Citation Examples Library

Real-world examples of APA, MLA, and Chicago citations for various source types

๐Ÿ“š Book Citation Examples

Examples for single-author books, edited books, and chapters.

Single Author Book
APA:
Rowling, J. K. (1997). Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone. Bloomsbury.
MLA:
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Bloomsbury, 1997.
Chicago (Notes):
1. J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (London: Bloomsbury, 1997), 45.
Multiple Authors Book
APA:
Gladwell, M., & Pink, D. H. (2023). Influence and persuasion. Penguin Books.
MLA:
Gladwell, Malcolm, and Daniel H. Pink. Influence and Persuasion. Penguin Books, 2023.
Chicago (Author-Date):
Gladwell, Malcolm, and Daniel H. Pink. 2023. Influence and Persuasion. New York: Penguin Books.
Edited Book
APA:
Smith, J. D. (Ed.). (2022). Modern literature anthology. Oxford University Press.
MLA:
Smith, John D., editor. Modern Literature Anthology. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Chicago (Bibliography):
Smith, John D., ed. Modern Literature Anthology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022.

๐Ÿ“„ Journal Article Examples

Examples for print and online journal articles with and without DOIs.

Journal Article with DOI
APA:
Johnson, M. L., & Smith, R. T. (2023). Climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems. Environmental Science Journal, 45(2), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1002/env.12345
MLA:
Johnson, Mary L., and Robert T. Smith. "Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Ecosystems." Environmental Science Journal, vol. 45, no. 2, 2023, pp. 123-45. doi:10.1002/env.12345.
Chicago (Author-Date):
Johnson, Mary L., and Robert T. Smith. 2023. "Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Ecosystems." Environmental Science Journal 45 (2): 123-45. https://doi.org/10.1002/env.12345.
Online Journal Article
APA:
Chen, L. (2023). Digital literacy in higher education. Journal of Educational Technology, 18(3). https://www.jet.org/digital-literacy
MLA:
Chen, Lisa. "Digital Literacy in Higher Education." Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 18, no. 3, 2023, www.jet.org/digital-literacy. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Chicago (Notes):
1. Lisa Chen, "Digital Literacy in Higher Education," Journal of Educational Technology 18, no. 3 (2023): par. 5, https://www.jet.org/digital-literacy.
Newspaper Article
APA:
Williams, J. (2023, March 15). Economic trends in 2023. The New York Times, A1.
MLA:
Williams, James. "Economic Trends in 2023." The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2023, p. A1.
Chicago (Bibliography):
Williams, James. "Economic Trends in 2023." The New York Times, March 15, 2023.

๐ŸŒ Website & Online Source Examples

Examples for web pages, blogs, government websites, and online videos.

Web Page with Author
APA:
Miller, S. (2023, June 10). The future of renewable energy. Energy Insights. https://www.energyinsights.com/renewable-future
MLA:
Miller, Sarah. "The Future of Renewable Energy." Energy Insights, 10 June 2023, www.energyinsights.com/renewable-future. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
Chicago (Author-Date):
Miller, Sarah. 2023. "The Future of Renewable Energy." Energy Insights. June 10, 2023. https://www.energyinsights.com/renewable-future.
Government Website
APA:
U.S. Department of Education. (2023). College affordability data. https://www.ed.gov/college-affordability
MLA:
U.S. Department of Education. "College Affordability Data." ED.gov, 2023, www.ed.gov/college-affordability. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Chicago (Notes):
1. U.S. Department of Education, "College Affordability Data," accessed December 18, 2024, https://www.ed.gov/college-affordability.
YouTube Video
APA:
Khan Academy. (2023, January 15). Introduction to calculus [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example123
MLA:
Khan Academy. "Introduction to Calculus." YouTube, 15 Jan. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=example123.
Chicago (Bibliography):
Khan Academy. "Introduction to Calculus." YouTube video, 15:23. January 15, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example123.

๐ŸŽ“ Special Source Examples

Examples for theses, conference papers, interviews, and other special sources.

PhD Dissertation
APA:
Rodriguez, M. A. (2023). The impact of social media on political engagement (Publication No. 123456) [Doctoral dissertation, Stanford University]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
MLA:
Rodriguez, Maria A. "The Impact of Social Media on Political Engagement." PhD diss., Stanford University, 2023.
Chicago (Bibliography):
Rodriguez, Maria A. "The Impact of Social Media on Political Engagement." PhD diss., Stanford University, 2023.
Conference Paper
APA:
Wilson, T., & Chen, L. (2023, June). Artificial intelligence in healthcare. Paper presented at the International Conference on Medical Informatics, London, UK.
MLA:
Wilson, Thomas, and Lisa Chen. "Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare." Paper presented at the International Conference on Medical Informatics, London, UK, June 2023.
Chicago (Author-Date):
Wilson, Thomas, and Lisa Chen. 2023. "Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare." Paper presented at the International Conference on Medical Informatics, London, June 15-17.
Personal Interview
APA:
Johnson, D. M. (2023, November 10). Personal interview [Personal interview].
MLA:
Johnson, David M. Personal interview. 10 Nov. 2023.
Chicago (Notes):
1. David M. Johnson, interview by author, November 10, 2023.

๐Ÿ“ In-Text Citation Examples

How to cite sources within your text in different styles.

APA In-Text Citations
โ€ข One author: (Smith, 2023)
โ€ข Two authors: (Smith & Johnson, 2023)
โ€ข Three+ authors: (Smith et al., 2023)
โ€ข Direct quote: (Smith, 2023, p. 45)
โ€ข Multiple sources: (Smith, 2023; Johnson, 2022)
MLA In-Text Citations
โ€ข Basic: (Smith 45)
โ€ข Two authors: (Smith and Johnson 123)
โ€ข Three+ authors: (Smith et al. 89)
โ€ข Multiple works: (Smith 45; Johnson 123)
โ€ข No page: (Smith)
Chicago In-Text Citations
โ€ข Notes-Bibliography: 
  ยน. Smith, Title, 45.
โ€ข Author-Date:
  (Smith 2023, 45)
โ€ข Multiple authors:
  (Smith and Johnson 2023, 67)
โ€ข Multiple sources:
  (Smith 2023; Johnson 2022)

๐Ÿ”„ Interactive Examples

Try these examples in our citation generators:

Generate APA Citation

Try this book example in our APA generator:

Author: Gladwell, M.
Year: 2023
Title: Outliers: The Story of Success
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Generate MLA Citation

Try this website example in our MLA generator:

Author: Johnson, Mary
Title: Modern Poetry Analysis
Website: Literature Online
Date: 2023
URL: www.litonline.com/poetry

Generate Chicago Citation

Try this journal example in our Chicago generator:

Author: Smith, John
Title: Historical Methods
Journal: Journal of History
Volume: 12, Issue: 3
Year: 2023
Pages: 45-67

Using These Examples Effectively

  • Copy with caution: Always verify information matches your source exactly
  • Use as templates: Follow the format but replace with your source information
  • Check punctuation: Each style has specific punctuation rules
  • Verify with official guides: When in doubt, consult official style manuals
  • Use our generators: For accurate, properly formatted citations instantly