Citing sources in graduate school papers must be done with extra care and caution. Submitting a graduate school paper bearing improperly written citations might give your professor an impression that you either rushed the assignment or ignored the details. Here are some of the things you need to know about MLA, APA, and Turabian styles of citation:
When to use MLA, APA, or Turabian citation
The citation style to use must always be based on the specific instruction of your professors. If your professor prefer Turabian citation over MLA or APA, then use Turabian. It is always wise to consult your professor regarding the proper citation style to use before you start writing your paper.
The preferred citation style used in writing papers for literature, arts, humanities, and history subjects is the MLA. For social sciences or psychology papers, use the APA citation. The Turabian style of citation, however, may be used for any subject.
How to use MLA, APA, and Turabian citation
* Citing books
MLA – Author 1 Last name, First name and Author 2 First name Last name. Underlined book bitle. Place of publication: Name of publishing house, Year of publication.
APA – Author 1 Last name, First name Initial., & Author 2 Last name, First name Initial. (Year of publication). Italicized book title. Place of publication (city/state): Name of publishing house.
Turabian – Author 1 Last name, First name, and Author 2 First name Last name. Year of publication. Italicized book title. Place of publication: Name of publishing house.
* Citing encyclopedia entries
MLA – Author Last name, First name. “Topic.” Underlined name of encyclopedia. Ed. Name of editor. Number of volumes. Place of publication: Name of publishing house, Year of publication.
APA – Author Last name, First name Initial. (Year of publication). Topic. In italicized name of encyclopedia (Vol. Number, pp. Pages). Place of publication: Name of publishing house.
Turabian – cited in the text and placed in parentheses (Author Name, “Topic,” in Name of Encyclopedia, Year of publication ed.)
* Citing magazine articles or Internet sources
MLA – Author Last name, First name. “Article title.” Underlined title of book. Year of publication. Place of publication. Day of access month. Year <web address>.
APA – Author Last name, First name initial. (Year of publication). Italicized title of article. Retrieved month day, year, from Title of book Website: web address
Turabian – Author Last name, First name. Year of publication. Italicized title. Place of publication: Name of publishing house. On-line. Available from Internet, web address, accessed day month year.
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