What is a citation guide?

A citation guide explains how to cite sources using a specific style like APA, MLA, or Harvard. It covers in-text citation rules, reference list formatting, and examples.

Which citation guide should I use?

The guide you should use depends on your subject area or your instructor’s requirements. APA is used in social sciences, MLA in humanities, and Vancouver in medicine.

Do all citation styles follow the same rules?

No. Each citation style has unique rules for author names, date placement, punctuation, and formatting. That’s why it's important to follow the correct guide for your style.

Citation Guides for Students and Researchers

New to referencing? Our clear and concise guides show you how to cite sources correctly using the most widely used citation styles — including APA, MLA, Harvard, Vancouver, Chicago, and OSCOLA.

Learn the rules for formatting in-text citations, reference lists, bibliographies, and more — with real examples and step-by-step guidance for each style.

Explore Citation Guides by Format

Each guide includes formatting rules, in-text citation instructions, and full reference list examples. Click a style to get started.

APA Style Guide (7th ed.)

Learn how to reference sources in APA format — including in-text citations, reference lists, and APA formatting rules.

Open APA Guide

MLA Style Guide (9th ed.)

Format citations and works cited entries in MLA style. Ideal for students in the humanities and literature.

View MLA Guide

Harvard Referencing Guide

Get step-by-step help with Harvard-style referencing — including how to cite books, websites, articles, and more.

See Harvard Guide

Chicago Style Guide

Explore both the Notes & Bibliography and Author–Date systems used in the Chicago Manual of Style.

View Chicago Guide

Vancouver Referencing Guide

Format numbered citations and references for scientific and medical writing using Vancouver style.

Open Vancouver Guide

OSCOLA Referencing Guide

Cite legal sources accurately using OSCOLA — the Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities.

Coming Soon

Explore Referencing Topics

What is Referencing?

Learn why referencing matters in academic work and how to do it right.

Referencing vs. Citation

Understand the difference between referencing and citing — and when to use each.

Learn More

How to Reference a Website

Step-by-step instructions for citing web pages across major citation styles.

View Guide

Citing Images and Figures

Learn how to cite diagrams, charts, and images in APA, Harvard, and MLA.

View Article

Avoiding Plagiarism

Find out how referencing helps you stay academically honest and plagiarism-free.

Find Out More

Compare Referencing Styles

Quickly compare APA, Harvard, MLA, and other styles with key format differences.

Compare Styles

Annotated Bibliography Guide

Learn how to write an annotated bibliography with step-by-step guidance and clear examples in APA, MLA, Harvard, and more.

Read the Guide

FAQs About Citation Guides

A citation guide explains how to format sources using a specific referencing style. It usually includes in-text citation rules, reference list layouts, examples, and formatting tips.

The style you need depends on your subject or institution. APA is common in social sciences, MLA in humanities, Harvard in UK universities, and Vancouver in health sciences. Always check your assignment brief or style guide.

No — each referencing style has its own rules for punctuation, order of elements, author names, and use of italics. That’s why it’s important to follow the correct style guide for your discipline.

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Ready to create accurate references? Explore more citation examples or try one of our free online citation generators .