Style Guides

There are three major citation styles: APA, MLA, and Turabian (or Chicago). If you are not sure which one to use, ask your instructor. You may also read the descriptions below to try to decide which citation style is best suited to the paper you are writing. At a minimum, choose one citation style and use it consistently throughout your paper.

APA stands for American Psychological Association and refers to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. APA style is used in the social sciences, education, engineering, and business.

For a general overview of how to use APA style, take the USM Libraries APA online tutorial.

Click the links below for examples of citations for various types of resources.

• In-text citations
• USM Style Guide for a Reference List

For complete and thorough information about using APA style, go straight to the source. Copies of the Publication Manual of the APA are available on reserve and in the reference collections of both Cook Library and the Gulf Coast Library. The call number is BF76.7 .P83 2001.

MLA stands for Modern Language Association and refers to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. MLA is used in the humanities.

For a general overview of how to use MLA style, take the USM Libraries MLA online tutorial.

Click the links below for examples of citations for various types of resources.

• In-text citations
• USM Style Guide for Works Cited

For complete and thorough information about using MLA style, go straight to the source. Copies of the MLA Handbook are available on reserve and in the reference collections of both Cook Library and the Gulf Coast Library. The call number is LB2369 .G53 2003.

Turabian refers to A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations written by Kate Turabian. Turabian is a condensed version of the Chicago Manual of Style. The two styles are similar, but not necessarily identical. Turabian is used by historians.

Click the links below for examples of citations for various types of resources.

• Notes (endnotes and footnotes)
• USM Style Guide for a Bibliography

For complete and thorough information about using Turabian style, go straight to the source. Copies of the Turabian manual are available on reserve and in the reference collections of both Cook Library and the Gulf Coast Library. The call number is LB2369 .T8 2007. The call number for the Chicago Manual of Style is Z253 .U69 2003.