In academic writing, you must cite the sources you use. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, a serious academic offence (see below).
Citations let the reader know that certain words or ideas in your work came from another source, giving credit where it's due. They allow readers to identify, find, and consult the sources themselves. In addition, citing your sources demonstrates to your instructor that your paper is based on solid (or not-so-solid) research.
Usually, your instructors will specify in class or in a course syllabus which citation style they want you to use in your papers.
ACS style is the standard style used in chemistry. Access the title online below.
Other citation style guides can be found below. These include:
- APA
- MLA 7th Edition
- MLA 8th Edition
- Chicago Manual of Style
Find links and support for three citation managers: EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley.