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Citation styles are a set of formatting and documentation used for publishing research. Different disciplines use different styles. Be sure to check with your professor about which style to use.

Style refers to:

• The format and structure of your paper
• How to cite your sources in the text
• How to create a list of references at the end of your paper

Follow these steps:

1. What are the important elements of the source? -- author, title (journal and article if needed), publication date, publication info, electronic retrieval info (such as DOI or homepage of the journal or website, if applicable)
    
2. What format of source is it? -- electronic vs. print.  (Did you get it from a computer originally?  Even if you printed it off, it's still electronic!)
    
3. What type of source is it? -- magazine, journal, newspaper, regular book, reference book, video, audio, picture...
    
4. Using #2 and #3, find the closest-matching example from your recommended citation style. Use your elements from #1, and make your citation match the example.

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In addition, know that the citation style guides do not cover every single type of citation. From the APA Manual of Style 6th edition, chapter 7:

Occasionally … you may need to use a reference for a source for which this chapter does not provide specific guidance. In such a case, choose the example that is most like your source and follow that format.

Be sure to check with your professor for the style and citation format they require!

Be sure to check with your professor for the style and citation format they require!