Best Referencing Styles Explained: APA, MLA, Harvard & More
When you write an essay or research paper, you need to give credit to the sources (books, websites, articles) you used. This is called referencing. Different subjects use different referencing styles.
In this guide, we will explain the most popular referencing styles:
- APA
- MLA
- Harvard
- Chicago
- IEEE
Let’s learn how to use them correctly.
1. APA (American Psychological Association)
Used for: Psychology, Education, Social Sciences
How to Format APA References
Book
- Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of Book. Publisher.
- Example:
- Smith, J. (2020). How to Study Better. Education Press.
Website
- Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of Webpage. Website Name. URL
- Example:
- Brown, M. (2021, June 15). The Science of Learning. StudyWell. https://www.studywell.com/science-of-learning
In-Text Citation (Inside Your Essay)
- Use the author’s name and year:
- (Smith, 2020)
- According to Smith (2020), studying daily helps memory.
2. MLA (Modern Language Association)
Used for: Literature, Arts, Humanities
How to Format MLA References
Book
- Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
- Example:
- Smith, John. How to Study Better. Education Press, 2020.
Website
- Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Webpage. Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
- Example:
- Brown, Mary. The Science of Learning. StudyWell, 15 June 2021, www.studywell.com/science-of-learning.
In-Text Citation (Inside Your Essay)
- Use the author’s last name and page number (if available):
- (Smith 45)
- According to Smith, studying daily helps memory (45).
3. Harvard Referencing Style
Used for: Business, Science, Social Sciences
How to Format Harvard References
Book
- Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year) Title of Book. Edition. Publisher.
- Example:
- Smith, J. (2020) How to Study Better. 2nd ed. Education Press.
Website
- Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year) Title of Webpage. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
- Example:
- Brown, M. (2021) The Science of Learning. Available at: https://www.studywell.com/science-of-learning (Accessed: 15 June 2021).
In-Text Citation (Inside Your Essay)
- Use the author’s name and year:
- (Smith, 2020)
- Smith (2020) says that studying daily helps memory.
4. Chicago Style
Used for: History, Business, Fine Arts
How to Format Chicago References
Book
- Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
- Example:
- Smith, John. How to Study Better. Education Press, 2020.
Website
- Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Webpage. Website Name. Month Day, Year. URL.
- Example:
- Brown, Mary. The Science of Learning. StudyWell. June 15, 2021. https://www.studywell.com/science-of-learning.
In-Text Citation (Inside Your Essay)
- Use footnotes (numbers at the end of sentences):
- John Smith, How to Study Better (Education Press, 2020), 45.
5. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Used for: Engineering, Computer Science
How to Format IEEE References
Book
- [1] Author’s Initial. Last Name, Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
- Example:
- [1] J. Smith, How to Study Better. Education Press, 2020.
Website
- [2] Author’s Initial. Last Name, Title of Webpage. Website Name. Year. [Online]. Available: URL
- Example:
- [2] M. Brown, The Science of Learning. StudyWell. 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.studywell.com/science-of-learning
In-Text Citation (Inside Your Essay)
- Use numbers in square brackets:
- Studying daily helps memory [1].
Which Referencing Style Should You Use?
| Subject | Recommended Style |
|---|---|
| Psychology, Education | APA |
| Literature, Arts | MLA |
| Business, Science | Harvard |
| History, Business | Chicago |
| Engineering, IT | IEEE |
Always check with your teacher or university for the correct style.
Final Tips for Referencing
- Be consistent – Use the same style throughout your paper.
- Use tools – Websites like CiteThisForMe or Zotero can help.
- Double-check – Make sure all details (author, year, title) are correct.
Now you know the best referencing styles! Use them correctly to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original authors.
