Citation Style Guides

All WRC tutors are experienced with specific citation styles and documentation practices. We’re happy to answer your questions about plagiarism, or help you practice citing sources so you can be more confident when writing. See our pages about plagiarism and Generative AI & Writing for specific information on those topics.

If you’re unsure which citation style to use for an academic paper, ask your instructor for guidance. We’ve compiled a list of online style guides for each of the four most common documentation styles: APA, MLA CMS/Turabian, and IEEE. That way, you can easily access materials to help you cite your sources—all in one place.

Click on one of the following links or scroll down to see each style guide:

• APA—American Psychological Association
• MLA—Modern Language Association 
• CMS/Turabian—Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian Style
• IEEE—Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

APA—AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIOn

If you’re doing research in psychology, sociology, business, economics, nursing, social work, or education, you may be asked to use APA as your citation style. Many other academic fields also use APA. If you’re unsure which documentation style to use for an assignment, ask your instructor for clarification.

Note: The WRC also has copies of the complete APA Manual for students to use during regular operating hours.

Online Style Guides

• American Psychological Association’s APA Style
• Purdue OWL APA Style Guide
• UNC Charlotte Atkins Library’s APA Style Guide

Sample Papers

• Sample APA paper from the American Psychological Association
• Sample APA paper from Purdue OWL

MLA—MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION

If you’re doing research in English, you may be asked to use MLA as your citation style. Some other academic fields also use MLA. If you’re unsure which documentation style to use for an assignment, ask your instructor for clarification.

Note: The WRC also has copies of the complete MLA Handbook for students to use during regular operating hours.

Online Style Guides

• Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide
• The Writing Center at The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s MLA Documentation Guide
• UNC Charlotte Atkins Library’s MLA Style Guide
• The MLA Style Center

Sample Papers

• Sample MLA paper from Purdue OWL
• List of sample MLA papers from the MLA Style Center
• Sample MLA paper from the University of Washington

Handouts

• MLA Style: 8th Edition from the University of Central Oklahoma Library
• Citations Using MLA, 8th Edition from Kirkwood Community College
• MLA Style 8th Edition from the University of Louisville Writing Center

CMS/TURABIAN—CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE/TURABIAN STYLE

If you’re doing research in the humanities or social sciences, you might be asked to use CMS/Turabian as your citation style. Some other academic fields also use CMS/Turabian. If you’re unsure which documentation style to use for an assignment, ask your instructor for clarification.

Note: The WRC also has copies of the complete CMS/Turabian Guide for students to use during regular operating hours.

Online Style Guides

• The Chicago Manual of Style Online
• Purdue OWL CMS Style Guide
• The University of Chicago’s Turabian Quick Guide
• UNC Charlotte Atkins Library’s CMS Style Guide and Turabian Style Guide

Sample Papers

• Sample CMS paper from Purdue OWL
• Sample CMS paper from the University of Washington
• List of sample Turabian papers from Liberty University

Handouts

• CMS/Turabian Documentation Handout from JCCC Writing Center
• Chicago Manual of Style from The Ohio State University Libraries
• Guide to Chicago or Turabian Documentation Style from The Writing Center at The University of Wisconsin-Madison

IEEE—INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS

If you’re doing research in engineering, you may be asked to use IEEE as your citation style. Some other academic fields also use IEEE. If you’re unsure which documentation style to use for an assignment, ask your instructor for clarification.

Note: The WRC also has copies of the complete IEEE Manual for students to use during regular operating hours.

Online Style Guides

• 2014 IEEE-SA Standard Style Manual
• IEEE Editorial Style Manual
• IEEE Author Digital Tools
• David F. Beer and David McMurrey’s A Guide to Writing as an Engineer, 4th. edition (Available as an eBook)

Sample Papers

• Article Templates and Instructions from IEEE
• Manuscript Templates for Conference Proceedings from IEEE
• Templates and Sample of PES Technical Papers from IEEE Power & Energy Society

Handouts

• Citation Reference from IEEE
• IEEE Citation Guide from the University of Washington-Tacoma
• Documenting Sources: The IEEE Format from the University of Calgary