There are many different citation styles to choose from but APA, MLA and Chicago are the three most commonly used in academic works.
APA (American Psychological Association) is typically used for the traditional sciences such as Math and Chemistry, while the MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used for humanities and social sciences topics such as Anthropology, Cultural Studies or Literature and finally, the Chicago Manual of Style is often used in Art and History topics.
If you're unsure which style to use in your course assignments, consult your syllabus or reach out to your professor. You may also consult one of the library guides below to help you get started:
If you need additional assistance, please make an appointment with your subject librarian or with your campus writing center.
AMA manual of style : a guide for authors and editors
The Chicago Manual of Style by
Technologies may change, but the need for clear and accurate communication never goes out of style. That is why for more than one hundred years The Chicago Manual of Style has remained the definitive guide for anyone who works with words. In the seven years since the previous edition debuted, we have seen an extraordinary evolution in the way we create and share knowledge. This seventeenth edition of The Chicago Manual of Style has been prepared with an eye toward how we find, create, and cite information that readers are as likely to access from their pockets as from a bookshelf. It offers updated guidelines on electronic workflows and publication formats, tools for PDF annotation and citation management, web accessibility standards, and effective use of metadata, abstracts, and keywords. It recognizes the needs of those who are self-publishing or following open access or Creative Commons publishing models. The citation chapters reflect the ever-expanding universe of electronic sources--including social media posts and comments, private messages, and app content--and also offer updated guidelines on such issues as DOIs, time stamps, and e-book locators. Other improvements are independent of technological change. The chapter on grammar and usage includes an expanded glossary of problematic words and phrases and a new section on syntax as well as updated guidance on gender-neutral pronouns and bias-free language. Key sections on punctuation and basic citation style have been reorganized and clarified. To facilitate navigation, headings and paragraph titles have been revised and clarified throughout. And the bibliography has been updated and expanded to include the latest and best resources available. This edition continues to reflect expert insights gathered from Chicago's own staff and from an advisory board of publishing experts from across the profession. It also includes suggestions inspired by emails, calls, and even tweets from readers. No matter how much the means of communication change, The Chicago Manual of Style remains the ultimate resource for those who care about getting the details right.
MLA Handbook by 
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by Visit your campus Writing Center for additional one-on-one assistance.
