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Citing in APA and MLA Formats

References refers only to those sources used in the research and preparation of a scholarly article. A related term is Works Cited. A bibliography recommends works for further reading or additional background. All scholarly works have references.

When writing research papers for class assignments, it is important to cite the sources you used. Depending on the citation style you follow, you may cite sources in the text, in footnotes or endnotes, and in a bibliography or works cited page at the end of your paper.

Two of the most popular style guides are the APA Manual (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association) and the MLA Guide. This webpage covers a few examples of citing in these two styles. Refer to the actual books for more detailed examples.

APA and MLA style guides available at the UTSA Library:

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
  Location: JPL Reference Desk, JPL Reserve, JPL Stacks, Downtown Library, Reference, Downtown Library, Stacks & Downtown Library, Reserve BF76.7.P83
  
  
• A Guide to MLA Documentation : with an appendix on APA style
  Location: JPL Reference Desk, JPL Reserve, JPL Stacks PN174 .T75
  
  
• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
  Location: JPL Reference Desk, JPL Reserve, JPL Stacks, Downtown Library, Reference, Downtown Library, Stacks & Downtown Library, Reserve PE1478 .M57
  
  

In addition to the print style manuals listed above, some style manual information is available online. A selection of useful websites includes:

APAStyle.org - Electronic References
Free Website: http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html
This website, from the American Psychological Association, answers some questions about citing electronic media in APA format. It contains excerpts from the 5th edition of the Publication Manual.

Using American Psychological Association (APA) Format (Updated to 5th Edition)
Free Website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
From the Purdue University Online Writing Lab. Covers commonly-asked questions about citing resources in APA format.

MLA Style
Free Website: http://www.mla.org/www_mla_org/style/style_faq
This website, from the Modern Language Association, answers frequently-asked questions about MLA style.

Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format
Free Website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
From the Purdue University Online Writing Lab. Covers commonly-asked questions about citing resources in MLA format.

Check with your instructor to make sure you use a style format appropriate for your class.

What information do I need to cite a book?

• Author or Editor
• Title of Book
• Place of Publication
• Publisher
• Date of Publication

Sample reference citations in text using APA style:

Wallace (2000) compared reaction times . . .
In a recent study of reaction times (Wallace, 2000)
In a recent study (Calfee & Valencia, 1999)

Sample reference citations in text using MLA style:

Tannen has argued this point (178-85)
Others hold the opposite view (Tannen 210-15)
A New York Times editorial took the opposite view ("Death")

Example of a book using APA style:

Calfee, R. C., & Valencia,R. R. (1991). APA guide to preparing manuscripts for journal publication. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Example of a book using MLA style:

Kasson, John F. Civilizing the Machine: Technology and Republican Values in America, 1776-1990. New York: Penguin, 1976.

Example of an article in a Reference Book using APA style:

Bergmann, P. G. (1993). Relativity. In The New Encyclopedia Britannica (Vol. 26, pp.501-508).
Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica.

Example of an article in a Reference Book using MLA style:

(With Author)
Garvey, Lawrence."El Paso, Illinois." Encyclopedia Americana. 1982 ed.

(Without Author)
"Mealworm." Encyclopedia Britannica. 1987 ed.

What information do I need to cite a periodical article (magazine, newspaper, or journal)?

• Author
• Title of Article
• Periodical Title
• Volume number or Date of Publication
• Page Numbers

Example of a Magazine Article using APA style:

Henry, W. A., III. (1990, April 9). Making the grade in today's schools. Time,135, 28-31.

Example of a Magazine Article using MLA style:

Whitaker, Mark. "Getting Tough at Last." Newsweek 10 May 1993: 22.

Example of a Newspaper Article using APA style:

Katz, D. M.(1999, Dec 19). Defusing violence, teenager to teenager. New York Times, pp. 23.

Example of a Newspaper Article using MLA style:

Carlton, Jim. "Scientists Seem To Agree on Rate Earth Is Warming." Wall Street Journal 13 Jan. 2000, eastern ed.: A6+.

Example of a Journal Article using APA style:

Piavio, A. (1975). Perceptual comparisons through the mind's eye. Memory and Cognition, 3, 635-647.

Example of a Journal Article using MLA style:

Magistrale, Tony. "Wild Child: Jim Morrison’s Poetic Journeys." Journal of Popular Culture 26.3 (Winter 1992): 133-144.

What information do I need to cite electronic full-text magazines, newspapers, and journals?

• Author/editor
• (Year)
• Title (edition)
• Producer (optional)
• Date accessed
• Location accessed (MLA)
• Supplier/Database
• URL (MLA)

Example of an Online Magazine Article (from ProQuest Research Library) using APA style:

Paul, A. (1998, November 23). A celebration of Chinese and Jewish history. [26 paragraphs].
Lancet, 359. Retrieved February 28, 2001 from ProQuest Research Library database.

Example of an Online Newspaper Article (from ProQuest Research Library) using APA style:

Shapiro, W. (1998, Feb 27). Sometimes, a politician just wants to go home. [14 paragraphs].
USA Today Retrieved February 28, 2001 from ProQuest Research Library database.

Example of an Online Journal Article (from ProQuest Research Library) using MLA style:

Fox, Justin. "What in the World Happened to Economics?" Fortune 15 Mar. 1999: 90-102.
ProQuest Research Library. University of Texas at San Antonio. 1 Dec. 2005 < http://libweb.lib.utsa.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com /pqdweb?did=39252208&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=2944&RQT=309&VName=PQD>.

Note: If possible, provide the link to the article. Many databases provide a document URL or persistent link in the citation information. If that is not possible, provide a link to the resource or database.

What information do I need to cite an Internet/World Wide Web Site?

• Author/Sponsor of web page
• Title of the individual "article" or information page
• Title of the main home page-- look for a link on the information page to "HOME" or "MAIN"
• Date the page was posted/updated
• Address URL (location)
• Date you accessed the page --pages can be here today, gone tomorrow!

Example of citing an Internet/World Wide Web Site using APA style:

Daly, B. (1997). Writing argumentative essays. In ESL Planet. Retrieved June 19, 1998, from
http://www.eslplanet.com/teachertools/argueweb/frntpage.htm

Example of citing an Internet/World Wide Web Site using MLA style:

"Librarians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. January 30, 1998. 13 February 2000
<http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm>.