-Date, or INFORMS Style. Adapted from Author (2017).

For more details, see the  Thesis Template .

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• West Valley College Library
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• Citations (MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian)
• MLA, APA and Chicago/Turabian
• Author-Date (Reference List) Style

MLA, APA and Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date (Reference List) Style

• MLA 9th Edition This link opens in a new window
• How to Cite AI content
• Chicago/Turabian Handbooks
• Humanities (Bibliography) Style
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The Author-Date System has long been used by those in the physical, natural, and social sciences. In this system, sources are briefly cited in the text, usually in parentheses, by author’s last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Each example includes an in-text citation [T] followed by a reference-list entry [R].

For additional examples, see pages 229-247 in the Turabian Manual (2007).

Journals vs Magazines: Journals are normally cited by volume and date, while magazines are normally cited by date alone. If in doubt whether a particular periodical is a journal or magazine, use the journal format if the volume number is easily located, and the magazine format if it is not.

 For additional examples, see pages 247-254 in the Turabian Manual (2007). 

Personal Interviews & Films

For additional examples, see pages 260-263 and 266 -269 in the Turabian Manual (2007).

Sound Recordings & Musical Compositions

The Author-Date System is inappropriate for most audiovisual materials. If you must use it and include audiovisual items, they are best mentioned in the running text and then grouped in the Reference List under a subheading such as "Sound Recordings."

For additional examples, see pages 265-270 in the Turabian Manual (2007).

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• Last Updated: Feb 5, 2024 3:57 PM
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Chicago Manual of Style - How to Cite Your Sources

• Overview & Citation Guide Portal
• Formatting the Paper

Author-Date

Text citations, author date references cheatsheet, reference list, reference list - basic citations.

• Notes and Bibliography
• Citing Electronic Resources
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As you write your paper, your Professor may ask you to use the Author-Date System of CMS. This means you must cite your sources within the text of your paper.  These are called in-text or parenthetical citations. The natural and social sciences use this system most often, but again clarify with your professor if you are unsure which they would prefer.

Author-Date Sample Paper - OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab

For more Examples or for more obscure or confusing citations refer to the seventeenth edition of  The Chicago Manual of Style.

The Text Citations include two pieces of information, Last Name of Creator and Year Published. 

The general citation for citing an entire source should look as such:  

(Last Name Year)

For citing specific pages:

(Last Name Year, Page Numbers)

For more than one author:

(Last Name, Last Name, and Last Name Year)

(Last Name et al Year)

For Multiple Same Last Names:

(First Initial. Last Name Year)

• Author-Date References Basics A cheatsheet for CMOS Author-Date style.

A reference list must always accompany the text citations. The reference list is included at the end of the paper and includes the full citation for each source.

Style Guidelines

• Title of Page should be centered and plain text, not bold, italicized, or in quotation marks
• As with the rest of the paper the margins should be no less that .5 inches and no more than 1 inch on all sides
• Individual citations should be single spaced and each single spaced citation should be double spaced between the next entry.
• Font style and size should be consistent with the rest of the paper

Book (1 author)

Last, First M.  Book . City: Publisher, Year Published.

Last, First M. “Section Title.” In  Book/Anthology , edited by First M. Last, Page(s). Edition ed. City: Publisher, Year Published.

Last, First M., and First M. Last. “Article Title.”  Journal Title , Series, Volume, no. Issue (Month Date, Year Published): Page(s).

Last, First M. “Article Title.”  Magazine Title , Month Date, Year Published.

Last, First M. “Article Title.”  Newspaper Title  (City), Month Date, Year Published

TV & Film

Lastname, Firstname.  Title of Work . Format. Directed/Performed by Firstname Lastname. Original Release Year. City: Studio/Distributor, Video release year. Medium.

Web Sources

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Web Page.”  Publishing Organization or Name of Website in Italics . Publication date and/or access date if available. URL.

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APA Citation Style

• APA 7th Edition Overview
• ...Articles?
• ...Websites?
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Date Definition

APA defines the 'date' element as the  publication  date (American Psychological Association, 2019, p. 289). 

There are 5 forms to format the date:

• Year, month, and day 
• Year and month
• Year and season
• Date ranges 

The reference category of the work you are trying to cite will determine how the date is formatted. The most common way to cite the date of a work is with solely the year. However, digital resources are typically the exception. 

General rules:

• Enclose the date within parentheses for both in-text citations and for the reference list.
• For the date in the reference list, enclose the date with parentheses and follow with a period. 
• For dates with month values spell out the name of the month
• For books use the copyright date 
• For journals use the journal's year of volume 
• For works with no date, use "(n.d.)" with no spaces between the 'n' or 'd.' Use for in-text citations and in the reference list
• (2021, September 9)
• (2021, Spring)

See pp. 289-291 in APA Seventh Edition

Online Media

The Online Media category as defined by APA includes webpages, websites, and social media. Here are a few rules about the date format:

• Do not use the copyright date in the webpage footer, unless it is known that it pertains to the cited content
• Use more precise dates for sources published/updated more frequently (e.g. blog posts)

For updated or reviewed works

• Do not use the 'last reviewed' date
• Use the "last updated" date, if it pertains to the content you are citing

Morey, M. C. (2019). Physical activity and exercise in older adults. UpToDate.  Retrieved July, 22, 2019, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/physical-activity-and-exercise-in-older-adults

*Example taken from p. 319 of APA Seventh Edition

**For best practices for constantly updated sources, especially social media posts, cite the archived version of the webpage

See pp. 290, 329 in APA Seventh Edition

Unpublished or Informally published

• Do not record information about publication status. Use the production date for the date for informally published works
• Smith, J. (in press). Title of work. Journal name 1 (2), pp 1-14. http//doi.thisisawebsite.org. 
• Smith (in press) is researching...
• The research shows that 15% of people chose option A (Smith, in press).

See p. 290 in  APA Seventh Edition

APA 7th Edition Manual

American Psychological Association . (2020).  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/000165-000

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Citation Guide: Chicago Manual of Style (Author/Date System)

The Chicago Manual of Style documentation system is used in both the humanities and the social sciences. A bit more complex than either the MLA or the APA, it offers two approaches for documenting sources: 1) a notes system and, 2) an author/date system similar to the APA. This guide explains the Author/Date system. A separate guide explains the Chicago Manual of Style (Notes System) .

Inserted at the point of reference, an in-text parenthetical citation containing the author's name and the date of publication interacts with the end documentation by pointing to a specific entry on the References List page.

Notes, similar to those used in the CMS Notes System, may be used in the Author/Date system, but only to provide further information about a particular idea. They do not replace entries found in the References List which contains the bibliographic information required to properly cite your sources. Check with your instructor on what is expected when you are asked to use this style.

This guide is largely based on style recommendations from the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style.

[Guide Updated April 2022]

Citing Sources within Your Document

The CMS Author/Date in-text citation system follows a parenthetical format rather than the superscripted numbers found in the CMS Notes system. Much like the APA, it emphasizes authors and dates of publication, both of which are important benchmarks denoting relevancy and validity in the social and the natural sciences.

In some cases, chapters, paragraphs and page numbers are required. Regardless of contents, the parenthetic citation should immediately follow the cited material within a sentence and before the period if it is at the end of the sentence. In the case of quoted material, the citation is placed between the final quotation mark and the period at the end of the sentence.

CMS In-Text Formatting Rules

CMS Author/Date in-text formatting rules are as follows:

• A space, not a comma, should separate the author's name and the year of publication.
• Page numbers are included only when part of a source or a direct quotation is cited. Abbreviations ("p." or "pp.") are not required.
• Footnotes and endnotes are used only when there is a need to provide further information about a particular idea or when specific copyright permission needs to be documented.

Specific rules depend on whether part or all of a source is being cited as well as whether or not the author's name is mentioned in the sentence where the citation occurs.

Examples of In-Text Formatting Rules

Citing an entire source.

When citing an entire work, document the last name of the author and the year of publication. No page numbers are necessary. The citation format will vary according to whether the author's name is mentioned in the sentence being cited.

1. Citing an Entire Source: Author Name Not Included in Preceding Sentence

Format: Cite both the last name of the author and the publication date. The citation is placed in parentheses directly following the information being cited. When the citation falls at the end of the sentence, the parenthetical note precedes the end punctuation (period). There is a space, not a comma, between the author's name and the date.

In a recent study of sustainable management techniques (Myers 1997)... 

2. Citing an Entire Source: Author Name Included in Preceding Sentence

Format: When the author's name is mentioned in the sentence, you may omit this name from the parentheses to avoid redundancy, using only the date. The date (in parentheses) should follow the author's name. In cases where the source itself is being cited rather than the author, the parentheses around the date may be omitted.

Example One:

Myers (1997) compared sustainable management techniques...

Example Two:

In Myers 1997, sustainable management techniques are compared to more conventional practices.

Citing Part of a Source

When citing a specific part of a source, document the last name of the author, the year of publication and the page numbers (or chapter, section, line numbers, etc.) where the cited material may be found.

3. Citing Part of a Source

Format: When the citation falls at the end of the sentence, the parenthetical note precedes the end punctuation (period). One space separates the author's name from the date, and one comma separates the date from the page number (or chapter, etc.). Page abbreviations like "p." or "pp." are used only when their absence is likely to cause confusion. Abbreviations such as sec. (section), fig. (figure), app. (appendix), etc., should be used, however.

Because of the underdevelopment of the racial theme, Bright Skin was said to have "failed to feed the growing appetite for anti-establishment tracts while at the same time offering no new insights into the nature of Blue Brook Plantation" (Landess 1976, 121).

Examples of Variations to In-Text Formatting Rules

1. Citing Sources with No Date

Format: When you cite a source that has no date given, include in parentheses the name of the author and the abbreviation "n.d." ("no date").

This has occurred in previous experiments (Phelps & Gomez, n.d.).

2. Citing Sources with Unnamed, Uncertain or Anonymous Authors

Format: When no author is listed on the tile or copyright page, begin the entry with the title of the work. In the bibliography, alphabetize the entry by the first word other than A, An, or The .

Letting Ana Go (New York: Simon Pulse, 2013), 118-20.

Letting Ana Go . New York: Simon Pulse, 2013.

3. Citing Electronic (Web site or Internet) Sources

Format: An electronic source is cited like any other source when the entire source is cited: Author's Last Name and Date of Publication are mentioned. However, in cases where specific parts of the electronic source are cited, documentation of the particular paragraph number or section heading where the cited material may be found is recommended.

Mendelson, Abby. “Roberto Clemente: A Form of Punishment.” Pittsburg Pirates. MLB.com. May 24, 2013. http://mlb.mlb.com/pit/history/pit_clemente.jsp.

