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Citation

Short 'How-To' Citation Style Guides

The Library has developed a number of short 'how-to' Citation Style Guides. Please verify with your instructor which format (and edition) he/she prefers.

Interested in citing AI sources such as ChatGPT? Scroll down to see the stand-alone document on citing resources in this quickly evolving area.

Citing Generative AI and ChatGPT

Check with your instructor to make sure that use of generative AI sources, such as ChatGPT, is permissible for your assignments. As this is a new technology, citation standards may change over time.

Official Citation Websites:

Other Resources:

Official Handbooks

Recommended Websites

The following websites provide support and examples for a variety of citation styles. Note: your professor may have his or her own specific preferences for citing.

Citation Generator Tools

Online citation generators will create citations for you, usually in two ways:

  • Look up a source (article, book, etc.), choose a citation style, get the citation
  • Fill in a form with details about the source, choose a citation style, get the citation 

These tools can save you time, but it is important to check for errors and missing information. 

  • Most Library databases have a Cite option. Find a source, then look for a button or link to create a citation.
  • In Microsoft Word, you can add citations using the References tab.

More citation tools:

Citing Indigenous Elders & Knowledge Keepers in APA

The APA style manual does not have a format for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. The NorQuest College Library has developed this citation style in response to this need and we thank them for allowing us to share this information. This section of the guide is based on the NorQuest College Library templates, which were created by librarian Lorisia McLeod (James Smith Cree Nation) and NorQuest Elders.

These templates are for community-based research when citing an Elder and/or Knowledge Keeper as an information source NOT research participant. See the APA 7th edition style guide for citing other resources.

In-Text Citations

Unlike other personal communications, Elders and Knowledge Keepers should be cited in-text and in the reference list. The in-text citation format should follow the same guidelines as noted in the paraphrase and direct quote tabs: 

Delores Cardinal described the nature of the... (2004).

OR

The nature of the place was... (Cardinal, 2004).

Reference List

The citation format for the reference list follows the following format:

Last name, First initial., Nation/Community. Treaty Territory if applicable. Where they live if applicable. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. personal communication. Month Date, Year.

For example:

Cardinal, D., Goodfish Lake Cree Nation. Treaty 6. Lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching. personal communication. April 4, 2004.

Note: If you would like to approach an Elder or Knowledge Keeper for teachings, remember to follow protocol or if you are unsure what their protocol is, please ask them ahead of time. This may include discussing how they would like to be known in a citation, and what information is okay to be shared.

 

Citing Indigenous Elders & Knowledge Keepers in MLA

The MLA style manual does not have a format for Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. The NorQuest College Library has developed this citation style in response to this need and we thank them for allowing us to share this information.

In-text Citations

Unlike most other personal communications, Elders and Knowledge Keepers should be cited in-text and in the reference list. The in-text citation format should be formatted as:

Delores Cardinal described the nature of the...

OR

The nature of the place was... (Cardinal).

Reference List

The citation format for the reference list follows the following format:

Last name, First name., Nation/Community. Treaty Territory if applicable. City/Community they live in if applicable. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. Date Month Year. 

Cardinal, Delores., Goodfish Lake Cree Nation. Treaty 6. Lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching. 4 April 2004.

Note: If you would like to approach an Elder or Knowledge Keeper for teachings, remember to follow protocol or if you are unsure what their protocol is, please ask them ahead of time. This may include discussing how they would like to be known in a citation, and what information is okay to be shared.

Help

For help writing your assignments, including your bibliography or works cited list, contact:

Creative Commons License

This guide was created by Ontario Tech Libraries and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License, except where otherwise noted. 

Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License

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