Identify the required citation style
Place the citation in the text where the source is used
Include the author’s last name and publication year for APA
Include the author’s last name and page number for MLA
Include the author’s last name and year for Chicago author-date
Use quotation marks for direct quotes
Add page numbers for direct quotes when required
Paraphrase carefully and still cite the source
Use parenthetical citations when the style requires them
Match every in-text citation to a full reference entry
Cite multiple authors according to the style guide
Use et al. when the style allows it for multiple authors
Cite organizations as authors when applicable
Include page, paragraph, or section numbers when needed
Follow the exact punctuation and formatting rules of the style guide