Citing Sources & Style Guides like MLA and APA

Most of the major style guides can be found at Pace University's Campus Libraries. Information you need to locate the books (call numbers and locations) can be found here. Ask at the circulation or reference desk if you're having trouble finding a book.

• Authors whose work you cite must be given credit.
• Your professors want to make sure you're using reputable, credible sources.
• If people want to examine the data you use, they need to know where to find it.
• If people want to trace the origins of your argument, they need to know where your ideas come from.
• If you don't cite your sources, you could be accused of plagiarism. 

There are many different citation styles, but most students need to learn to follow the conventions of only MLA or APA.  Style guides are about more than just citing sources of information or ideas. Guides can help you improve the style of your writing, for example.

Any citation you provide should enable your reader to find that source. Make sure your citation gives the reader the information he, she, or they need to find the source you used.

It's a good idea to purchase a copy of the style guide that your major or graduate program follows: MLA for the humanities and APA for the social sciences and psychology.