Use these tools to help you organize and cite your references:

If you have questions after consulting this guide about how to cite, please contact your advisor/professor or the writing and communication center.

Because there is no one standard citation style used at MIT:

• Ask your professor or TA which style s/he prefers for the course.
• Consult a style guide for examples of using various citation styles to create in-text citations, bibliographies and reference lists, or use citation software to assist you in tracking sources used and building in-text citations and bibliographies.
• Use a standard style, such as APA, and be consistent with it throughout your paper.
• Ask for citation and paper-writing assistance at the MIT Writing and Communication Center.

Academic organizations and some disciplines outline their own styles of how to cite sources and format research papers.  You may have heard of or used some of the styles before.   

Consult these print and online style guides for examples of citing sources in the text of your paper and in a bibliography or reference list.  See also information about citation software packages supported by the MIT Libraries.

MLA: Modern Language Association [Humanities]

• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (MIT only, online subscription)
• MLA Handbook - Hayden Library, Reference Collection LB2369 .M52 2021
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide (online from The Owl at Purdue, with many examples of creating in-text footnotes and works cited entries)

 APA: American Psychological Association [Social Sciences]

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association - Hayden Library, Humanities Reference and Dewey Library Reference, BF76.7.A46
• APA Formatting and Style Guide (online from The Owl at Purdue with several examples of in-text citations and reference list entries)

 CMS: Chicago Manual of Style [various subjects]

• Chicago Manual of Style - Hayden Library, Reference Collection Z253.U69 2017
• Chicago Manual of Style (MIT only, online subscription)
• Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide (online from the Chicago Manual of Style web site, with examples of citing various types of publications)

 ACS: American Chemical Society

• ACS Style Guide - Hayden Library Reserve Stacks, QD8.5.A25

CSE: Council of Science Editors

• Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors and Publishers - Hayden Library, Science Reference, T11.S386

 IEEE: Institute of Electronics & Electrical Engineers

• Writing and Speaking in the Technology Professions: A Practical Guide - Barker Library Stacks, T11.W75
• How to Cite References - IEEE Style (online from Murdoch University Library, with many examples of citing various publications)

 NLM: National Library of Medicine or AMA: American Medical Association

• AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors - Hayden Library, Science Reference, R119.A533
• Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors and Publishers (online from the National Library of Medicine)

Various styles - the following resources provide examples of citing sources in several styles

• Research and Documentation In the Digital Age - by Diana Hacker.  Covers MLA, APA, CMS and CSE styles
• Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing