Citation
In college and other academic settings, you document your sources with citation.
When you use someone else's information in your work, you cite it in two places:
- In the text of your paper with an in-text citation (hover for definition).
- At the end of your paper, with a full citation (hover for definition).
Example
A sample paper with MLA citations:
| An in-text citation in the body of the paper | The corresponding citation in the Works Cited page |
|---|---|
 |
 |
You're writing a paper for English class. Your professor requires MLA style citations.
In your paper you include a quote from the article “Redefining Reading: The Impact of Digital Communication Media” by Naomi Barron. In MLA style, your in-text citation would include the author and page number, like this:
Reading is “just half of literacy. The other half is writing” (Baron 194).
Your paper would also include a Works Cited page, where you provide fuller information about your source. The full MLA citation looks like this:
Baron, Naomi, S. “Redefining Reading: The Impact of Digital Communication Media.” PMLA, vol. 128, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. 193-200.
There are many citation styles, each with different rules about the information and format you should use in your in-text and full citations. The most common citation styles at DCCC are:
- MLA (Modern Language Association)
- APA (American Psychological Association)
- Chicago (Chicago University Press)
Ask your professor what citation style you should use. Then use the resources and help offered by Library Services: