The Purdue OWL: A Great Reference For Citation Style

Some of the most common questions we get here at the reference desk at the Cannell Library have to do with citations for research papers. Some of these questions are: How do you cite an online journal article in MLA? How is APA different from Chicago Style? How do I format my works cited page?

Here at the reference desk, we have several tools to help you. These tools include copies of the different style manuals available at the desk that you can use in-library, and worksheets that give you a basic outline of how to cite using different styles. We even have a web page full of links to different sources on the web.

One more source that we often recommend is the Purdue OWL website: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/. Maintained and offered for free by the writing lab at Purdue University, the OWL offers helpful instruction and tutoring on a variety of different types of writing. In addition, clicking on the “Research and Citation” link on the left sidebar will lead you to some helpful, clear, and concisely written pages that will help you with questions regarding the APA, MLA, and Chicago Styles of citation and writing. These pages include examples of good citation in each style. They can also help you with formatting your paper according to that style’s guidelines.

Knowing the citation and style rules that your instructor wants you to follow is important, both academically and in terms of your grade. The Purdue OWL site is just one fantastic resource you can use to make sure you’re doing it right. Visit the site today and check it out, and as always, come talk to one of your friendly neighborhood librarians at any time if you need more assistance.