When it comes to essay writing, correctly citing sources is essential. Proper citation allows readers to locate the original work and verify the information presented. Additionally, it protects against plagiarism accusations and helps maintain academic integrity. Here are four ways to cite an essay:

1. MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

MLA is a standard citation style for humanities subjects, such as literature and language studies. To cite an essay in MLA style, include the author’s last name, followed by the page number (if available) in parentheses.

For example: (Smith 35)

In your Works Cited page, provide a complete reference with the following format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Essay.” Title of Collection, edited by Editor’s Name(s), Publisher, Year Published, Pages of Essay.

For example: Smith, John. “An Analysis of Shakespeare’s Plays.” The Complete Works of Shakespeare, edited by Jane Doe, McGraw-Hill, 2019, pp. 25-50.

2. APA (American Psychological Association) Style

APA citation style is commonly used in social sciences disciplines such as psychology and sociology. In-text citations include the author’s last name and publication year in parentheses.

For example: (Smith, 2019)

The reference list should include the following format:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year Published). Title of essay. In Editor’s Initial(s). Last Name (Ed(s).), Title of

Collection (pp. starting page-end page). Publisher.

For example: Smith, J.(2019). An Analysis of Shakespeare’s Plays. In J.Doe (Ed.), The Complete Works of

Shakespeare (pp. 25-50). McGraw-Hill.

3. Chicago/Turabian Style

The Chicago/Turabian style is widely used in various fields like history and anthropology. To cite an essay in this style, use footnotes at the bottom of the page that include the author’s name, title of the essay, and publication information.

For example:

^1John Smith, “An Analysis of Shakespeare’s Plays,” in The Complete Works of Shakespeare, ed. Jane Doe (New

York: McGraw-Hill, 2019), 30.

In your bibliography, follow this format:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Essay.” In Title of Collection, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name.

City: Publisher, Year Published.

For example: Smith, John. “An Analysis of Shakespeare’s Plays.” In The Complete Works of Shakespeare, edited by Jane Doe. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2019.

4. Harvard Style

Harvard citation style is another widely used format in various academic disciplines. In-text citations include the author’s last name and publication year in parentheses.

For example: (Smith 2019)

In your reference list:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year Published). Title of essay. In Editor’s First Initial(s). Last Name (Ed.), Title of Collection (pp. starting page-end page). Publisher.

For example: Smith, J. (2019) ‘An Analysis of Shakespeare’s Plays’, in J. Doe (ed.), The Complete Works of Shakespeare (pp. 25-50). McGraw-Hill.

Remember always to consult your instructor or specific style guides for any additional requirements or variations from these standard formats. By employing one of these four methods to cite an essay accurately, you can maintain academic integrity and ensure that your work is professionally presented.