This guide was created to provide information and resources on common citation styles used in bibliographies for assignments. It contains style guides (physical books and ebooks), online resources, and citation management tools.

For further assistance with citing images, please visit our Citing Images guide, also linked to in the sidebar.

This guide was created by the Research & Instruction department.

If you are writing a paper, creating a presentation, or working on a project for school, it is common practice in the United States to cite any external sources you consulted. These sources could be books, scholarly journals, images, lectures, social media, etc.

The purpose of citing your sources is to (1) give credit to the individuals or groups who generated the ideas you are using, (2) allow others to verify that you have accurately represented your sources' ideas, and (3) provide resources that researchers with similar interests can investigate.

Whether you are:

• directly quoting another individual/work
• summarizing or paraphrasing ideas from another's work
• using images, video footage, or other media from another's work
• consulting another work that informs your research

any idea that is not your own should be attributed.

Citations are compiled in a bibliography or reference list. Depending on the format of your assignment, you may also have to cite your sources in the text.

Some tips if you need help with citations for an assignment:

• Read the assignment instructions carefully to see what your professor's requirements are. If no citation style is listed, ask your professor about which style to use.
• Schedule an appointment with a tutor at the Center for Arts & Language. RISD's Center for Arts & Language offers peer tutoring, workshops, resources, and events supporting written, spoken, and visual communication for all RISD students. Visit A&L to revise a paper, practice for critique, design your thesis book, find your voice, and speak your mind.
• Ask a librarian for help at researchhelp@risd.edu.