Library Toolkit for Professional Support Staff: Citations

Citations are a way to reference a work (journal article, conference abstract, website, report, etc.) A citation includes standard elements that allow one to locate the work. Elements may typically include components such as: author/s, title of work, title of source (e.g., journal title), publication year, pages, ID#, etc.

Citation styles are a defined way to format how citations to work appear and what they include. Citation styles may be discipline specific or source specific.

• Use the style manual or author guidelines (journal) for standards on how to format in a particular style. (*see AMA Manual Style example listed below) 
• Reference managers can be used to instantly format citations to match a particular style. You can learn more about some reference manger options here: Reference Managers.

Example: Conference Proceeding Abstract in AMA Style 

Khuri FR, Lee JJ, Lipman SM, et al. Isotretinoin effects on head and neck cancer recurrence and second primary tumors. In: Proceedings from the American Society of Clinical Oncology; May 31-June 3, 2003; Chicaco, IL. Abstract 359.

Example: Chapter in Book in AMA Style

Solenskey R. Drug allergy: desensitization and treatment of reactions to antibiotics and aspirin. In: Lockey P, ed. Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2004:585-606.

* Examples retrieved August 2015 from MD Anderson Libguides.com.

Example