Identify the citation style required
Gather all source details before writing
Include author name
Include publication year
Include title of the work
Include publisher or website name
Include publication date if available
Include page numbers for direct quotes or specific references
Format in-text citations according to the style guide
Format the reference list or bibliography according to the style guide
Use consistent punctuation and capitalization
Alphabetize entries if required
Check every citation for accuracy
Match each in-text citation to a full reference entry
Follow the latest edition of the citation style manual