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Citing Sources: Home

Featuring the most frequently used citation styles...

CITATION STYLES
What are Citations?

A citation indicates to people viewing your work that certain arguments, quotes, or ideas originated from another author's work. Together, your in-text citations and your reference list, show readers how you built your argument.

Why Should I Cite?

Citing: 

  • Supports your ideas and provides evidence
  • Protects intellectual property rights
  • Ensures the accuracy of scientific and scholarly knowledge
  • Enables others to follow the progression of knowledge over time (if they like your paper, they can consult the works you cited to further research relevant topics that helped you frame your argument)
  • Prevents you from plagiarizing, which is a serious offense in the scholarly and academic fields
When Should I Cite?

If you're ever in doubt about whether or not to cite, CITE!

Citing is imperative for anything that is not your own, original thought and for facts that are not common knowledge.

What is common knowledge? Any fact that is widely known.
Examples:
-George Washington was the first president of the United States.
-Hawaiʻi is the 50th state in the USA.
-Queen Liliʻuokalani was the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

If you are using AI-generated content in your research, please note that each citation style has its own guidelines and approach to citing AI-generated content. 

Important

  1. Not all the examples in this guide are real (something you can look up and read). 
  2. Not all item formats are featured in this guide; to get assistance with other formats, go to any of the "resources" featured on the left hand side of each citation styles' page.
  3. Please consult with the latest manual for each citation style to verify the most up-to-date and relevant information.
  4. Always contact your instructor if you have any questions.

© James & Abigail Campbell Library at the University of Hawaiʻi - West Oʻahu