4. Citing Authors with Same Last Name in References List

Format: Include first name initials of all in-text cited authors when other authors in your References List have the same last name.

K.K. Sullivan (1962) and D. Sullivan (1996) came to similar conclusions about the effects of this treatment method.

5. Citing Sources Not Included in the References List

Format: Unpublished manuscripts, letters and newspaper articles, etc. may be cited within the in-text parenthetical citation or in the actual text itself.

Paul Nesbitt (telephone interview, 19 August 2016) expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed plan.

In a letter dated 12 August 2016, Nesbitt indicated to his daughter that a new plan was being presented to the County Commissioners.

6. Citing Sources with More than One Author

Format, Sources with Two or Three Authors: List the authors in the order in which they appear on the title page. In a note, list the first name for each author first. In the bibliography, list the first author’s last name first and list the first names for each other author first.

Jerin, Robert A., and Laura J. Moriarty. The Victims of Crime . Upper Saddle river, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2010.

Format, Sources with Four or More Authors: In a note, give only the first author’s name followed by “et al.” (Latin for “and others”). In the bibliography, list all the authors that appear on the title page.

Harry Markopolos et al., No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2010). 179.

Markopolos, Harry, Frank Casey, Neil Chelo, Gaytri Kachroo, and Michael Ocrant. No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller . Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2010.

Note: An alternative would be to include a shortened title following the "Author et al.", in every instance of the same "Author et al." occurring.

(Nesbitt et al., Neighborhood associations , 2015)

(Nesbitt et al., Zoning laws , 2015)

7. Citing Sources Authored by a Group or Corporation

Format: Use the group or corporation as the author; it may also be the publisher.

Where the References List entry looks like:

Bas Bleu Theatre Company. 2014. 2014 NEA Grant Application for …

The first in-text citation will look like:

The grant proposal (Bas Bleu Theatre Company [BBTC] 2014) was an important effort to support the arts in the community.

And a subsequent in-text citation will look like:

The proposal requested new and increased salaries for theatre staff (BBTC 2014).

8. Citing Two or More Sources in the Same Parenthesis

Format, Two or More Sources by Same Author: When you are citing two or more works by the same author in one parenthetical note, list the name of the author only once, followed by the publication dates of the various works in order of year of publication.

Psychologists have arrived at this conclusion in the past (Tripp, 2004, 2010, 2016).

Format, Two or More Sources Published by Same Author in Same Year: When, in one parenthetical note, you are citing two or more works by the same author published in the same year, be sure to distinguish between the two by assigning them letter suffixes ("a," "b," etc.). These designations will be consistent with those you have given the works in the reference list.

Past research (Johnson 2013a, 2013b) has revealed interesting patterns.

Format, Two or More Sources by Different Authors: When you refer to works by different authors within the same parenthetical note, separate them by using semicolons.

Several studies (Evens 2005; Dorer 2014; Bundy 2014) have contributed to our current understanding of this phenomenon.

Citing Sources at the End of Your Document

The end documentation in the CMS Author/Date system is the References List page. It is located at the end of a document or book and contains all the bibliographic information needed to find out more about cited source material.

This list is a selective bibliography and does not include a full accounting of sources related to or consulted before you began writing your document, but only those actually cited.

Proper CMS documentation depends on the References List . Without it the in-text numbers would make little sense as they would no longer be pointing at any corresponding entries in the end documentation.

Formatting Citations

CMS References List formatting rules call for the end documentation to begin on a new page at the end of your document and be numbered accordingly. If your document is 6½ pages long, the Notes page should begin on page 8.

Note: Unless informed otherwise, you can count on your instructor not counting the References List page in the total page count of an eight page assignment.

The page itself should be formatted in the following way:

• The title-References List-should be centered one inch from the top of the page. This may also be called a Literature Cited or Works Cited page.
• Double space between the title and first entry; all subsequent entries should be single spaced.
• Arrange entries alphabetically, according to authors' last names.

Individual entries should be formatted in the following way:

• The first line of each entry should be flush-left while any subsequent lines are indented five spaces.
• LastName, FirstName. Year.  Title of Work.  Location: Publisher.
• Use the "down" or "sentence style" for titles and subtitles, capitalizing only the first letter of the first word, as well as any proper nouns and adjectives that are included.

1. Book with Unknown Author(s)

References List Format : When no author is listed on the title or copyright page, begin the entry with the title of the work followed by the date of publication. In the bibliography, alphabetize the entry by the first word other than A, An, or The .

Lucy in the Sky. 2012. New York: Simon and Schuster.

References List Format : Use the corporation or group as the author; it may also be the publisher.

Microsoft Corporation. 2003.  Microsoft Windows 2000 Scripting Guide: Automating System Administration. Hoboken: Microsoft Press.

References List Format : When citing a book, use the information from the title page and the copyright page (on the reverse side of the title page), not from the book’s cover or a library catalog.

Mengestu, Dinaw. 2007.  The Beautiful Thing That Heaven Bears. New York: Riverhead Books.

Note: Names must always appear in the same order as found on the Title page of the work being cited.

References List Format : List the authors in the order in which they appear on the title page. In a note, list the first name for each author first. In the bibliography, list the first author’s last name first and list the first names for each other author first.

Kaufman, Amie, and Meagan Spooner. 2022.  Beyond the End of the World. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Note: Names must always appear in the same order, separated by commas, as found on the Title page of the work being cited.

References List Format : First Author-Last Name first. Next Author(s)-First Names or initials first. Year of Publication. Book Title-in italics. Number ed.-when applicable. Place of Publication: Name of Publisher.

Alred, Gerald J., Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu. 2003. The Business Writer's Handbook. 7th ed. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

References List Format (Editor) : List the author at the beginning of the citation and add the editor’s name after the title. In notes, use the abbreviation “ed.” before the editor’s name. In the bibliography, include the phrase “Edited by” before the editor’s name.

Lewis, Matthew. 2016.  The Monk. Edited by Howard Anderson. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

References List Format (Translator) : List the author first and the translator after the title. Use the abbreviation “trans.” in a note, but spell out “Translated by” in the bibliography.

Lessing, Gotthold E. 2004.  Nathan the Wise. Translated by Ronald Schechter. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's.

References List Format : To cite an entire anthology or collection of articles, give the editor(s) before the title of the collection, adding a comma and the abbreviation “ed.” or “eds.”

Dove, Rita, ed. 2011. The Penguin Anthology of Twentieth Century American Poetry . New York: Penguin Books.

References List Format : Give the author and title (in quotation marks) for the chapter or selection. Then give the title, editor (if any), and publication data for the book or anthology. In the bibliography, give the inclusive page numbers before the publication data, separated by a comma.

Boully, Jenny. 2003. “ The Body. ” In The Next American Essay , 437-466. Minneapolis: Gray Wolf Press.

9. Chapter in an Unedited Book

References List Format : Author-Last Name first. Year of Publication. Chapter Title-No quotation marks-No italics. Chap. Number-if applicable. In Book Title-in italics. Place of Publication: Name of Publisher.

Barad, Karen. 2007. Agential Realism: How Material Discursive Practices Matter. Chap. 4 in Meeting the Universe Halfway.  Durham and London: Duke University Press.

References List Format : Give edition information after the title.

McDonald, Russ. 2001.  The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare. 2 nd  ed. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

References List Format : Place the original publication date after the original author's name. Include the date of re-publication after the editor's name.

Austen, Jane. 1813.  Pride and Prejudice. Edited by James Kinsley. 2008. Reprint, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

Note: Citations of sacred texts such as the Christian Bible, Islam's Holy Qur'an and the Hebrew Torah generally occur only in the in-text citation and are not included in the References List. Please refer to the CMS Notes Examples of In-Text Formatting Rules for more information.

References List Format : In the notes, give the volume number and page number, separated by a colon, for the specific location of the information referred to in your text. In the bibliography, if you have used all of the volumes, give the total number of volumes after the title, using the abbreviation “vols.” (“2 vols.” or “4 vols.”). If you have used one volume, give the abbreviation “Vol.” and the volume number after the title.

Canterbury, Dave. 2015.  Advanced Bush Craft: An Expert Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival . Vol 2. Avon: Adams Media.

References List Format : Give the title of the volume to which you refer, followed by the volume number and the general title for the entire work.

Rozell, Matthew A. 2017  The Things our Fathers Saw, 1944-1945. Vol 2 of War in the Air. Hartford: Woodchuck Hollow Press.

References List Format : The series name follows the title and is capitalized as a title but is not italicized. If the series numbers its volumes, include that information as well.

Jordan, Jay. 2022.  Grounded Literacies in a Transnational WAC/WIC Ecology: A Korean-U.S. Study.  International Exchanges on the Study of Writing Series. Fort Collins: The WAC Clearinghouse. https://doi.org/10.37514/INT-B.2022.1503.

References List Format : For a book without publication information, use the following format: Author-Last Name first. n.d.  Book Title – in italics . N.p.

Biv, Roy G. n.d.  On learning the color spectrum. N.p.

References List Format : Give the name of the writer of the foreword, introduction, preface, or afterword followed by the appropriate phrase (“introduction to,” “preface to,” and so on) before the title of the book. If the writer of the introduction or other part differs from the writer of the book, after the title insert the word “by” and the author’s name.

Tracy, Robert. 2008. Introduction to In a Glass Darkly , vii-xxviii. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Journals, Magazines and Newspapers

1. Journal Article with Consecutive Pagination

Note: Consecutive Pagination means that each new issue of a Journal begins with the page number that follows the last page number in the previous issue. In other words, the page numbers run consecutively from issue to issue.

References List Format : Give the author (last name first) followed by the year of publication then the article title. Include the name of the journal (in italics) followed by the v olume number, the issue number (if available) and page number(s). End with the DOI (if available). The DOI should be in a URL format, beginning with "https://doi.org/".

Harrington, Marua G. 2004."'My Narrative': the Story of the Non-Disinterested Narrator in Poe's 'Hop-Frog'."  The Edgar Allan Poe Review  5, no.1 (Spring): 91-99.

Note: Non-Consecutive Pagination means that each new issue of a Journal begins with page 1 and not with the number that follows the last page number in the previous issue, as is the case with consecutive pagination.

References List Format : Begin with the author (last name first) followed by the year of publication, the article title and the name of the journal (in italics). Include the volume number, the issue number and end with the article page number(s).

Clifford, James. 1983. On Ethnographic Authority. Representations 1, no. 2:118-46.

References List Format : Cite like a monthly magazine (see next format), but provide the day of publication.

Bates, Josiah. March 25, 2022. "Why the FBI Won't Release Quarterly Crime Stats for 2021.” Time Magazine .

