When you're working on a paper, presentation, lab report, or any other academic project, you'll often need to include outside sources—like books, scholarly articles, websites, or news stories—to support your ideas. Citing these sources is important for a few key reasons:
Citation is a feature of all academic work, not just writing. Whether you're designing a poster, building a website, or giving a presentation, you should credit any sources you use. This includes ideas, data, images, as well as audio or video clips.
The way you cite sources depends on the course you're taking and the citation style your instructor asks you to use. Most styles include two main parts:
Each style also has its own rules for formatting things like your title page, headings, and margins. Your instructor will usually tell you which style to use, and most departments tend to stick with the same style across courses.
Here is a quick overview of common citation styles and where you’re likely to encounter them.
Developed by the American Psychological Association, APA is the most commonly used citation style at TRU. It features in-text citations in the format (Author, Year) and a reference list at the end of your work. You’ll likely use APA style in courses such as Business, Education, Nursing, Psychology, Geography, and Social Work, though other disciplines may use it too.
Created by the Modern Language Association, MLA is commonly used in the humanities. It uses in-text citations in the format (Author Page) and a Works Cited list at the end of your paper. You’ll likely use MLA style in English Literature and Modern Languages courses, though it may be used in other disciplines as well.
Chicago Style comes in two main formats: Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date. If you're unsure which to use, check with your instructor. This style is commonly used in disciplines such as Philosophy, History, and Political Studies, but may be used in other disciplines as well.
Developed by the Council of Science Editors, CSE Style is widely used in the natural and physical sciences, including biology, chemistry, and environmental science. It offers three citation systems: name-year, citation-sequence, and citation-name.
Other Styles
There are many other citation styles beyond those listed in this guide. If your instructor asks you to use a style not included here, they may also recommend specific resources to help you. When in doubt, ask your instructor for guidance.
Citation styles can be complex, and this guide offers only a brief overview based on official style manuals. For questions not covered here, ask your instructor, visit the TRU Writing Centre, or contact your Subject Librarian.
