Common Citation Styles

See below for guidance on common citation styles, as well as additional styles that you may be required to use depending on your program. However, there is no standard citation style at BU. Always check with your instructor or publisher for their preferred style.

More Citation Styles

Some fields and disciplines use their own styles and guidance for citing. While there are hundreds of styles available, we’ve selected a few to highlight here. As always, if you aren’t sure which style to use, check with your instructor or publisher.

Quick Citation Generators

If you’re looking for a tool to simply generate citations quickly, these resources may suit your needs. Keep in mind that you should always double-check generated citations for accuracy!

  1. BibMe
  2. Citation Machine
  3. Citefast
  4. Cite This For Me
  5. ZoteroBib

NCSU’s Citation Builder

This tool from NCSU offers a quick and easy, fill-in-the-blank tool for creating single citations in MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE formats.

Getting Started with Citation Managers

Citation managers are specialized research tools that help you collect, organize, cite, and share your references. Citation managers are ideal for sharing references among members of a research group, such as students working on a group assignment, or faculty co-writing a paper

BU Libraries provides support for the following citation managers, except RefWorks after August 31st, 2026. Select the pages below to learn more about each tool:

Choosing a Citation Manager

Can’t decide which citation is right for you? If you’d like to compare your options, the University of Toronto has an extensive comparison table that may help you decide.

Citation Comparison Table at University of Toronto

 

Best Practices for Citing in Research

While citation managers make citing, storing, and organizing references easy, they are not foolproof. Keep the following in mind when using them:

1. Check Your References

The various libraries and databases you use index information differently, with varying degrees of accuracy.  Necessary information might be missing or incorrect (e.g. book chapters categorized as journal articles).  Check the information in each reference in your citation manager before you start citing them in your work.

2. Research First, Then Write

Many citation managers include a component that works with word processing software.  Though you can usually alter your bibliography by inserting or removing a citation, it’s easier to collect all your references before you start writing.

3. Use One Document Per Project

If you’re working on a long piece of writing, like a book or dissertation, it may be tempting to save your chapters as several files.  Unless you’re using end notes that are numbered anew with each chapter, resist this temptation.  Combining citations from different files can be tricky when you’re using a citation feature from your bibliographic manager.

4. Know the (Citation) Rules

It helps to know the basic citation format of the style you’re using, whether that’s APA style, MLA style, or something else altogether.  This will help you to spot irregularities in your citations.

5. Choose the Same Tool for Collaboration

If you work in a research group, it’s wise for all group members to use the same bibliographic manager. This makes sharing easy.

 

Writing Support on Campus

The BU Libraries can help you navigate any of the citation tools and style guides listed here. For help or general library questions, please reach out via Ask a Librarian.

At times, we may refer you to other campus centers that specialize in tutoring, academic writing, or career preparedness. For example, the Educational Resource Center (ERC) provides individual writing assistance, resources, specialized help with topics like presentation prep, and more. All ERC services are free and available to all BU students.

Email the ERC

Phone: 617-353-7077
Address: 100 Bay State Rd., 5th Floor
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