References List Format : Magazines are cited by their dates rather than by volume and issue.

Bertz, Matt. February 2017. “Virtual Reality is Still Waiting for its Software Savior.” Game Informer , 22-30.

Note: When no author by-line exists, begin with the Article Title and proceed as shown above. This case also illustrates a magazine with a volume number but not an issue number.

References List Format : Begin with the author (last name first) followed by the year of publication, the article title, the magazine title (in italics), the volume number and or issue. End with the page number(s) when citing specific portions or quoted passages.

A passing race. 1929. Canadian Magazine , 71:34.

Note: In most cases, newspaper articles are cited in running text and are not included in the References List; however, when you do, follow the example below. When no author by-line exists, begin with the Article Title rather than the author's name.

References List Format : If the name of the newspaper does not include the city, insert the city before the name (and italicize it). If an American city is not well known, name the state as well (in parentheses, abbreviated). Identify newspapers from other countries with the city in parentheses (not italicized) after the name of the newspaper. Page number may be omitted, since separate editions of the same newspaper may place articles differently. If a paper comes out in more than one edition, identify the edition after the date.

Zito, Kelly. “Cities Key Source of Toxins in Bay, Study Finds.” San Francisco Chronicle , October 5, 2010, Bay Area Edition.

Note: When not part of the newspaper title, include name of American city, in italics, along with the rest of the title, as shown here:

Denver Rocky Mountain News

Note: When city name is not well known, or there is more than one city in America with the same name, include the state abbreviation, in parenthesis and not italicized, as shown here:

Ashtabula , (OH) Star-Beacon

Note: Follow the title of foreign newspapers with its hometown name, in parenthesis and not italicized, as shown here:

Sunday Times (London)

References List Format : Give the author of the review title, if any, and then the words “review of” followed by the title and the author of the work reviewed and the author or editor (for books) or director or performer (for movies, plays, and similar productions).

Holden, Stephen. “Students Caught in the School Squeeze.” Review of Waiting for Superman , directed by Davis Guggenheim. New York Times , September 23, 2010.

References List Format : If no author is given, begin the note with the title of the article; begin the bibliography entry with the title of the periodical.

Boston Globe. “NYC May Ban Smoking in Parks, on Beaches.” Boston Globe September 16, 2010.

9. Citing a Letter to the Editor

References List Format : Treat as a newspaper article. If no title is provided, place “Letter to the editor” in the title position.

Levi, Jason. Letter to the editor. Smithsonian , June 2016.

Dissertations and Theses

1. Published Dissertation or Thesis

Note: Include the phrase, "Ph.D. diss." or "Master's thesis" before the name of the degree granting institution.

References List Format : Give the author and year, then the title, followed by the phrase “PhD diss.” or “master’s thesis,” and any information about the institution that granted the degree. End with the DOI if one is available.

Hill, Chaney E. 2018.  The Nonhuman Write Back: Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Short Stories . master's thesis, Boise State University, https://doi.org/10.18122/td/1389/boisestate.

References List Format : Give the author and year, then the title, followed by the phrase “PhD diss.” or “master’s thesis,” and any information about the institution that granted the degree.

Lopez, Lope. 2010. “Untimely Figures: Edgar Allan Poe, Journalism and the Literary Imagination.” PhD diss., University of Pittsburgh.

Note: Format like a Journal Article. Include the phrase, "Ph.D. diss." or "Master's thesis" before the name of the degree granting institution.

References List Format : Provide information as you would for an article in a journal. Add information about Dissertation Abstracts International.

Corwin, Elizabeth J. 1977. “Botanical Environments.” master's thesis, Colorado State University. Abstract: iii-iv.

Unpublished Manuscripts and Papers

1. Unpublished Document in a Manuscript Collection

References List Format : Include the document author (last name first), the document date (when available) followed by a description of the document including the collection name, the depository name and the depository location.

Peterkin, Julia. 1930. Letter to George Shively dated 18 October. Bobbs-Merrill Papers. Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Note: Papers appearing in the Published Proceedings of Meetings may be formatted in the same manner as a book.

References List Format : List the author (last name first), the year the paper was read, and the paper title. Include the phrase “Paper read” followed by the meeting name, the location, the day and month of the meeting.

Montgomery, M. Lorenzo. 1985. Dow Turner's early work on Gullah. Paper read at 9th Annual Symposium on Language and Culture, Columbia, SC, 27 April.

Interviews, Letters and Personal Communications

1. Published Interviews

Note: Consult The Chicago Manual of Style to format interviews appearing in other print and non-print mediums.

References List Format : Give the location and date in a note.

Rachel Stein, interview by author, Pittsburgh, June 2, 2014.

References List Format : Do not include unpublished interviews in the bibliography.

References List Format : Do not include personal communications such as letters or phone calls in the bibliography. In a note, give the name of the person with whom you communicated, the form of communication, and the date.

Megahn McKennan, conversation with author, March 5, 2014.

Sangita Thakore, letter to author, November 12, 2014

Electronic Sources

1. Portable Sources (CD-ROM's, Diskettes, Magnetic Tapes, etc.)

Note: Unlike online sources which exist on a computer service or network and are subject to continual revision, portable electronic sources are published and released at fixed points in time. Generally, these types of citations are done in running text within the document; however, they can be included in the References List. The following example is for a non-periodical portable source. The format for a periodical source is slightly different.

References List Format : Author or Editor-Last Name first. Year of Publication. Title- in italics if book title . Volume, edition, etc.-if appropriate. [Medium]. Place of Publication: Name of Publisher.

Sheehy, Donald, ed. 1997. Robert Frost: Poems, life, legacy . [CD-ROM]. New York: Holt.

References List Format : Program/Software Name: Identifying Version, level or release number and date-if available. Abbreviated Program/Software Name.-if applicable. Organization or Individual holding Property Rights, Location.

Electronic Supplements for Real Writing: 1. Interactive Writing Software Ver. 1. Bedford, Boston.

Digital Sources

All digital sources should include either a publication date, a revision or “last modified” date, or an access date. After the date, include a DOI (digital object identifier) or, if the source does not have a DOI, a stable URL. Ensure that all DOIs are also in a URL format. For a source accessed through a database, include the name of the database and any number assigned to the source.

1. Online Computer Services

References List Format : List the author or editor (last name first). List the title (italicize if it is a book title), the print publication information, the online publication information (including the computer service name), and finish with the accession number.

Note: The following source was obtained through the computer service "Dialog."

Wever, Katharine. 1998. In a painting, Gershwin packed the house. New York Times 30 August, late ed.: sec. 2, p. 30. Dialog, New York Times Fulltext 03819774.

2. Article from an Online Journal

References List  Format:

List the name of the author or editor followed by the date and title of the article in quotations, as well as the name of the journal in italics. Finally, include any information about the journal and end with the DOI or URL.

Ray, Brian. 2008. "A New World: Redefining the Legacy of Min-Zhan Lu.’” The Journal of Basic Writing  27, no. 2 . https://doi.org/10.37514/JBW-J.2008.27.2.06.

3. Article from an Online Database

List the author or editor followed by the date and the title of the article in quotations. Put the name of the journal in which the article was originally published in italics, then include any information about the journal. End with the name of the online database as well as the DOI or URL if available.

Abbasi, Pyeaam and Bahareh Azad. 2018. “Hamlet's Catch-22: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Hamlet and Catch-22.” Critical Survey  30, no. 3: 97-115. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48587699.

4. Article from a Website

.List the author and date of publication, followed by the title of the article in quotations. End with the name of the website and the URL

Rittenburg, Adam. 2022. “Final Four 2022: How Remy Martin went from afterthought to Kansas Jayhawks hero when it mattered most.” ESPN.  https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id?33615018.

5. Article Posted on a Wiki

References List Format :

List the name of the wiki site followed by the date of publication. Then, list the title of the article in quotations, the date the article was last modified, and the URL.

Wikipedia. 2022. "Diet Coke." Last Modified March 19, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_Coke.

6. Citing an Entire Blog

Put the word “blog” in parentheses following the name of the blog, if it is not already part of the name. If the blog is part of a larger publication, include the name of the publication as well.

McNamara, Pat. McNamara’s Blog: Musings of a Catholic Church Historian from Queens, New York. http://patheos.com/blogs/mcnamarasblog/.

7. Citing an Entry or Comment on a Blog

References List Format : Put the word “blog” in parentheses following the name of the blog, if it is not already part of the name. If the blog is part of a larger publication, include the name of the publication as well.

Winchell, Donna Haisty. “In Arizona, Is It Ethics or Economics?” Argument and the Headlines (blog). Bits: Ideas for Teaching Composition , March 3, 2014, http://blogs.bedfordstmartins.com/bits/author/donnaonbitsgmail-com/.

8. Citing an E-mail Message

References List Format : Chicago recommends that personal communication, including email, not be included in the bibliography, although it can be cited in your text. Note that the Chicago Manual prefers the hyphenated version of the word “e-mail.”

Brysa, H. Levy, e-mail message to author, January 4, 2014

9. Citing an Online Posting to a Discussion Group

References List Format : Like email, online postings are considered personal communication and are therefore listed in the text only, not in the bibliography. Include a URL for archived postings.

Alessandro, Busà to URBANTH-L discussion group, December 1, 2009, http://lists.cc.ysu.edu/pipermail/urbanth-l/2009-December/002761.html.

Audio and Video Recordings

1. Sound or Musical Recordings

Note: The elements in the following format (particularly composer and director) may be rearranged to suit your particular purposes. See Chicago Manual of Style for more examples.

References List Format : Give the composer and title of the recording, the performers and conductor, the label and identifying number.

Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich. Symphony No. 5, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Daniele Gatti. Harmonia Mundi, MU907381, compact disc.

References List Format : List the playwright (last name first), the title of the recording (in italics), director’s name, the performers’ or artists’ names, (first names first), the label and identifying number.

Shakespeare, William. Othello . Directed by Howerd Sackler. Performed by Frank Silvera, Celia Johnson, Cyril Cusack, Anna Massey, and others. Caedmon CDG 225. Audiotape.

References List Format : List the poet or prose writer (last name first), the recording title (in italics), the name of the reader (first name first) or the phrase “Read by Author”, the label and the recording number.

Eliot, T.S. Poems and Choruses . Read by author. Caedmon TC1045. Record album.

References List Format : List the lecture recorder (last name first), the year, the recording title (in italics), a brief description of the lecture, the phrase “presented by” followed by the name of the lecturer. Include the institution name, the location, the month and year of the lecture and any publication information (if applicable).

Nesbitt, L.M. 1995. Censorship . Audiotape of a lecture presented by Louann Reid at Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO, October 1995.

