Whether you are using print resources, online databases, or Internet resources for your research, you still need to correctly cite your sources of information. It is important that you give credit to the originator of an idea as well as indicate to your professor the source of information in your research paper. A common misconception is that you only need to cite direct quotations. You also need to cite sources even if you put the ideas of others into your own words.

The Internet poses some difficulties in citing information. It is sometimes difficult, for instance, to discern the origin and veracity of the information found on a web or home page. For this reason it is important that you first evaluate any information found on the Internet before you cite it in a research paper. Another problem with information on the Internet is that is can change, move, or completely disappear without notice. Therefore, be very careful when using and citing Internet resources. Using faulty citations and unreliable or bogus information can lead to charges of academic dishonesty or plagiarism. Listed below are general guidelines and some sites that offer online citation manuals. There are also current print editions available for the APA, MLA, Chicago, Columbia, and Turabian style manuals at the reference desk in the library. You may also use RefWorks (see link below), a bibliographic management program, that will generate a formatted bibliography for you. If you have any questions regarding citing either print or online resources, please consult with a librarian.

Points to Remember

Ask your professor if a particular style manual is required.

If no particular style is required, then just be sure to cite a source so it can be easily found.

Be consistent throughout your bibliography.

If a print equivalent exists for the Internet resource then, if possible, use the print version.

Don't use an Internet source unless you can verify its reliability.

Consult only official web sites or print manuals for correct citation formats.

Common Style Guides

Bibliographic Management Software

Style Manuals (available in library)

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 2003. (kept at Reference Desk).

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2001. (kept at Reference Desk).

Turabian, Kate. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. (kept at Reference Desk).

Walker, Janice R. and Todd Taylor. The Columbia Guide to Online Style. New York: Columbia University Press, 1998. (kept at Reference Desk).

Updated: October 1, 2004