How to Cite

Your instructor may assign a specific style for you to follow. If so, use the style consistently throughout your paper: in the layout of the paper (margins, line spacing, cover page), in the footnotes/in-text citations and in your final list of references.

• If you are not assigned a specific style to use, then you are free to choose whichever style you would like; again, be consistent.
  • Many programs and disciplines have a preferred style, e.g., Psychology - APA style; History - Chicago style; English - MLA style. If you aren't sure which style to choose it's probably best to use the style most preferred by your program/discipline.

ACS (American Chemical Society)

ACS is the standard style used for Chemistry.

• ACS Style Guide (ebook)
• ACS Style Guide (available at UBC Library)

APA (American Psychological Association)

American Psychological Association (APA) style is the standard style used for psychology and many other academic disciplines, especially the social sciences.

APA Style Guides Online

• UBC Library's APA Citation Style Guide
• APA Style Guide to Electronic References (APA)
• APA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue OWL)

APA Style Guide In Print

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA)

ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers)

• ASCE Author's Guide: Writing Style

Chicago/Turabian

The Chicago Manual of Style provides two distinct citation styles: Humanities style (notes and bibliography) and Scientific/Social Sciences styles (parenthetical author/date references and reference list). Be sure to check with your instructor regarding which style they prefer that you use. Chicago style is sometimes called Turabian style, which is a modified version.

Chicago/Turabian Style Guides Online

• UBC Library's Chicago Citation Style Guide
• Chicago Manual of Style (Purdue OWL)

Chicago/Turabian Style Guides in Print

• The Chicago Manual of Style
• A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Kate Turabian)

CSE (Council of Science Editors)

• Scientific style and format: The CSE manual for authors, editors, and publishers

HARVARD

Harvard is a  parenthetical style used most commonly in the UK and Australia. Unlike other citation styles, there is no authoritative guide for Harvard style, so you may see small differences between guides. When using Harvard style, the most important thing is to consistently apply one guide. Here are some guides you may wish to choose from:

• Anglia Ruskin University
• Monash University
• Southern Cross University

IEEE Style (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

IEEE Style uses a notational method of referencing

• IEEE guide from Murdoch University

Legal

Used primarily in Law

• Canadian Open Access Legal Citation Guide

MLA

Modern Languages Association (MLA) style is one of several styles for academic citation. It is used in the humanities, especially English.

MLA Style Guides Online

• MLA Style Guide (UBC Library pdf)
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue OWL)
• Frequently Asked Questions About MLA Style

MLA Style Guide in Print

• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

Vancouver Style / Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals

Commonly used in medical and scientific journals

• Vancouver Style 'How To' Guide (University of Queensland Library)
• Vancouver Referencing (Curtin University Library)
• Citing Medicine: NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (National Library of Medicine)
• BCIT (Vancouver Style Guide)

 

source: http://wiki.ubc.ca/Library:How_to_Cite/Major_Style_Guides