Note: The variety of visual and audiovisual materials now used by writers makes general formatting rules impossible. In these cases a description of the material, the name of the individual responsible for the material, and the information necessary to retrieve it should be included.

References List Format : Slide Show Producer-Last Name first. Year. Slide Show Title-in italics . Place of Production: Production Company Name. Slides.

Nesbitt, John. 1991. Europe by train . Knoxville, TN: Fabricated Production Company. Slides.

References List Format : Provide the title first, the name of the director, the company, the year it was filmed, the medium (film, videocassette, DVD).

Michael Jackson’s This Is It. Directed by Kenny Ortega. 2009 (2009; Culver City, CA: Sony Pictures, 2010) DVD.

Legal Materials

1. State and Federal Court Cases/Decisions

Note: State and federal court cases and decisions are normally cited in the running text of a document as in the example below. The Chicago Manual of Style provides no guidance for a References List entry.

In the 1923 case, Meyer v. State of Nebraska (262 U.S. 390), the Court handed down a decision that...

Note: State and federal constitutions are normally cited in the running text of a document as in the example below

Format : Give the state or country name. the article or amendment number and the subdivision number.

In the Wisconsin Constitution, art. 9, sec. 1...

Publications of Congress

1. Congressional Record/General Citation

References List Format : List the Congressional Record (in italics), the year, the abbreviated number of Congress, the abbreviated number of sessions, the volume number (numeral only) and the abbreviated pt. number. Include the page number(s) (if appropriate).

Congressional Record . 1995. 104th Cong., 1st sess. Vol. 141, pt. 26.

References List Format : List the Speaker’s name (last name first), the year, a brief description of the remarks, the resolution number (if appropriate), the abbreviated number of Congress, the abbreviated number of session, the phrase “Cong Rec” (abbreviated and in italics), the day, month, volume number, pt. number and page number(s) (if appropriate).

Kennedy, Edward. 1995. Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts reintroducing the Equal Remedies Act. 104th Cong., 1st sess. Cong. Rec. , 30 Jan., vol. 141, pt. 10.

References List Format : Congressional Body or Committee Name. Year. Report or Document Title-in italics . Number of Congress-abbreviated, Number of Session-abbreviated,. Document Number. Serial Number-if available.

U.S. Congress. 1982. South Dakota Water Resource Development . 97th Cong., 2d sess. S. Doc. 514. Serial 13452.

References List Format : List the Congressional body name, the name of the journal (in italics), the year, number of Congress (abbreviated), the number of sessions (abbreviated), the day, month and year. .

U.S. Congress. Senate Journal . 1996. 104th Cong., 2d sess., 20 February.

U.S. Senate Journal. 1996. 104th Cong., 2d sess., 20 February.

References List Format : List the Congressional body name, the year, the Committee name, the title of the Hearing (in italics), the abbreviated number of Congress, the abbreviated number of sessions, the day and month.

U.S. Senate. 1990. Committee on Foreign Relations. U.S. Policy in the Persian Gulf: Hearings before the Committee on Foreign Relations. 101st Cong., 2d sess. 4-5 December.

References List Format : List the Congressional body name, the year, the Committee name, the title of the report (in italics), the phrase “Report prepared by” followed by the name of the agency or department person(s), the abbreviated number of Congress, the abbreviated number of session, and the Committee Print number.

U.S. Senate. 1973. Committee on Public Works. Effects and methods of control of thermal discharges. Report prepared by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. 93rd Cong., 1st sess. Committee Print 14.

Note: Congressional bills and resolutions are normally cited in the running text of a document, however, when included in the References List, follow the example below.

References List Format : List the Congressional body name, the year, the Bill or Resolution title (in italics), the abbreviated number of Congress, abbreviated number of session, the Bill or Resolution number, the phrase “Congressional Record” (in italics), and record information (if applicable).

U.S. House. 1995. Interstate Child Support Enforcement Act . 104th Cong., 1st sess., H.R. 195. Congressional Record , 241, no. 4, daily ed. (9 January): H168.

References List Format : List the name of Law (when available; in italics), the U.S. Public Law numbers, the abbreviated number of Congress, the abbreviated number of session, the day, month and year.

U.S. Public Law 105-258. 105th Cong., 2d sess., 14 October 1998.

References List Format : List U.S. Statutes at Large (in italics), the year, the volume number, the page number(s) and the name of the law (when available; in italics).

U.S. Statutes at Large . 1888. Vol. 25, p. 476.

References List Format : List the law, statute, or act title (in italics), U.S. Code (in italics), the volume number and the section number.

Farm Credit Act . 1959. U.S. Code Annotated . Vol. 42, sec. 410.

Presidential Documents

1. Proclamations and Executive Orders

References List Format : President. Year. Proclamation or Executive Order. Proclamation or Executive Order Title. Federal Register-in italics Number, Issue Number (Day Month):-in parenthesis: Page Number(s). Medium-if applicable.

President. 1954. Proclamation. Display of the flag of the United States of America at half-staff upon the death of certain officials and former officials. Federal Register 19, no. 3 (1 March): 1235. Microfiche.

References List Format : Document Title-in italics . Number of Congress-abbreviated, Number of Session-abbreviated. In Compilation of the messages and papers of the presidents, 1789-1897-in italics . Edited by Name of Editor-First Name First. Vol. Number. Washington, D.C.: GPO, Year of Publication.

References List Format : President-Last Name first. Year. Public papers of the presidents of the United States: President-First Name first, Term in Office. Vol. Number. Washington, D.C.: GPO, Year of Publication-no parenthesis.

Carter, Jimmy. 1981. Public papers of the presidents of the United States: Jimmy Carter, 1980-81. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C.: GPO.

Government Documents and Publications

1. Executive Department Publications

References List Format : In general, give the issuing body, then the title and any other information (such as report numbers) that would help your readers locate the source. Follow with the publication data and the page numbers if relevant. You may abbreviate “Government Printing Office” as GPO.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit and Rural Development of the Committee on Agriculture, U.S. House of Representatives. 1991. Attorney-client privilege and the right of congressional access to documents for oversight purposes in the case of the suspension of the telephone loan programs by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Washington, D.C.: GPO.

References List Format : Commission Name. Year. Publication Title-in italics . Washington, D.C.: GPO.

U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 1977/78. Annual report of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Washington, D.C.: GPO.

References List Format : Department or Issuing Body. Year of Treaty. Treaty Title. Day Month of Treaty. TIAS Number. Publication Name-in italics. Vol. Number, Part Number-if text instead of microform.

U.S. Department of State. 1989. Tourism. 3 October. TIAS no. 12403. United States treaties and other international agreements.

References List Format : Name of Issuing Body. Year. Report Title-in italics. Place.

Colorado General Assembly, Colorado Commission on Higher Education. 1996. 1996 Legislative report on higher education admission standards. Denver.

Note: State laws or municipal ordinances are normally cited in the running text, although compilations of state laws (codes) or municipal ordinances may be cited in the References List.

References List Format : State or Municipal Name, Year. State Laws or Municipal Compilation Title-in italics. (Editor Name)-in parenthesis.

Colorado. 1974. Revised Statutes, Annotated (Michie Co.).

How to Arrange Reference List Entries

1. Unknown, Uncertain or Anonymous Authors

Note: Organize alphabetically and avoid using "Anonymous". When a work is of unknown origin, use the first word of its title, excluding definite or indefinite articles which may be transposed to the end of the title.

When the author's name is known but does not appear on the title page place it before the title as you would normally, but in [brackets]. When the author's name is uncertain, indicate so with a question mark inside the [brackets?].

Parsons, Elsie Clews. [1923] 1969. Folk-lore of the Sea Islands, South Carolina. Reprint, Chicago: Afro-Am Press.

Passing Race, A. 1929. Canadian Magazine .

Peterkin, Julia. 1927. Black April . Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co.

[Joe Schmoe?]. Passing Race, A, 1929. Canadian Magazine.

Note: Single author works always precede co-authored works.

Shor, Ira. 1986. Culture wars: School and society in the conservative restoration, 1969-1982. Boston: Routledge and K. Paul.

Shor, Ira. and Paul Friere. 1987. A pedagogy of liberation: Dialogues on transforming education. New York: Bergin and Garvey.

The three-em dash serves the same purpose as "ditto" marks. When an author appears consecutively, associated with different titles, a three-em dash (---) may replace the name after the first entry.

Each work is then organized in chronological order, by publication date. In the event of two works being published in the same year, add a lowercase letter following the date and alphabetize the entries by title.

Nesbitt, P.B. 1998a. Zoning laws and neighborhood crises. Knoxville, TN: Wachese Press.

---. 1998b. The role of neighborhood associations in urban development battles. Knoxville, TN: Wachese Press.

Additional CMS Author/Date Resources

Printed Resources:

University of Chicago Press. The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers . 14th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993.

University of Chicago Press. The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers . 15th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.

University of Chicago Press.  The Chicago Manual of Style,  17th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017. https://doi.org/10.7208/cmos17.

Turabian, K. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations . 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.

Electronic Resources:

The official Chicago Manual of Style website, updated regularly, is the comprehensive guide to all things CMS: the organization, its journals, products and services.

Mississippi University for Women - ' Chicago Citation Guide '

University of Washington Libraries - ' Citing Sources: Chicago Author-Date Style '

Bennett, Andrea, Will Allen, Peter Connor, Heidi Scott, & Laurel Nesbitt. (1994-2022). Citation Guide: Chicago Manual of Style (Author/Date System).  Writing@CSU . Colorado State University.  https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=10

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Home » How to Cite Research Paper – All Formats and Examples

How to Cite Research Paper – All Formats and Examples

Table of Contents

Research Paper Citation

Research paper citation refers to the act of acknowledging and referencing a previously published work in a scholarly or academic paper . When citing sources, researchers provide information that allows readers to locate the original source, validate the claims or arguments made in the paper, and give credit to the original author(s) for their work.

The citation may include the author’s name, title of the publication, year of publication, publisher, and other relevant details that allow readers to trace the source of the information. Proper citation is a crucial component of academic writing, as it helps to ensure accuracy, credibility, and transparency in research.

How to Cite Research Paper

There are several formats that are used to cite a research paper. Follow the guide for the Citation of a Research Paper:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example : Smith, John. The History of the World. Penguin Press, 2010.

Journal Article

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers.

Example : Johnson, Emma. “The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture.” Environmental Science Journal, vol. 10, no. 2, 2019, pp. 45-59.

Research Paper

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Paper.” Conference Name, Location, Date of Conference.

Example : Garcia, Maria. “The Importance of Early Childhood Education.” International Conference on Education, Paris, 5-7 June 2018.

