Updated
How these pages work
Each page gives the pattern, a real example, what to do when the author, date or page number is missing, the mistakes that cost points, and a few questions students ask. The examples are real works, and every citation on these pages is made by Format’s own formatter, the same code that writes your Works Cited or References page in the app.
Pick your style, then your source. If your source is not listed, the nearest kind usually works: a blog post follows the web page pattern, and an e-book follows the book pattern.
MLA 9
A Works Cited entry and a short citation in parentheses, usually the author and a page.
- WebsiteA page or article on a website, with an author.
- Web page with no authorA page with no named person, often by an organization.
- YouTube videoA video on YouTube or another site, including TED talks.
- Journal articleA scholarly article, in print or from a database.
- BookA whole book, print or e-book.
- Chapter in an edited bookA chapter, essay or story in a book with editors.
- Newspaper or magazine articleA news or magazine article, print or online.
- FilmA movie, in a theater or on a streaming service.
- TV episodeOne episode of a series, aired or streamed.
- Podcast episodeOne episode of a podcast.
- InterviewA published interview, or one you did yourself.
- Government reportA report or publication from an agency or organization.
- Social media postA post on X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok or similar.
- ChatGPT or other AIText from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or another AI tool.
- BibleA Bible edition, with book, chapter and verse.
- Encyclopedia entryAn article in Britannica or another reference work.
- SongA song or a whole album.
- Painting or artworkA painting, sculpture or photograph, in a museum or online.
- Lecture or speechA lecture, keynote or talk you attended.
- EmailAn email or message sent to you.
APA 7
A reference entry and an author-date citation such as (Walker, 2017, p. 112).
- WebsiteA page or article on a website, with an author.
- Web page with no authorA page with no named person, often by an organization.
- YouTube videoA video on YouTube or another site, including TED talks.
- Journal articleA scholarly article, in print or from a database.
- BookA whole book, print or e-book.
- Chapter in an edited bookA chapter, essay or story in a book with editors.
- Newspaper or magazine articleA news or magazine article, print or online.
- FilmA movie, in a theater or on a streaming service.
- Podcast episodeOne episode of a podcast.
- InterviewA published interview, or one you did yourself.
- Government reportA report or publication from an agency or organization.
- Dissertation or thesisA doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis.
- Social media postA post on X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok or similar.
- ChatGPT or other AIText from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or another AI tool.
- BibleA Bible edition, with book, chapter and verse.
- SongA song or a whole album.
- Lecture or speechA lecture, keynote or talk you attended.
Chicago
Notes and bibliography: a numbered footnote, a shorter note after the first, and a bibliography entry.
- WebsiteA page or article on a website, with an author.
- YouTube videoA video on YouTube or another site, including TED talks.
- Journal articleA scholarly article, in print or from a database.
- BookA whole book, print or e-book.
- Chapter in an edited bookA chapter, essay or story in a book with editors.
- Newspaper or magazine articleA news or magazine article, print or online.
- FilmA movie, in a theater or on a streaming service.
- TV episodeOne episode of a series, aired or streamed.
- Podcast episodeOne episode of a podcast.
- Government reportA report or publication from an agency or organization.
- Dissertation or thesisA doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis.
- Social media postA post on X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok or similar.
- ChatGPT or other AIText from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or another AI tool.
- BibleA Bible edition, with book, chapter and verse.
Harvard
As Cite Them Right (13th ed.) sets it out: an author-date citation and a reference list entry.
- WebsiteA page or article on a website, with an author.
- YouTube videoA video on YouTube or another site, including TED talks.
- Journal articleA scholarly article, in print or from a database.
- BookA whole book, print or e-book.
- ChatGPT or other AIText from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or another AI tool.
IEEE
As the IEEE Reference Guide (v. 3.28.2025) sets it out: a bracketed number in the text and a numbered reference list.
- WebsiteA page or article on a website, with an author.
- Journal articleA scholarly article, in print or from a database.
- BookA whole book, print or e-book.