How to Cite Sources: Citation and Style Guides
See also
- Need a citation management tool? Try using RefWorks to automatically format citations and prepare bibliographies
- How to create permanent links to online articles
- Avoiding Plagiarism
online video from the Queen's Learning Commons
A Style Guide is a handbook or manual that describes an accepted format for citing references in academic writing.
There are many different citation styles. Check with your instructors to determine which style is expected for your courses. If you are writing for publication, consult the publisher and/or journal editorial policy.
Frequently-Used Citation Styles
ACS Style Guide (American Chemical Society)
One of the most commonly used guides in chemistry.
- Print guide: Check QCAT for location and call number
APA Style (American PSYCHOLOGICAL Association)
Preferred style in psychology and many other social sciences disciplines.
- Print guide: Check QCAT for location and call number
- Online guide: APA Format (prepared by the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University)
ASA Style (American SOCIOLOGICAL Association)
Frequently used style in sociology and related disciplines.
- Print guide: Check QCAT for location and call number
- Online guides:
ASA Style and Reference Guide (prepared by the Department of Sociology, Queen's University)
ASA Format (prepared by the OWL at Purdue University)
ASCE Style (American Society of Civil Engineers)
Frequently used style in Civil Engineering.
- Online guide: ASCE Format
CSE Style (Council of Science Editors) - formerly CBE
Preferred style in biology and other natural sciences disciplines.
- Print guide: Check QCAT for location and call number
- Online guides:
CSE Citation Guide (prepared by Ohio State University Libraries)
Using CBE Style to Cite and Document Sources (prepared by Bedford/St. Martin's)
Chicago Style
Frequently used in history and many other disciplines.
- Print guide: Check QCAT for location and call number
- Online guide: Chicago Manual of Style (prepared by the OWL at Purdue University)
IEEE Citation Style (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Used mainly in Electrical and Computer Engineering and also by first year engineering students in APSC 100.
- Online guide: IEEE Citation Style Guide (prepared by Engineering & Science Library, Queen's University)
MLA Style (Modern Languages Association)
Preferred style in literature, arts, and humanities.
- Print guide: Check QCAT for location and call number
- Online guide: MLA Format (Prepared by the OWL at Purdue University)
Social Sciences Style (SSS)
Sometimes used for courses in the humanities and social sciences.
- Print only: Making Sense : a Student's Guide to Research and Writing : Social Sciences / Margot Northey, Lorne Tepperman Check QCAT for location and call number
- Additional resources by Margot Northey
Turabian Style
A simplified guide to the Chicago Manual of Style, used at the undergraduate level regardless of discipline.
- Print guide: Check QCAT for location and call number
- Online guide:Turabian and Chicago Styles Citations (prepared by University of California Berkeley Library)
Vancouver Style
Preferred style in the health sciences disciplines.
Special Formats of Material
Government Publications and Statistics
The following guides provide general citation examples for different types of government publications and statistics and are intended to supplement, not replace, standard citation manuals such as Chicago, MLA, etc.
- Brief Guide to Citing Canadian Government Documents and Statistics (prepared by Queen's University Library MADGIC)

- How to Cite Statistics Canada Products (prepared by Statistics Canada)

- How to Cite Government Publications - Research Guide (prepared by McMaster University Libraries)

- Citing Government Information Sources Using MLA (Modern Language Association) Style (detailed guide from University of Nevada, Reno Libraries with examples for US, UN, NATO Publications)
- Uncle Sam - Brief Guide to Citing Government Publications (prepared by the University of Memphis Libraries)
Legal Materials
The Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation (popularly known as "the McGill Guide") is the authoritative source in Canada for citing legal materials.
Print EDITION: Check QCAT for a copy of the McGill Guide
Online guide: Not available online.
Unofficial legal citation information available on the web:
- Introduction to Legal Citation (prepared by Queen's University Lederman Law Library)

Maps and Other Cartographic Materials
- Citation Guide for Maps (prepared by Queen's University Library MADGIC)
Music
- Citing Music Sources in Your Essay and Bibliography (prepared by University of Western Ontario Music Library)
- Bibliographic Citations (prepared by Indiana University Music Library)
Last Updated: 08 August 2011