Citation Etats Unis: A Comprehensive Overview

When it comes to citation in the United States, there are several styles and formats that are widely used. Whether you are a student, researcher, or professional, understanding these citation styles is crucial for academic integrity and effective communication. In this article, we will delve into the most common citation styles in the United States, their origins, and how they are applied in various contexts.

APA (American Psychological Association)

The APA citation style is one of the most widely used formats in the social sciences, education, and psychology. It was developed by the American Psychological Association and is known for its simplicity and clarity. The basic structure of an APA citation includes the author’s last name, the publication year, the title of the source, and the publication information.

For example, a book citation in APA format would look like this:

Smith, J. (2020). The Psychology of Happiness. New York: Random House.

When citing a journal article, the format would be slightly different:

Johnson, L. (2019). The Impact of Technology on Education. Journal of Educational Research, 15(2), 123-145.

MLA (Modern Language Association)

The MLA citation style is commonly used in the humanities, especially in English literature, philosophy, and cultural studies. It was developed by the Modern Language Association and emphasizes the author’s name and the title of the source. The MLA format is known for its flexibility and ease of use.

Here is an example of a book citation in MLA format:

Smith, John. The Psychology of Happiness. New York: Random House, 2020.

And here is an example of a journal article citation:

Johnson, Lisa. “The Impact of Technology on Education.” Journal of Educational Research 15, no. 2 (2019): 123-145.

Chicago

The Chicago citation style is one of the oldest and most versatile formats used in the United States. It is commonly used in history, literature, and the arts. The Chicago style has two sub-styles: the Notes-Bibliography system and the Author-Date system.

In the Notes-Bibliography system, footnotes or endnotes are used to cite sources. Here is an example of a book citation in this format:

Smith, John. The Psychology of Happiness. New York: Random House, 2020. Footnote 1.

In the Author-Date system, in-text citations are used along with a bibliography. An example of a journal article citation in this format is:

Smith, J. (2020). The Psychology of Happiness. In The Impact of Technology on Education (pp. 123-145). New York: Random House.

CMS (Chicago Manual of Style)

The Chicago Manual of Style is a comprehensive guide to writing, editing, and publishing. It includes guidelines for citation and is often used in the humanities and social sciences. The CMS citation style is similar to the Chicago style but with some differences in formatting.

Here is an example of a book citation in CMS format:

Smith, John. The Psychology of Happiness. New York: Random House, 2020.

And an example of a journal article citation:

Johnson, Lisa. “The Impact of Technology on Education.” Journal of Educational Research 15, no. 2 (2019): 123-145.

APA, MLA, and Chicago: A Comparison

While APA, MLA, and Chicago are all widely used citation styles in the United States, they have distinct differences. Here is a table summarizing some of the key differences between these three styles:

Understanding the differences between these citation styles can help you choose the appropriate format for your academic or professional work.