Citation styles, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago/Turabian, are sets of rules that determine how citations are formatted. Different disciplines favor certain forms, so check with your professor is you are unsure of which format to use for your paper.
Always cite your sources using the correct citation style. See below for citation style and appropriate subject/discipline use. However, always consult your professor for the correct style, if you are not sure.
APA - (American Psychological Association) used in education, business, and in social sciences such as economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, social studies, and sociology.
MLA - (Modern Language Association) used in languages and literature.
Chicago/Turabian - (University of Chicago/Professor Turabian ) generally used in history and (some of) the fine arts.
APA is the preferred citation style when writing your research paper for the following disciplines: Education, Psychology, Business, and Sociology. Check with your professor to make sure you are using the correct citation style.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library has created several useful presentations that can help you understand how to read and create citations. These interactive presentations review basic citations, as well as APA format.