Citation Resources
Manuals of Style for Citing Sources
A manual of style provides guidelines for formatting a paper (margins, title, page numbers, etc.) and citing sources (in-text citations, bibliography).
While you should use the manual of style your professor recommends, the list of resources below tells you which disciplines each manual is typically used for. In this list you will find links to the full manual of style online, if it available for free, as well as resources that offer shortened versions of each style.
Humanities and Social Sciences
Modern Language Association (MLA) Style
MLA Handbook Plus - The MLA Handbook (9th edition), available through Mason's LIbrary website. If this link doesn't take you there, go to the Library Databases page and search for MLA using the search box on the right.
Purdue OWL MLA Formatting and Style Guide
Writing Center MLA Quick-Guide
MLA Style Center "Ask the MLA" - helpful if you have a specific question about citing sources in MLA style
American Psychological Association (APA) Style
Used in many of the social sciences disciplines as well as business, the Publication Manual of the APA is not available online for free. The resources below, however, cover the basics.
Purdue OWL APA Formatting and Style Guide
Writing Center APA Quick-Guide
APA Style resource page - scroll down to "Popular Style Guidelines" and "All Topics"
The APA Inclusive Language Guide
Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)
Used in history and art history, and sometimes in political science disciplines
The Chicago Manual of Style Online - the full manual available online
Purdue OWL CMS Formatting and Style Guide
Writing Center Chicago Style Quick-Guide
Associated Press (AP) Style
Used for journalism and public relations, the Associated Press Stylebook is not available online for free. The resources below provide some of the main guidelines.
Purdue OWL resource on Associated Press Style
AP Style Quick Reference Guide - Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
American Sociological Association (ASA) Style
Used in sociology
ASA "Quick Tips for ASA Style"
Engineering
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Style
IEEE Editorial Style Manual Online - the full manual online
IEEE References Guide - focuses only on in-text citations and the references list
Purdue OWL IEEE Overview and Format
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Style
Sciences
American Institute of Physics (AIP) Style
The AIP Style Manual Online - published by the AIP
AIP Quick Reference Guide - University of Illinois Urbanna-Champaign
American Chemistry Society (ACS) Style
ACS Style Quick Guide - published by the ACS
The ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication - the full guide
American Medical Association (AMA) Style
Used in the medical disciplines, including nursing
AMA Manual of Style - available online through the GMU Library when you are logged in. Search for AMA Manual of Style.
AMA Style Quick-Guide - University of Illinois Chicago
AMA Style (abridged) - University of Washington Health Sciences Library
General
Turabian Style - based on the Chicago Manual of Style, designed for college students to use in many disciplines