Style Guide MLA APA Chicago And CSE

Updated November 3, 2025 Table of Contents

Citing sources properly gives credit to original authors and maintains academic integrity.
Different disciplines use different citation styles depending on the field and purpose of the research.
This quick-reference guide summarizes the most common formats—MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE—with examples to help you cite sources accurately in essays and research papers.

When to Use Each Citation Style

Style Best For Used By
MLA (Modern Language Association) Humanities, literature, arts English, history, philosophy
APA (American Psychological Association) Social sciences, psychology, education Psychology, sociology, education
Chicago / Turabian Flexible for history, business, and publishing History, fine arts, journalism
CSE (Council of Science Editors) Sciences and research writing Biology, chemistry, health sciences

Choosing the correct style ensures consistency and professionalism throughout your academic writing.

MLA Style Overview

Focus: Author and page number.
In-text citation format: (Author’s Last Name Page Number)

Example:

According to researchers, early exposure to reading improves comprehension (Miller 45).

Works Cited format:

Miller, Jane. The Reading Mind: Language and Literacy in Early Development. HarperCollins, 2022.

Key MLA notes:

  • Double-space all entries and use hanging indentation.
  • Alphabetize sources by author’s last name.
  • Italicize titles of longer works (books, journals); use quotation marks for shorter works (articles, essays).

APA Style Overview

Focus: Author and date of publication.
In-text citation format: (Author’s Last Name, Year)

Example:

Reading fluency contributes to improved comprehension (Miller, 2022).

Reference List format:

Miller, J. (2022). The reading mind: Language and literacy in early development. HarperCollins.

Key APA notes:

  • Use the author-date system for clarity and recency.
  • Indent all references with a hanging indent.
  • Include a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) when available for online sources.
  • Include page or paragraph numbers for direct quotations.

Chicago Style Overview

Chicago style offers two documentation systems:

  1. Notes and Bibliography (common in humanities)
  2. Author-Date (common in sciences and social sciences)

Notes and Bibliography Example:

Footnote:

  1. Jane Miller, The Reading Mind: Language and Literacy in Early Development (New York: HarperCollins, 2022), 45.

Bibliography:

Miller, Jane. The Reading Mind: Language and Literacy in Early Development. New York: HarperCollins, 2022.

Author-Date Example (for scientific papers):

(Miller 2022, 45)

Reference List:

Miller, Jane. 2022. The Reading Mind: Language and Literacy in Early Development. New York: HarperCollins.

Key Chicago notes:

  • Choose one system and remain consistent.
  • Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page or end of the document.
  • Use full publication details in the first note and shortened citations thereafter.

CSE Style Overview

Focus: Numeric or name-year citation systems for scientific writing.
CSE provides two main formats: Name-Year (N-Y) and Citation-Sequence (C-S).

Name-Year In-text Example:

Reading acquisition is influenced by early exposure (Miller 2022).

Citation-Sequence Example:

Reading acquisition is influenced by early exposure (1).

Reference List (Name-Year Example):

Miller J. 2022. The reading mind: Language and literacy in early development. New York (NY): HarperCollins.

Key CSE notes:

  • Journal names are often abbreviated.
  • Use periods between citation components.
  • For multiple authors, list all if fewer than 10; otherwise, list the first 10 followed by “et al.”

Quick Comparison Table

Feature MLA APA Chicago CSE
Primary Use Humanities Social Sciences History, Publishing Sciences
In-text Format (Author Page) (Author, Year) Footnote or (Author Year) (Author Year) or (1)
Reference Page Works Cited References Bibliography References
Indentation Hanging Hanging Hanging Hanging
URL/DOI Optional Required (if available) Optional Required (if applicable)

Tips for Accurate Citation

  • Always double-check your style guide for updates (new editions often revise rules).
  • Use citation generators carefully—verify every entry for accuracy.
  • Keep track of sources as you research to prevent missing citations later.
  • Consult your instructor or style manual if unsure about a specific format.

Proper citation protects your academic integrity and ensures that credit goes where it’s due.
By mastering MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE formats, you’ll write more confidently and uphold the professional standards expected in scholarly and research wr

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