Citing sources plays an essential factor in academic writing, as it provides credit to the authors of the works that are used in a paper. In addition, it offers readers to find the source with the original text. Citation examples give accurate illustrations of how references are formatted properly according to different style guides and types of sources. Obtaining a good understanding of these examples, allows writers to maintain credibility in their work and acknowledge original authors.
Citation Examples – In a Nutshell
- Citation is meant to give credit to researchers and can help you avoid plagiarism.
- The most common citation methods are MLA, APA style, and Chicago style.
- When citing journal articles, the digital object identifier or DOI must be included.
- If the article doesn’t have a DOI, you can use the article URL.
- The citation format will usually be determined by your field of study.
Definition: Citation examples
Citation is a method of giving credit to individuals whenever you use their works to support your research or ideas. Citation examples serve as guidelines for formatting your citations correctly based on the sour type and style guide you choose. Citing sources is integral in academic and professional writing, even when you aren’t directly quoting the original material. The most prominent citation styles across academic fields are MLA, APA style, and Chicago style.
Citation examples for various citation styles
There are many styles you can use for citation examples. As mentioned above, the most important ones are:
- APA citation
- MLA citation
- Chicago citation
In some cases, your instructor will dictate the citation style you should use. You may also have to choose a citation style depending on your field of study.
APA citation example
The following table will show an APA citation example and respective format.
Example
| APA book citation format | Last name, Initials. (Year). Name of the book (Edition). Name of Publisher |
| APA book citation examples | John, K. (1967). A New Beginning (4th ed.). Black Books. Bull, J. (2002). Stress Management (2nd ed.). Howard House. |
MLA citation example
The following table will show an MLA citation example and respective format.
Example
| MLA book citation format | Last name, First name. Name of the Book. Edition, Publisher name, Year of publication. |
| MLA book citation examples | John, Arafat. The Silence of the Lambs. 2nd, Howard House, 2002. Bill, Buffalo. The Red Ripper. 1st, Amber Publishing House, 1992. |
Chicago citation example
The following table will show an Chicago citation example and respective format.
Example
| Chicago book citation format | Last name, First name. Book Title. Edition. City of Publication: Publisher, Year. E-book format. |
| Chicago citation examples | John, Gerard. Obsessed With Power. 1st ed. London: Bailey House, 1995. Stain, Adam. Serial Confessor. 3rd ed. Berlin: Bailey House, 2010. |
Citation examples: Articles
When you quote articles, you will have to include citations to ensure proper credit. The citation style will vary depending on the type of article. Let’s look at citation examples for different types of articles.
Print Article
When citing a journal article or newspaper article, you can follow this basic format:
- Name. (Year). The Heading of the Article. Journal Title, Volume Number (Issue), Pages.
Citation examples
- Fred. (2001). Trial of Gerald Flemming. American Psychologist, 126(2), 20-23.
- Bush. (1967). Impact of Sugar on Child Behavior. American Journal of Behavioral Sciences,40(4), 3-5.(3)
Online Article
Journal articles are usually cited with digital object identifiers (DOI). If the article doesn’t have a DOI, you can use the URL. Here is the basic format for citing an online article:
- Name of Author. (Publication Date). The Heading of the Article. Name of Journal, Volume Number (Issue Number), Pages. Doi: XyXy
Citation examples
- Vincent. (1994). The Other Baston. Grandmother’s Support, 24(1), 30-33. doi: 10.2337/0265-5533.21.2.225
- Bender. (2015). Highway of Tears. Applied Psychology, 60(6), 40-41. Retrieved from http://ojs.lib.svn.edu.uk/index.php/ejip
Citation examples: Images
For image citation examples, you should include the following details:
- Name of the image creator
- Title of the image
- Date the image was created
- Date the image was posted online
- Date you accessed the image
- Institution where the image is located
- Website or name of the database
Examples
- Mike, Larry. “Bloody Benders in the Sahara.” Flickr, 15 Mar. 2013, https://flic.kr/p/2zNyoXB.
- Vivian, Crockett. “Revolted.” 1990, Dallas Museum, Dallas.
Citation examples: Which style guide to use
The citation examples will usually be determined by the field of study. Here is an overview showing the different citation examples and the fields where they are commonly used.
APA citation examples
- Education
- Psychology
- Sciences
MLA citation examples
- Humanities
Chicago citation examples
- Business
- History
- Fine art
FAQs
When citing an online article, you have to include:
- Author’s name,
- Year of publication
- Title of the article
- Name of the journal
- Volume number
- Issue number
- Page
You can then add its DOI or URL.
Your instructor will usually indicate the citation style they want you to use. You can also choose a citation style based on your field of study.
The DOI or digital object identifier is a unique and permanent string that is attached to online journals and publications. It makes it easier for readers to retrieve articles.
You should include citations when you use quotations, predictions, or opinions of other individuals.
Citations must also be included when you use case studies, statistics, theories from other individuals, and other visuals.
