Why Cite Sources | Online Resources | Print Resources | See also: XU.TUTOR: Preventing Plagiarism | Copyright Resources

Why cite sources?

Whenever you quote or base your ideas on another person's work, you must document the source you used. Even when you do not quote directly from another work, if you base the ideas presented in your paper on that work, you must give the authors proper credit.

Citations provide evidence for your arguments and add credibility to your work by demonstrating that you have sought out and considered a variety of resources. In written academic work, citing sources is standard practice and shows that you are responding to this person, agreeing with that person, and adding something of your own. Think of documenting your sources as providing a trail for your reader to follow to see the research you performed and discover what led you to your original contribution.¹

¹Barker, Joe. (2006, October 11). Citation styles, style guides  and avoiding plagiarism. In Finding information on the Internet: A tutorial. Retrieved May 9, 2007, from
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Style.html.

Online Resources

• AMA (American Medical Association)
  • Boston University Medical Center
  • Samford University
• APA (American Psychological Association)
  • Basics of APA Style
  • Citing chapters in books in Access Medicine
  • Citing Info-Line
  • Harvard University, Graduate School of Education (videos)
  • Purdue OWL: APA Style
  • Xavier University: Citing Resources Using APA Style
  • Xavier University: Setting Up a Paper APA Style for PCs in Word 2007
  • Xavier University,: Setting Up a Paper APA Style for MACS in Word
  • CrossRef.org - free DOI number lookup; use the Search on article title boxes
• Blue Book (Legal/Universal)
  • Cornell University
  • Georgetown University
• CSE (Council of Science Editors; Formerly CBE)
  • Ohio State University
• Cell (the journal - used for XU vertebrate physiology & genetics labs)
  • Xavier University handout for biology students (PDF)
• Chicago Manual of Style
  • Ohio State University - Author-Date
  • Ohio State University - Notes
  • Purdue OWL: Chicago Style
  • University of Chicago Press
  • Xavier University : Citing Resources Using Chicago Style
• Citation Machines (generates a reference based on your preferences)
  • KnightCite (MLA, APA & Chicago) from Calvin College
  • The Landmark Project (APA, MLA, Chicago & Turabian)
  • Noodle Tools (APA & MLA) Click NoodleBib Express under Free Tools
• Harvard Style
  • Monash University
• MLA (Modern Languages Association)
  • Ohio State University
  • Purdue OWL: MLA Style
  • Xavier University: Citing Resources Using MLA Style (PDF last updated 2010)
• Turabian Style
  • Ohio State University
• Vancouver Style
  • Monash University
• Miscellaneous & Multiple Styles
  • Creating a Bibliography & Managing References Using MS Word 2007 (PDF)
  • University of Nebraska

Print Resources

NOTE: Resources located in Ready Reference do not circulate and must be used in the library. Please ask a librarian if you need help locating these resources.

• A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian) LB2369 .T8 2007 (Ready Reference)
• AMA [American Management Association] Style Guide for Business Writing HF5726 .A49 1996 (Ready Reference)
• American Medical Association Manual of Style R119 .A533 1989 (circulating collection)
• Bluebook : A Uniform System of Citation KF245 .B52 2000 (Ready Reference and circulating collection)
• Chicago Manual of Style Z253 .U69 2003 (Ready Reference and circulating collection)
• MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing PN147 .G444 2008, 2nd and 3rd editions (Ready Reference and circulating collection)
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association BF76.7 .P83, 5th and 6th editions (Ready Reference and circulating collection)
• Writing a Research Paper American Style : An ESL/EFL Handbook PE1128 .L3377 1996 (ESL collection)