First, we need to understand the characteristics and scope of application of various citation formats.
For example, APA format focuses on rigour and clarity and is suitable for social science research;
MLA format emphasises consistency in language style and is suitable for literary and artistic research;
Chicago format elaborates on citations and is applicable to fields such as law, politics, and journalism.
Then, depending on your field of research and type of paper, choose the citation format that best suits you.
For example, a scientific research paper may choose APA format; a literary review may choose MLA format; and a law or journalism paper may choose Chicago format.
Of course, personal habits and preferences will also affect the choice; some people prefer a concise citation format, while others prefer a detailed one.
After determining the citation format, we need to write it in strict compliance with the relevant rules.
For example, according to APA format, the cited sources should be listed one by one after the text;
While in MLA format, the cited sources need to be placed at the bottom of the article in the form of footnotes.Chicago format puts higher requirements on citation format and formatted citation instructions.
Finally, we need to ensure consistency and accuracy in citation formatting.
In the process of essay writing, the citation format needs to be consistent to avoid confusion and errors.
At the same time, the citation content needs to be accurate to avoid wrong citation leading to academic misconduct.
Hopefully, the above suggestions can help you choose a citation format that suits you.
When writing academic papers or research reports, different citation formats need to follow specific formatting requirements. For international students, especially those studying overseas, it is crucial to cite references correctly. International students can refer to APA, MLA and other internationally accepted reference citation formats. The following are some examples of citation formats:
1. Books
Author’s name [year of publication], book title, publisher’s name, place of publication: starting and ending page numbers
Example:
Alan Barnard [2000], Introductory Economics, Oxford University Press, London: 32-34.
2. Journal type
Author’s name [year of publication of article], title of article, name of journal, volume (issue) of journal: start and end page numbers
Example:
Michael Robert [2010], “The Future of Financial Regulation”, Financial Studies, Vol. 15, No. 3: 102-109
3. Online resources category
Author’s name [year of publication], article title, resource address
Example:
John Peters [2008], “The Impact and Challenges of Big Data,” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2509789/
4. Conference papers
Author’s name [year of conference], name of conference, title of paper, location of conference: start and end page numbers
Example:
Charles McCormick [2005], “Education for the Future: Challenges and Opportunities”, International Forum for Educational Development, Bangkok: 24-35
5. Dissertations
Author’s Name [Year of Degree Award], Title of Dissertation, Name of Degree Conferring Institution
Example:
Mark Wood [2009], “Sustainable Development of Urban Transportation Systems: The Case of New York”, New York University, PhD thesis
Citing references correctly not only helps to improve the quality of academic papers, but also demonstrates academic integrity and rigour. Listing references correctly in your dissertation allows readers to understand your research and demonstrates the high quality of your literature review and academic standards. Therefore, when citing references, international students need to pay attention to the norms and requirements in terms of format, order of arrangement, citation and type of literature.
