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If you are writing a scientific paper where you cite a lot of studies, an author-date system like APA or Chicago B is best so that your reader can immediately see the recency of your sources. In this case, consider your discipline and choose a style that gives the most relevant information.įor example, if you are writing a humanities paper with a lot of quotations, MLA style is a good choice to cite page numbers without interrupting the flow of your argument. University departments often mandate a specific citation style, but sometimes you are allowed to choose which style you use. If you use a program such as EndNote, Mendeley or Zotero to manage your references, then you can simply select your target journal from a list, and the correct citation style will loaded automatically.
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Some journals even have their own style guide. For example, the European Journal of Criminology uses the Harvard citation style, whereas the Journal of Management and the Journal of Marketinguse APA Style.
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Citation styles for journal submissionsĪcademic journals usually require you to use a specific citation style. Which citation style should you use?įirst, always check the requirements of your university department or the submission guidelines of the target journal. It’s a good idea to check if your citation style has formatting guidelines, but if not, aim for a clear, consistent and easily readable format. However, these rules are generally more flexible and less important than the citation rules.
#How to put proper format citation in word how to#
This might include guidelines for what should go on the cover page margins, spacing and font size titles and headings or even how to write numbers and abbreviations. Some citation styles also have rules about the formatting of your paper as a whole. The easiest way to create reference entries is to use a citation generator. The format often depends on the type of source (e.g. There are also differences in the order of information and how you format each entry.
#How to put proper format citation in word full#
Each entry on the list corresponds to an in-text citation, and gives the reader full publication information to easily find the source.Ĭitation styles differ in the naming of this list: in APA it is the reference page, in MLA it is the works cited, and in Chicago A it is the bibliography. Citation styleĪt the end of your paper, you include a list of all the sources you cited.
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