Citing Sources: Home

Many library databases will provide a complete citation for a source. You should always check these automatically generated citations against citation style guides to make sure they are correct and up-to-date. If a database does not provide a citation for you, the tools linked below will help you create a citation for your source.

Citing government information can be tricky! Use the resources below to learn how, and you can always Ask a Librarian for help.

The primary reason for citing information sources is to acknowledge and credit the work of others. If you consult books, other print resources, or electronic resources (e.g., web pages, journal articles retrieved from library databases, etc.), you should cite these sources in your bibliography or works cited page.

Auburn University takes plagiarism and academic honesty very seriously. If you are found plagiarizing you could fail your class, and there may be additional consequences at the University level.

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a very helpful resource for citing almost every source type. They have created a citation style guide for the three main citation styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Research and Documentation Online provides guidelines for citing both print and electronic sources in MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE (formerly called CBE) styles. Select "Documenting Sources" from the online menu in each subject area.

You may need to cite in discipline-specific styles as you enter your field of study. Below are a few online style guides for discipline-specific styles. If you don't see your style listed here, use the chat box on this page to ask a librarian how to cite in a discipline-specific style.

The following style manuals are located at the RBD Help Desk (RBD Library, 2nd floor) or in the general collection. Below are manuals for the three most common citation styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago.

You may also need to use a discipline-specific citation style. Below are a few print resources we have available at the RBD Help Desk (RBD Library, 2nd floor) or in the general collection:

Learning how to read a citation can help you understand how to create your own citations! Watch the video below to learn how to read a citation for an entire book, a chapter or essay from a book, and a journal article.

If you're still unsure of how to avoid plagiarism, uphold the academic honesty code, or cite sources responsibly, please don't hesitate to contact us!