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Webpage.” Website Title, Publisher, Date of Publication, URL.

Example : Smith, John. “The Benefits of Exercise.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 1 March 2022, https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-exercise.

News Article

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Name of Newspaper, Date of Publication, URL.

Example : Robinson, Sarah. “Biden Announces New Climate Change Policies.” The New York Times, 22 Jan. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/climate/biden-climate-change-policies.html.

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of book. Publisher.

Example: Smith, J. (2010). The History of the World. Penguin Press.

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), page range.

Example: Johnson, E., Smith, K., & Lee, M. (2019). The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture. Environmental Science Journal, 10(2), 45-59.

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of paper. In Editor First Initial. Last Name (Ed.), Title of Conference Proceedings (page numbers). Publisher.

Example: Garcia, M. (2018). The Importance of Early Childhood Education. In J. Smith (Ed.), Proceedings from the International Conference on Education (pp. 60-75). Springer.

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of webpage. Website name. URL

Example: Smith, J. (2022, March 1). The Benefits of Exercise. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-exercise

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of article. Newspaper name. URL.

Example: Robinson, S. (2021, January 22). Biden Announces New Climate Change Policies. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/climate/biden-climate-change-policies.html

Chicago/Turabian style

Please note that there are two main variations of the Chicago style: the author-date system and the notes and bibliography system. I will provide examples for both systems below.

Author-Date system:

• In-text citation: (Author Last Name Year, Page Number)
• Reference list: Author Last Name, First Name. Year. Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher.
• In-text citation: (Smith 2005, 28)
• Reference list: Smith, John. 2005. The History of America. New York: Penguin Press.

Notes and Bibliography system:

• Footnote/Endnote citation: Author First Name Last Name, Title of Book (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page Number.
• Bibliography citation: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.
• Footnote/Endnote citation: John Smith, The History of America (New York: Penguin Press, 2005), 28.
• Bibliography citation: Smith, John. The History of America. New York: Penguin Press, 2005.

JOURNAL ARTICLES:

• Reference list: Author Last Name, First Name. Year. “Article Title.” Journal Title Volume Number (Issue Number): Page Range.
• In-text citation: (Johnson 2010, 45)
• Reference list: Johnson, Mary. 2010. “The Impact of Social Media on Society.” Journal of Communication 60(2): 39-56.
• Footnote/Endnote citation: Author First Name Last Name, “Article Title,” Journal Title Volume Number, Issue Number (Year): Page Range.
• Bibliography citation: Author Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Journal Title Volume Number, Issue Number (Year): Page Range.
• Footnote/Endnote citation: Mary Johnson, “The Impact of Social Media on Society,” Journal of Communication 60, no. 2 (2010): 39-56.
• Bibliography citation: Johnson, Mary. “The Impact of Social Media on Society.” Journal of Communication 60, no. 2 (2010): 39-56.

RESEARCH PAPERS:

• Reference list: Author Last Name, First Name. Year. “Title of Paper.” Conference Proceedings Title, Location, Date. Publisher, Page Range.
• In-text citation: (Jones 2015, 12)
• Reference list: Jones, David. 2015. “The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Paris, France, June 1-3, 2015. Springer, 10-20.
• Footnote/Endnote citation: Author First Name Last Name, “Title of Paper,” Conference Proceedings Title, Location, Date (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page Range.
• Bibliography citation: Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Paper.” Conference Proceedings Title, Location, Date. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.
• Footnote/Endnote citation: David Jones, “The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture,” Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Paris, France, June 1-3, 2015 (New York: Springer, 10-20).
• Bibliography citation: Jones, David. “The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Paris, France, June 1-3, 2015. New York: Springer, 10-20.
• In-text citation: (Author Last Name Year)
• Reference list: Author Last Name, First Name. Year. “Title of Webpage.” Website Name. URL.
• In-text citation: (Smith 2018)
• Reference list: Smith, John. 2018. “The Importance of Recycling.” Environmental News Network. https://www.enn.com/articles/54374-the-importance-of-recycling.
• Footnote/Endnote citation: Author First Name Last Name, “Title of Webpage,” Website Name, URL (accessed Date).
• Bibliography citation: Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Webpage.” Website Name. URL (accessed Date).
• Footnote/Endnote citation: John Smith, “The Importance of Recycling,” Environmental News Network, https://www.enn.com/articles/54374-the-importance-of-recycling (accessed April 8, 2023).
• Bibliography citation: Smith, John. “The Importance of Recycling.” Environmental News Network. https://www.enn.com/articles/54374-the-importance-of-recycling (accessed April 8, 2023).

NEWS ARTICLES:

• Reference list: Author Last Name, First Name. Year. “Title of Article.” Name of Newspaper, Month Day.
• In-text citation: (Johnson 2022)
• Reference list: Johnson, Mary. 2022. “New Study Finds Link Between Coffee and Longevity.” The New York Times, January 15.
• Footnote/Endnote citation: Author First Name Last Name, “Title of Article,” Name of Newspaper (City), Month Day, Year.
• Bibliography citation: Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Name of Newspaper (City), Month Day, Year.
• Footnote/Endnote citation: Mary Johnson, “New Study Finds Link Between Coffee and Longevity,” The New York Times (New York), January 15, 2022.
• Bibliography citation: Johnson, Mary. “New Study Finds Link Between Coffee and Longevity.” The New York Times (New York), January 15, 2022.

Harvard referencing style

Format: Author’s Last name, First initial. (Year of publication). Title of book. Publisher.

Example: Smith, J. (2008). The Art of War. Random House.

Journal article:

Format: Author’s Last name, First initial. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of journal, volume number(issue number), page range.

Example: Brown, M. (2012). The impact of social media on business communication. Harvard Business Review, 90(12), 85-92.

Research paper:

Format: Author’s Last name, First initial. (Year of publication). Title of paper. In Editor’s First initial. Last name (Ed.), Title of book (page range). Publisher.

Example: Johnson, R. (2015). The effects of climate change on agriculture. In S. Lee (Ed.), Climate Change and Sustainable Development (pp. 45-62). Springer.

Format: Author’s Last name, First initial. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of page. Website name. URL.

Example: Smith, J. (2017, May 23). The history of the internet. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-the-internet

News article:

Format: Author’s Last name, First initial. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of article. Title of newspaper, page number (if applicable).

Example: Thompson, E. (2022, January 5). New study finds coffee may lower risk of dementia. The New York Times, A1.

IEEE Format

Author(s). (Year of Publication). Title of Book. Publisher.

Smith, J. K. (2015). The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Random House.

Journal Article:

Author(s). (Year of Publication). Title of Article. Title of Journal, Volume Number (Issue Number), page numbers.

Johnson, T. J., & Kaye, B. K. (2016). Interactivity and the Future of Journalism. Journalism Studies, 17(2), 228-246.

Author(s). (Year of Publication). Title of Paper. Paper presented at Conference Name, Location.

Jones, L. K., & Brown, M. A. (2018). The Role of Social Media in Political Campaigns. Paper presented at the 2018 International Conference on Social Media and Society, Copenhagen, Denmark.

• Website: Author(s) or Organization Name. (Year of Publication or Last Update). Title of Webpage. Website Name. URL.

Example: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2019, August 29). NASA’s Mission to Mars. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/journeytomars/index.html

• News Article: Author(s). (Year of Publication). Title of Article. Name of News Source. URL.

Example: Johnson, M. (2022, February 16). Climate Change: Is it Too Late to Save the Planet? CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/16/world/climate-change-planet-scn/index.html

Vancouver Style

In-text citation: Use superscript numbers to cite sources in the text, e.g., “The study conducted by Smith and Johnson^1 found that…”.

Reference list citation: Format: Author(s). Title of book. Edition if any. Place of publication: Publisher; Year of publication.

Example: Smith J, Johnson L. Introduction to Molecular Biology. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley-Blackwell; 2015.

In-text citation: Use superscript numbers to cite sources in the text, e.g., “Several studies have reported that^1,2,3…”.

Reference list citation: Format: Author(s). Title of article. Abbreviated name of journal. Year of publication; Volume number (Issue number): Page range.

Example: Jones S, Patel K, Smith J. The effects of exercise on cardiovascular health. J Cardiol. 2018; 25(2): 78-84.

In-text citation: Use superscript numbers to cite sources in the text, e.g., “Previous research has shown that^1,2,3…”.

Reference list citation: Format: Author(s). Title of paper. In: Editor(s). Title of the conference proceedings. Place of publication: Publisher; Year of publication. Page range.

Example: Johnson L, Smith J. The role of stem cells in tissue regeneration. In: Patel S, ed. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Regenerative Medicine. London: Academic Press; 2016. p. 68-73.

In-text citation: Use superscript numbers to cite sources in the text, e.g., “According to the World Health Organization^1…”.

Reference list citation: Format: Author(s). Title of webpage. Name of website. URL [Accessed Date].

Example: World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public [Accessed 3 March 2023].

In-text citation: Use superscript numbers to cite sources in the text, e.g., “According to the New York Times^1…”.

Reference list citation: Format: Author(s). Title of article. Name of newspaper. Year Month Day; Section (if any): Page number.

Example: Jones S. Study shows that sleep is essential for good health. The New York Times. 2022 Jan 12; Health: A8.

Author(s). Title of Book. Edition Number (if it is not the first edition). Publisher: Place of publication, Year of publication.

Example: Smith, J. Chemistry of Natural Products. 3rd ed.; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, 2015.

Journal articles:

Author(s). Article Title. Journal Name Year, Volume, Inclusive Pagination.

Example: Garcia, A. M.; Jones, B. A.; Smith, J. R. Selective Synthesis of Alkenes from Alkynes via Catalytic Hydrogenation. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 10754-10759.

Research papers:

Author(s). Title of Paper. Journal Name Year, Volume, Inclusive Pagination.

Example: Brown, H. D.; Jackson, C. D.; Patel, S. D. A New Approach to Photovoltaic Solar Cells. J. Mater. Chem. 2018, 26, 134-142.

Author(s) (if available). Title of Webpage. Name of Website. URL (accessed Month Day, Year).

Example: National Institutes of Health. Heart Disease and Stroke. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/heart-disease-and-stroke (accessed April 7, 2023).

News articles:

Author(s). Title of Article. Name of News Publication. Date of Publication. URL (accessed Month Day, Year).

Example: Friedman, T. L. The World is Flat. New York Times. April 7, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/07/opinion/world-flat-globalization.html (accessed April 7, 2023).

In AMA Style Format, the citation for a book should include the following information, in this order:

• Title of book (in italics)
• Edition (if applicable)
• Place of publication
• Year of publication

Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. 4th ed. New York, NY: W. H. Freeman; 2000.

In AMA Style Format, the citation for a journal article should include the following information, in this order:

• Title of article
• Abbreviated title of journal (in italics)
• Year of publication; volume number(issue number):page numbers.

Chen H, Huang Y, Li Y, et al. Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on depression in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(6):e207081. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.7081

In AMA Style Format, the citation for a research paper should include the following information, in this order:

• Title of paper
• Name of journal or conference proceeding (in italics)
• Volume number(issue number):page numbers.

Bredenoord AL, Kroes HY, Cuppen E, Parker M, van Delden JJ. Disclosure of individual genetic data to research participants: the debate reconsidered. Trends Genet. 2011;27(2):41-47. doi:10.1016/j.tig.2010.11.004

In AMA Style Format, the citation for a website should include the following information, in this order:

• Title of web page or article
• Name of website (in italics)
• Date of publication or last update (if available)
• URL (website address)
• Date of access (month day, year)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to protect yourself and others. CDC. Published February 11, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

In AMA Style Format, the citation for a news article should include the following information, in this order:

• Name of newspaper or news website (in italics)
• Date of publication

Gorman J. Scientists use stem cells from frogs to build first living robots. The New York Times. January 13, 2020. Accessed January 14, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/science/living-robots-xenobots.html

Bluebook Format

One author: Daniel J. Solove, The Future of Reputation: Gossip, Rumor, and Privacy on the Internet (Yale University Press 2007).

Two or more authors: Martha Nussbaum and Saul Levmore, eds., The Offensive Internet: Speech, Privacy, and Reputation (Harvard University Press 2010).

Journal article

One author: Daniel J. Solove, “A Taxonomy of Privacy,” University of Pennsylvania Law Review 154, no. 3 (January 2006): 477-560.

Two or more authors: Ethan Katsh and Andrea Schneider, “The Emergence of Online Dispute Resolution,” Journal of Dispute Resolution 2003, no. 1 (2003): 7-19.

One author: Daniel J. Solove, “A Taxonomy of Privacy,” GWU Law School Public Law Research Paper No. 113, 2005.

Two or more authors: Ethan Katsh and Andrea Schneider, “The Emergence of Online Dispute Resolution,” Cyberlaw Research Paper Series Paper No. 00-5, 2000.

WebsiteElectronic Frontier Foundation, “Surveillance Self-Defense,” accessed April 8, 2023, https://ssd.eff.org/.

News article

One author: Mark Sherman, “Court Deals Major Blow to Net Neutrality Rules,” ABC News, January 14, 2014, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/court-deals-major-blow-net-neutrality-rules-21586820.

Two or more authors: Siobhan Hughes and Brent Kendall, “AT&T Wins Approval to Buy Time Warner,” Wall Street Journal, June 12, 2018, https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-t-wins-approval-to-buy-time-warner-1528847249.

In-Text Citation: (Author’s last name Year of Publication: Page Number)

Example: (Smith 2010: 35)

Reference List Citation: Author’s last name First Initial. Title of Book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher; Year of publication.

Example: Smith J. Biology: A Textbook. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 2010.

Example: (Johnson 2014: 27)

Reference List Citation: Author’s last name First Initial. Title of Article. Abbreviated Title of Journal. Year of publication;Volume(Issue):Page Numbers.

Example: Johnson S. The role of dopamine in addiction. J Neurosci. 2014;34(8): 2262-2272.

Example: (Brown 2018: 10)

Reference List Citation: Author’s last name First Initial. Title of Paper. Paper presented at: Name of Conference; Date of Conference; Place of Conference.

Example: Brown R. The impact of social media on mental health. Paper presented at: Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association; August 2018; San Francisco, CA.

Example: (World Health Organization 2020: para. 2)

Reference List Citation: Author’s last name First Initial. Title of Webpage. Name of Website. URL. Published date. Accessed date.

Example: World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. WHO website. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-coronavirus-2019. Updated August 17, 2020. Accessed September 5, 2021.

Example: (Smith 2019: para. 5)

Reference List Citation: Author’s last name First Initial. Title of Article. Title of Newspaper or Magazine. Year of publication; Month Day:Page Numbers.

Example: Smith K. New study finds link between exercise and mental health. The New York Times. 2019;May 20: A6.

Purpose of Research Paper Citation

The purpose of citing sources in a research paper is to give credit to the original authors and acknowledge their contribution to your work. By citing sources, you are also demonstrating the validity and reliability of your research by showing that you have consulted credible and authoritative sources. Citations help readers to locate the original sources that you have referenced and to verify the accuracy and credibility of your research. Additionally, citing sources is important for avoiding plagiarism, which is the act of presenting someone else’s work as your own. Proper citation also shows that you have conducted a thorough literature review and have used the existing research to inform your own work. Overall, citing sources is an essential aspect of academic writing and is necessary for building credibility, demonstrating research skills, and avoiding plagiarism.

Advantages of Research Paper Citation

There are several advantages of research paper citation, including:

• Giving credit: By citing the works of other researchers in your field, you are acknowledging their contribution and giving credit where it is due.
• Strengthening your argument: Citing relevant and reliable sources in your research paper can strengthen your argument and increase its credibility. It shows that you have done your due diligence and considered various perspectives before drawing your conclusions.
• Demonstrating familiarity with the literature : By citing various sources, you are demonstrating your familiarity with the existing literature in your field. This is important as it shows that you are well-informed about the topic and have done a thorough review of the available research.
• Providing a roadmap for further research: By citing relevant sources, you are providing a roadmap for further research on the topic. This can be helpful for future researchers who are interested in exploring the same or related issues.
• Building your own reputation: By citing the works of established researchers in your field, you can build your own reputation as a knowledgeable and informed scholar. This can be particularly helpful if you are early in your career and looking to establish yourself as an expert in your field.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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13.1 Formatting a Research Paper

Learning objectives.

• Identify the major components of a research paper written using American Psychological Association (APA) style.
• Apply general APA style and formatting conventions in a research paper.

In this chapter, you will learn how to use APA style , the documentation and formatting style followed by the American Psychological Association, as well as MLA style , from the Modern Language Association. There are a few major formatting styles used in academic texts, including AMA, Chicago, and Turabian:

• AMA (American Medical Association) for medicine, health, and biological sciences
• APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the social sciences
• Chicago—a common style used in everyday publications like magazines, newspapers, and books
• MLA (Modern Language Association) for English, literature, arts, and humanities
• Turabian—another common style designed for its universal application across all subjects and disciplines

While all the formatting and citation styles have their own use and applications, in this chapter we focus our attention on the two styles you are most likely to use in your academic studies: APA and MLA.

If you find that the rules of proper source documentation are difficult to keep straight, you are not alone. Writing a good research paper is, in and of itself, a major intellectual challenge. Having to follow detailed citation and formatting guidelines as well may seem like just one more task to add to an already-too-long list of requirements.

Following these guidelines, however, serves several important purposes. First, it signals to your readers that your paper should be taken seriously as a student’s contribution to a given academic or professional field; it is the literary equivalent of wearing a tailored suit to a job interview. Second, it shows that you respect other people’s work enough to give them proper credit for it. Finally, it helps your reader find additional materials if he or she wishes to learn more about your topic.

Furthermore, producing a letter-perfect APA-style paper need not be burdensome. Yes, it requires careful attention to detail. However, you can simplify the process if you keep these broad guidelines in mind:

• Work ahead whenever you can. Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” includes tips for keeping track of your sources early in the research process, which will save time later on.
• Get it right the first time. Apply APA guidelines as you write, so you will not have much to correct during the editing stage. Again, putting in a little extra time early on can save time later.
• Use the resources available to you. In addition to the guidelines provided in this chapter, you may wish to consult the APA website at http://www.apa.org or the Purdue University Online Writing lab at http://owl.english.purdue.edu , which regularly updates its online style guidelines.

General Formatting Guidelines

This chapter provides detailed guidelines for using the citation and formatting conventions developed by the American Psychological Association, or APA. Writers in disciplines as diverse as astrophysics, biology, psychology, and education follow APA style. The major components of a paper written in APA style are listed in the following box.

These are the major components of an APA-style paper:

Body, which includes the following:

• Headings and, if necessary, subheadings to organize the content
• In-text citations of research sources
• References page

All these components must be saved in one document, not as separate documents.

The title page of your paper includes the following information:

• Title of the paper
• Author’s name
• Name of the institution with which the author is affiliated
• Header at the top of the page with the paper title (in capital letters) and the page number (If the title is lengthy, you may use a shortened form of it in the header.)

List the first three elements in the order given in the previous list, centered about one third of the way down from the top of the page. Use the headers and footers tool of your word-processing program to add the header, with the title text at the left and the page number in the upper-right corner. Your title page should look like the following example.

The next page of your paper provides an abstract , or brief summary of your findings. An abstract does not need to be provided in every paper, but an abstract should be used in papers that include a hypothesis. A good abstract is concise—about one hundred fifty to two hundred fifty words—and is written in an objective, impersonal style. Your writing voice will not be as apparent here as in the body of your paper. When writing the abstract, take a just-the-facts approach, and summarize your research question and your findings in a few sentences.

In Chapter 12 “Writing a Research Paper” , you read a paper written by a student named Jorge, who researched the effectiveness of low-carbohydrate diets. Read Jorge’s abstract. Note how it sums up the major ideas in his paper without going into excessive detail.

Write an abstract summarizing your paper. Briefly introduce the topic, state your findings, and sum up what conclusions you can draw from your research. Use the word count feature of your word-processing program to make sure your abstract does not exceed one hundred fifty words.

Depending on your field of study, you may sometimes write research papers that present extensive primary research, such as your own experiment or survey. In your abstract, summarize your research question and your findings, and briefly indicate how your study relates to prior research in the field.

Margins, Pagination, and Headings

APA style requirements also address specific formatting concerns, such as margins, pagination, and heading styles, within the body of the paper. Review the following APA guidelines.

Use these general guidelines to format the paper:

• Set the top, bottom, and side margins of your paper at 1 inch.
• Use double-spaced text throughout your paper.
• Use a standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, in a legible size (10- to 12-point).
• Use continuous pagination throughout the paper, including the title page and the references section. Page numbers appear flush right within your header.
• Section headings and subsection headings within the body of your paper use different types of formatting depending on the level of information you are presenting. Additional details from Jorge’s paper are provided.

Begin formatting the final draft of your paper according to APA guidelines. You may work with an existing document or set up a new document if you choose. Include the following:

• Your title page
• The abstract you created in Note 13.8 “Exercise 1”
• Correct headers and page numbers for your title page and abstract

APA style uses section headings to organize information, making it easy for the reader to follow the writer’s train of thought and to know immediately what major topics are covered. Depending on the length and complexity of the paper, its major sections may also be divided into subsections, sub-subsections, and so on. These smaller sections, in turn, use different heading styles to indicate different levels of information. In essence, you are using headings to create a hierarchy of information.

The following heading styles used in APA formatting are listed in order of greatest to least importance:

• Section headings use centered, boldface type. Headings use title case, with important words in the heading capitalized.
• Subsection headings use left-aligned, boldface type. Headings use title case.
• The third level uses left-aligned, indented, boldface type. Headings use a capital letter only for the first word, and they end in a period.
• The fourth level follows the same style used for the previous level, but the headings are boldfaced and italicized.
• The fifth level follows the same style used for the previous level, but the headings are italicized and not boldfaced.

Visually, the hierarchy of information is organized as indicated in Table 13.1 “Section Headings” .

Table 13.1 Section Headings

A college research paper may not use all the heading levels shown in Table 13.1 “Section Headings” , but you are likely to encounter them in academic journal articles that use APA style. For a brief paper, you may find that level 1 headings suffice. Longer or more complex papers may need level 2 headings or other lower-level headings to organize information clearly. Use your outline to craft your major section headings and determine whether any subtopics are substantial enough to require additional levels of headings.

Working with the document you developed in Note 13.11 “Exercise 2” , begin setting up the heading structure of the final draft of your research paper according to APA guidelines. Include your title and at least two to three major section headings, and follow the formatting guidelines provided above. If your major sections should be broken into subsections, add those headings as well. Use your outline to help you.

Because Jorge used only level 1 headings, his Exercise 3 would look like the following:

Citation Guidelines

In-text citations.

Throughout the body of your paper, include a citation whenever you quote or paraphrase material from your research sources. As you learned in Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” , the purpose of citations is twofold: to give credit to others for their ideas and to allow your reader to follow up and learn more about the topic if desired. Your in-text citations provide basic information about your source; each source you cite will have a longer entry in the references section that provides more detailed information.

In-text citations must provide the name of the author or authors and the year the source was published. (When a given source does not list an individual author, you may provide the source title or the name of the organization that published the material instead.) When directly quoting a source, it is also required that you include the page number where the quote appears in your citation.

This information may be included within the sentence or in a parenthetical reference at the end of the sentence, as in these examples.

Epstein (2010) points out that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (p. 137).

Here, the writer names the source author when introducing the quote and provides the publication date in parentheses after the author’s name. The page number appears in parentheses after the closing quotation marks and before the period that ends the sentence.

Addiction researchers caution that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (Epstein, 2010, p. 137).

Here, the writer provides a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence that includes the author’s name, the year of publication, and the page number separated by commas. Again, the parenthetical citation is placed after the closing quotation marks and before the period at the end of the sentence.

As noted in the book Junk Food, Junk Science (Epstein, 2010, p. 137), “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive.”

Here, the writer chose to mention the source title in the sentence (an optional piece of information to include) and followed the title with a parenthetical citation. Note that the parenthetical citation is placed before the comma that signals the end of the introductory phrase.

David Epstein’s book Junk Food, Junk Science (2010) pointed out that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (p. 137).

Another variation is to introduce the author and the source title in your sentence and include the publication date and page number in parentheses within the sentence or at the end of the sentence. As long as you have included the essential information, you can choose the option that works best for that particular sentence and source.

Citing a book with a single author is usually a straightforward task. Of course, your research may require that you cite many other types of sources, such as books or articles with more than one author or sources with no individual author listed. You may also need to cite sources available in both print and online and nonprint sources, such as websites and personal interviews. Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” , Section 13.2 “Citing and Referencing Techniques” and Section 13.3 “Creating a References Section” provide extensive guidelines for citing a variety of source types.

Writing at Work

APA is just one of several different styles with its own guidelines for documentation, formatting, and language usage. Depending on your field of interest, you may be exposed to additional styles, such as the following:

• MLA style. Determined by the Modern Languages Association and used for papers in literature, languages, and other disciplines in the humanities.
• Chicago style. Outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style and sometimes used for papers in the humanities and the sciences; many professional organizations use this style for publications as well.
• Associated Press (AP) style. Used by professional journalists.

References List

The brief citations included in the body of your paper correspond to the more detailed citations provided at the end of the paper in the references section. In-text citations provide basic information—the author’s name, the publication date, and the page number if necessary—while the references section provides more extensive bibliographical information. Again, this information allows your reader to follow up on the sources you cited and do additional reading about the topic if desired.

The specific format of entries in the list of references varies slightly for different source types, but the entries generally include the following information:

• The name(s) of the author(s) or institution that wrote the source
• The year of publication and, where applicable, the exact date of publication
• The full title of the source
• For books, the city of publication
• For articles or essays, the name of the periodical or book in which the article or essay appears
• For magazine and journal articles, the volume number, issue number, and pages where the article appears
• For sources on the web, the URL where the source is located

The references page is double spaced and lists entries in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. If an entry continues for more than one line, the second line and each subsequent line are indented five spaces. Review the following example. ( Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” , Section 13.3 “Creating a References Section” provides extensive guidelines for formatting reference entries for different types of sources.)

In APA style, book and article titles are formatted in sentence case, not title case. Sentence case means that only the first word is capitalized, along with any proper nouns.

Key Takeaways

• Following proper citation and formatting guidelines helps writers ensure that their work will be taken seriously, give proper credit to other authors for their work, and provide valuable information to readers.
• Working ahead and taking care to cite sources correctly the first time are ways writers can save time during the editing stage of writing a research paper.
• APA papers usually include an abstract that concisely summarizes the paper.
• APA papers use a specific headings structure to provide a clear hierarchy of information.
• In APA papers, in-text citations usually include the name(s) of the author(s) and the year of publication.
• In-text citations correspond to entries in the references section, which provide detailed bibliographical information about a source.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write and Publish a Research Paper for a Peer-Reviewed Journal

• Open access
• Published: 30 April 2020
• Volume 36 , pages 909–913, ( 2021 )

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• Clara Busse   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0178-1000 1 &
• Ella August   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-1036 1 , 2  

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Communicating research findings is an essential step in the research process. Often, peer-reviewed journals are the forum for such communication, yet many researchers are never taught how to write a publishable scientific paper. In this article, we explain the basic structure of a scientific paper and describe the information that should be included in each section. We also identify common pitfalls for each section and recommend strategies to avoid them. Further, we give advice about target journal selection and authorship. In the online resource 1 , we provide an example of a high-quality scientific paper, with annotations identifying the elements we describe in this article.

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Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

Introduction

Writing a scientific paper is an important component of the research process, yet researchers often receive little formal training in scientific writing. This is especially true in low-resource settings. In this article, we explain why choosing a target journal is important, give advice about authorship, provide a basic structure for writing each section of a scientific paper, and describe common pitfalls and recommendations for each section. In the online resource 1 , we also include an annotated journal article that identifies the key elements and writing approaches that we detail here. Before you begin your research, make sure you have ethical clearance from all relevant ethical review boards.

Select a Target Journal Early in the Writing Process

We recommend that you select a “target journal” early in the writing process; a “target journal” is the journal to which you plan to submit your paper. Each journal has a set of core readers and you should tailor your writing to this readership. For example, if you plan to submit a manuscript about vaping during pregnancy to a pregnancy-focused journal, you will need to explain what vaping is because readers of this journal may not have a background in this topic. However, if you were to submit that same article to a tobacco journal, you would not need to provide as much background information about vaping.

Information about a journal’s core readership can be found on its website, usually in a section called “About this journal” or something similar. For example, the Journal of Cancer Education presents such information on the “Aims and Scope” page of its website, which can be found here: https://www.springer.com/journal/13187/aims-and-scope .

Peer reviewer guidelines from your target journal are an additional resource that can help you tailor your writing to the journal and provide additional advice about crafting an effective article [ 1 ]. These are not always available, but it is worth a quick web search to find out.

Identify Author Roles Early in the Process

Early in the writing process, identify authors, determine the order of authors, and discuss the responsibilities of each author. Standard author responsibilities have been identified by The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) [ 2 ]. To set clear expectations about each team member’s responsibilities and prevent errors in communication, we also suggest outlining more detailed roles, such as who will draft each section of the manuscript, write the abstract, submit the paper electronically, serve as corresponding author, and write the cover letter. It is best to formalize this agreement in writing after discussing it, circulating the document to the author team for approval. We suggest creating a title page on which all authors are listed in the agreed-upon order. It may be necessary to adjust authorship roles and order during the development of the paper. If a new author order is agreed upon, be sure to update the title page in the manuscript draft.

In the case where multiple papers will result from a single study, authors should discuss who will author each paper. Additionally, authors should agree on a deadline for each paper and the lead author should take responsibility for producing an initial draft by this deadline.

Structure of the Introduction Section

The introduction section should be approximately three to five paragraphs in length. Look at examples from your target journal to decide the appropriate length. This section should include the elements shown in Fig.  1 . Begin with a general context, narrowing to the specific focus of the paper. Include five main elements: why your research is important, what is already known about the topic, the “gap” or what is not yet known about the topic, why it is important to learn the new information that your research adds, and the specific research aim(s) that your paper addresses. Your research aim should address the gap you identified. Be sure to add enough background information to enable readers to understand your study. Table 1 provides common introduction section pitfalls and recommendations for addressing them.

The main elements of the introduction section of an original research article. Often, the elements overlap

Methods Section

The purpose of the methods section is twofold: to explain how the study was done in enough detail to enable its replication and to provide enough contextual detail to enable readers to understand and interpret the results. In general, the essential elements of a methods section are the following: a description of the setting and participants, the study design and timing, the recruitment and sampling, the data collection process, the dataset, the dependent and independent variables, the covariates, the analytic approach for each research objective, and the ethical approval. The hallmark of an exemplary methods section is the justification of why each method was used. Table 2 provides common methods section pitfalls and recommendations for addressing them.

Results Section

The focus of the results section should be associations, or lack thereof, rather than statistical tests. Two considerations should guide your writing here. First, the results should present answers to each part of the research aim. Second, return to the methods section to ensure that the analysis and variables for each result have been explained.

Begin the results section by describing the number of participants in the final sample and details such as the number who were approached to participate, the proportion who were eligible and who enrolled, and the number of participants who dropped out. The next part of the results should describe the participant characteristics. After that, you may organize your results by the aim or by putting the most exciting results first. Do not forget to report your non-significant associations. These are still findings.

