Citation Styles

The three citation styles commonly required for students at Charleston Southern University are MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian. While the guides and resources below may be helpful, please remember that the professors in your class have the final authority, so ask them for any citation requirements they have for your class.

The librarians at the CSU Library will provide limited assistance and guidance in formatting citations in person at the Reference Desk, via the telephone at (843) 863-7946, via email, or via instant message/chat. Additional assistance is also available to CSU students at the CSU Writing Center in Norris Hall 209. See the Writing Center's webpage for hours and to schedule an appointment.

Properly citing materials used in research writing is important in order to avoid plagiarizing (stealing) another person's intellectual property rights. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense which can lead to a failing grade on the paper or for the class, and possibly to expulsion from the University. For more information on how to avoid plagiarizism, see:

• Plagiarism This online tutorial written by CSU reference librarians provides information on avoiding plagiarism and includes an optional quiz to test your understanding
• Avoiding Plagiarism From the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL), this resource offers advice on how to avoid plagiarism

MLA (Modern Language Association)

• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York : Modern Language Association of America, 2009. Located at the CSU Library Reference Desk REF. LB2369 .G53 2009 NOTE: The 7th ed. has some major changes from previous editions, most notably the requirement to add the word Print or Web at the end of the citation to indicate if the resource was used in a print or online format.
• MLA Handbook FAQ From MLA.org
• MLA 2009 Formatting and Style Guide From the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL), this page is updated to reflect the new 7th ed. of the MLA Handbook.
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide From the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL), this page explains the older requirements from the 6th ed. of the MLA Handbook for those professors still using it.
• MLA Update 2009 From the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL), this page summarizes some of the more noteworthy changes in the 7th ed. of the MLA Handbook.

APA (American Psychological Association)

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 6th ed. Washington, DC : American Psychological Association, c2010. Located at the CSU Library Reference Desk REF. BF76.7 .P83 2010
• APA Style Guide to Electronic References. Washington, DC : American Psychological Association, c2007. Located at the CSU Library Reference Desk REF. BF76.7 .P831 2007
• Frequently Asked Questions About APA Style From apastyle.org
• The Basics of APA Style This tutorial from apastyle.org is designed for those who have no previous knowledge of APA Style. Headphones are available at the second floor AV Desk for use with this resource in the CSU Library.
• APA Formatting and Style Guide From the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Chicago/Turabian

Turabian is based on the Chicago Manual of Style

• The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th ed. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, c2003. Located at the CSU Library Reference Desk REF. Z253 .C57 2003
• Turabian, Kate L. A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations : Chicago style for students and researchers 7th ed. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2007. Located at the CSU Library Reference Desk REF. LB2369 .T8 2007
• Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide From chicagomanualofstyle.org, this gives examples of commonly cited types of materials, showing the in-text citation/note and the bibliography/reference-list entry for both allowed styles.
• Chicago Style Q+A From chicagomanualofstyle.org, these questions and answers are arranged by common topics
• Turabian and Chicago Styles Citations (pdf) From the University of California Berkeley Library, this guide provides examples and the basic guidelines for citing sources using the Chicago/Turabian style, showing the in-text citation/note and the bibliography/reference-list entry for both allowed styles.