Part 7: Style and citation

A style system is a set of rules for the appearance of a document, including things like fonts, page layout, and in-text and end of document citations. There are many different style systems for many different fields of research and study, such as MLA (Modern Language Association) for fields like English or foreign languages, APA (American Psychological Association) for sociology or psychology, or Chicago for history and music. A style system's rules are developed and agreed upon by experts in that field. For instance, experts in fields that use APA agree that currency of information is important, so APA style privileges dates in citations and puts them up front. Although the details of each style system vary, all style systems are grounded in the belief that it is important to cite source material and have a consistent way to do so. This makes it easy for readers and writers to find the information they need in a document. 

Beyond following disciplinary expectations for your field of study, why should writers use a style system? 

• Citing your sources gives credit to the original creators of the information that you're using.

• Citing your sources also tells your readers where your information came from.

• Using a style system including citations gives your writing credibility.

The best way to find out which style system to use is to ask your professor or check your assignment sheet! In Composition and Culture and most writing courses, MLA is preferred. However, some instructors will ask you to use the style system that corresponds to your major.