Tables and figures capture the reader’s attention and efficiently communicate your main findings [ 3 ]. Each table and figure should have a clear message and should complement, rather than repeat, the text. Tables and figures should communicate all salient details necessary for a reader to understand the findings without consulting the text. Include information on comparisons and tests, as well as information about the sample and timing of the study in the title, legend, or in a footnote. Note that figures are often more visually interesting than tables, so if it is feasible to make a figure, make a figure. To avoid confusing the reader, either avoid abbreviations in tables and figures, or define them in a footnote. Note that there should not be citations in the results section and you should not interpret results here. Table 3 provides common results section pitfalls and recommendations for addressing them.

Discussion Section

Opposite the introduction section, the discussion should take the form of a right-side-up triangle beginning with interpretation of your results and moving to general implications (Fig.  2 ). This section typically begins with a restatement of the main findings, which can usually be accomplished with a few carefully-crafted sentences.

Major elements of the discussion section of an original research article. Often, the elements overlap

Next, interpret the meaning or explain the significance of your results, lifting the reader’s gaze from the study’s specific findings to more general applications. Then, compare these study findings with other research. Are these findings in agreement or disagreement with those from other studies? Does this study impart additional nuance to well-accepted theories? Situate your findings within the broader context of scientific literature, then explain the pathways or mechanisms that might give rise to, or explain, the results.

Journals vary in their approach to strengths and limitations sections: some are embedded paragraphs within the discussion section, while some mandate separate section headings. Keep in mind that every study has strengths and limitations. Candidly reporting yours helps readers to correctly interpret your research findings.

The next element of the discussion is a summary of the potential impacts and applications of the research. Should these results be used to optimally design an intervention? Does the work have implications for clinical protocols or public policy? These considerations will help the reader to further grasp the possible impacts of the presented work.

Finally, the discussion should conclude with specific suggestions for future work. Here, you have an opportunity to illuminate specific gaps in the literature that compel further study. Avoid the phrase “future research is necessary” because the recommendation is too general to be helpful to readers. Instead, provide substantive and specific recommendations for future studies. Table 4 provides common discussion section pitfalls and recommendations for addressing them.

Follow the Journal’s Author Guidelines

After you select a target journal, identify the journal’s author guidelines to guide the formatting of your manuscript and references. Author guidelines will often (but not always) include instructions for titles, cover letters, and other components of a manuscript submission. Read the guidelines carefully. If you do not follow the guidelines, your article will be sent back to you.

Finally, do not submit your paper to more than one journal at a time. Even if this is not explicitly stated in the author guidelines of your target journal, it is considered inappropriate and unprofessional.

Your title should invite readers to continue reading beyond the first page [ 4 , 5 ]. It should be informative and interesting. Consider describing the independent and dependent variables, the population and setting, the study design, the timing, and even the main result in your title. Because the focus of the paper can change as you write and revise, we recommend you wait until you have finished writing your paper before composing the title.

Be sure that the title is useful for potential readers searching for your topic. The keywords you select should complement those in your title to maximize the likelihood that a researcher will find your paper through a database search. Avoid using abbreviations in your title unless they are very well known, such as SNP, because it is more likely that someone will use a complete word rather than an abbreviation as a search term to help readers find your paper.

After you have written a complete draft, use the checklist (Fig. 3 ) below to guide your revisions and editing. Additional resources are available on writing the abstract and citing references [ 5 ]. When you feel that your work is ready, ask a trusted colleague or two to read the work and provide informal feedback. The box below provides a checklist that summarizes the key points offered in this article.

Checklist for manuscript quality

Data Availability

Michalek AM (2014) Down the rabbit hole…advice to reviewers. J Cancer Educ 29:4–5

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Vetto JT (2014) Short and sweet: a short course on concise medical writing. J Cancer Educ 29(1):194–195

Brett M, Kording K (2017) Ten simple rules for structuring papers. PLoS ComputBiol. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005619

Lang TA (2017) Writing a better research article. J Public Health Emerg. https://doi.org/10.21037/jphe.2017.11.06

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Acknowledgments

Ella August is grateful to the Sustainable Sciences Institute for mentoring her in training researchers on writing and publishing their research.

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Clara Busse & Ella August

Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA

Ella August

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Busse, C., August, E. How to Write and Publish a Research Paper for a Peer-Reviewed Journal. J Canc Educ 36 , 909–913 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01751-z

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4 Easy Ways to Find the Publication Date of a Website

Last Updated: January 9, 2024 Fact Checked

Checking the Page and URL

Using google search, searching the source code, citing the website.

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,172,041 times.

Citing a website in your research paper or essay can be tricky and frustrating, but there are a few techniques you can use to find the publication date. You can check the website itself, view the source code, or use Google search along with a special URL operator. Although you can find the publication date of most sites, you may not always find it. In this case, cite the website as a “no date” page. This wikiHow will show you how to find the publication date of a website for citing.

Things You Should Know

• Look underneath the headline of an article or post for a publication date. Check the very bottom of the webpage for a copyright date.
• Use Google Search's operator "inurl:" along with the string "&as_qdr=y15" to find the date published.
• Open the source code with "CTRL+U" (Windows) or "Command+U" (Mac). Look for "date" or "published".

• There may be a 1-sentence secondary headline or an image between the title of the post and the date. Keep scrolling to see if the date is listed below the secondary headline or image.
• Some articles may have been updated after their publication date. When this is the case, you should see a disclaimer at the beginning or the end of the article that says when it was edited and why.

Variation: If you don’t see the date on the article, see if you can go back to the website’s homepage or search engine to look for it that way. You may see the publication date listed next to the article’s link or thumbnail.

• The date a site was updated is the last time anything was added or changed on the site. That means the information you’re reading may have been published at an earlier date. However, a recent copyright or update means that the site is active and being updated, so the information may be trustworthy.
• Look at the section of the article that contains a short bio of the author. Sometimes, the date may be right above or below it.

Tip: A copyright date is usually only listed by the year and does not contain a specific month or day.

• Make sure you are on the web page dedicated to the individual post and not an archive or index page. Click on the post’s headline to confirm you’re on the post-specific page.
• Many blogs edit the URL so it’s shorter and easier to search, so you may not find the date there.

• You can’t use this date to cite a website. However, it can help you gauge when the website was published, so you’ll have an idea of how old the information is. If it seems recent, you might decide to go ahead and use the website but cite it as “no date.”

• Make sure you copy and paste the full address.

• Don’t include the quotation marks.
• This might sound tricky, but you don’t need to do anything special to use this operator. All you need to do is type it in and Google will handle the rest.

• This is the second part to the “inurl:” operator.
• It’s okay to copy-and-paste the code if that’s easier for you.

Variation: You can use the functions Ctrl+L in Firefox and Chrome to put your cursor in the right spot in the search box.

• If you don’t see the date, you may be able to add a custom search by date range to figure out when the article was published. Continue to the next step if the date is still not available.

• On mobile devices, the Tools menu should already be open. Skip this step.

• Depending on your search, you may see Any time , Past (number) years , or another variation.
• On mobile devices, this will be directly underneath the search bar.

• Alternatively, you can click Past year to do a quick search to see if the website was published within the last year. This is a good way to check to see if an article is current.

• Depending on your browser, the menu option may read “View Page Info” or similar.

Variation: The keyboard shortcut to open the source code directly is Control+U on Windows and Command+U on Mac.

Variation: You can also access the “Find” function by clicking Edit in the top menu bar and clicking “Find…” in the drop-down menu.

• If none of the search terms work, type “PublishedDate”, "datePublished," "published_time" into the “Find” function. This could bring up the publication information.
• If you want to know when a web page was last changed or updated, search the source code for “modified.”

• You can use this date to cite the website or to determine how old the information on the website may be.

• Here’s an example: Aranda, Arianna. “Understanding Expressive Poems.” Poetry Scholar , 7 Nov. 2016, www.poetryscholar.com/understanding-expressive-poems.

Variation: If there is no date, don’t worry. You can instead use the date you accessed the website, which you’ll put after the URL. Here’s an example: Aranda, Arianna. “Understanding Expressive Poems.” Poetry Scholar, www.www.poetryscholar.com/understanding-expressive-poems. Accessed 9 April 2019.

• This is an example: American Robotics Club. (2018). Building Complex Robots. Retrieved from www.americanroboticsclub.com/building-complex-robots

Variation: If there’s no date, you can use “n.d.” in place of the year. For instance, you’d write this: American Robotics Club. (n.d.). Building Complex Robots. Retrieved from www.americanroboticsclub.com/building-complex-robots

• Here’s an example: Li, Quan. “Examining Art.” Insights into Culture . Last Modified February 12, 2015. www.insightsintoculture.com/examining-art.

Variation: If you don’t have a date, then you can use the date you accessed the site. Use the same format, but write “Accessed” instead of “Last modified” before the date. For instance: Li, Quan. “Examining Art.” Insights into Culture. Accessed April, 9, 2019. www.insightsintoculture.com/examining-art.

Expert Q&A

• Some websites have different dates associated with them. For instance, the date the site was originally created and the date a particular page was published. Use the date that’s most meaningful to the information you’re citing, which is typically the individual page date. [11] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Checking the date on a website helps you figure out if the information is current or may be outdated. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2
• Some websites hide their publication date so that their page seems current, even if it’s not. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Don’t try to guess the date when you’re citing a website. If you believe the information is valid but can’t find a date, just use the “no date” citation method for your style guide. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://apus.libanswers.com/faq/170563
• ↑ https://www.labnol.org/internet/search/find-publishing-date-of-web-pages/8410/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_electronic_sources.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/web_sources.html
• ↑ https://morningside.libguides.com/MLA8/date

About This Article

To find the publication date of a website, look underneath the headline of an article or blog post, where the date should be listed. If you're not looking at an article, try scrolling down to the bottom of the page for a copyright date or range, so you know if the website is currently being updated. However, if there's no date listed there, check the URL, since some websites automatically include the date that a post was written in the address. You could also take a look at some comments to get an estimate of how active the site is. Alternatively, try typing "inurl:" into Google, followed by the URL, to see if the date is listed in the search results. For more advice from our Literary co-author, like how to cite a website, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• 27 March 2024

Tweeting your research paper boosts engagement but not citations

• Bianca Nogrady

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Even before complaints about X’s declining quality, posting a paper on the social-media platform did not lead to a boost in citations. Credit: Matt Cardy/Getty

Posting about a research paper on social-media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) doesn’t translate into a bump in citations, according to a study that looked at 550 papers.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00922-y

Branch, T. A. et al. PLoS ONE 19 , e0292201 (2024).

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Haustein, S., Peters, I., Sugimoto, C. R., Thelwall, M. & Larivière, V. J. Assoc. Inf. Sci. Technol. 65, 656–669 (2014).

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