How to Cite Your Sources Using Citation Machine Software

How to Cite Your Sources Using Citation Machine Software

One of the easiest and quickest ways to help get your sources formatted is to use the online Citation Machine at http://citationmachine.net/.  You have a choice of different formats—MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian—so most likely you will be able to get your list of sources whipped into shape in no time flat.

For those of you who have the latest version of Microsoft Word, you will want to take advantage of everything offered under the Reference tab. Using features found in Word, you can insert citations directly into your paper as you write. When you are finished, you likewise can easily create your bibliography.

Even though these online tools make research paper formatting a cinch, you still need to have all of the relevant information to input into the fields.

The trickiest types of sources are online ones. For these, you need to include as much information in your citations as you can possibly find.

The minimum should include page title, site title, publishing or last revision date, date of access and URL. Other pieces of information include, but are not limited to, author and the site’s sponsor. The more information you can find, the better.   But remember to check for accuracy.

No matter how you go about creating them, remember that your citations should include all the information a reader would need to locate the same source.