how to cite photo in essay

Works-Cited-List Entries

How to cite an image.

To create a basic works-cited-list entry for an image, list the creator of the image, the title of the image, the date of composition, and the location of the image, which would be a physical location if you viewed the image in person. If you viewed the image online, provide the name of the website containing the image and the URL. If you viewed the image in a print work, provide the publication information for the print work, including a page number. Below are sample entries for images along with links to posts containing many other examples.

A Photograph Viewed in Person

Cameron, Julia Margaret. Alfred, Lord Tennyson . 1866, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

A Painting Viewed Online

Bearden, Romare. The Train . 1975. MOMA , www.moma.org/collection/works/65232?locale=en.

An Untitled Image from a Print Magazine

Karasik, Paul. Cartoon. The New Yorker , 14 Apr. 2008, p. 49.

More Examples

Advertisements

Photographs

Slide Presentations

• Previous Example
• Works Cited: A Quick Guide

APA Citation Guide (7th edition) : Images, Charts, Graphs, Maps & Tables

• What Kind of Source Is This?
• Advertisements
• Books & eBooks
• Book Reviews
• Class Handouts, Presentations, and Readings
• Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
• Government Documents
• Images, Charts, Graphs, Maps & Tables
• Journal Articles
• Magazine Articles
• Newspaper Articles
• Personal Communication (Interviews, Emails)
• Social Media
• Videos & DVDs
• Paraphrasing
• Works Cited in Another Source
• No Author, No Date etc.
• Sample Paper, Reference List & Annotated Bibliography
• Powerpoint Presentations

On This Page

Image reproduced from a magazine or journal, image reproduced from a website.

Reproducing Images, Charts, Tables & Graphs

Reproducing happens when you copy or recreate an image, table, graph or chart that is not your original creation. If you reproduce one of these works in your assignment, you must create a note underneath the image, chart, table or graph to show where you found it. You do not include this information in a Reference list.

Citing Information From an Image, Chart, Table or Graph

If you refer to information from an image, chart, table or graph, but do not reproduce it in your paper, create a citation both in-text and on your Reference list.

If the information is part of another format, for example a book, magazine article, encyclopedia, etc., cite the work it came from. For example if information came from a table in an article in National Geographic magazine, you would cite the entire article.

If you are only making a passing reference to a well known image, you would not have to cite it, e.g. describing someone as having a Mona Lisa smile.

Figure Numbers

Each image you reproduce should be assigned a figure number, starting with number 1 for the first image used in the assignment.

Images may not have a set title. If this is the case give a description of the image where you would normally put the title.

Copyright Information

When reproducing images, include copyright information in the citation if it is given, including the year and the copyright holder. Copyright information on a website may often be found at the bottom of the home page.

Note: Applies to Graphs, Charts, Drawings, Maps, Tables and Photographs

Figure X . Description of the image or title of the image. From "Title of Article," by Article Author's First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name, year, day, (for a magazine) or year (for a journal), Title of Magazine or Journal, volume number, page(s). Copyright year by name of copyright holder.

Note : Information about the image is placed directly below the image in your assignment. If the image has been changed, use "Adapted from" instead of "From" before the source information.

Figure 1 . Man exercising. Adapted from "Yoga: Stretching Out," by A. N. Green, and L. O. Brown, 2006, May 8, Sports Digest, 15 , p. 22. Copyright 2006 by Sports Digest Inc.

Note: Applies to Graphs, Charts, Drawings, Tables and Photographs

Figure x.  Description of the image or image title if given. Adapted from "Title of web page," by Author/Creator's First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name if given, publication date if given, Title of Website . Retrieved Month, day, year that you last viewed the website, from url. Copyright date by Name of Copyright Holder.

Note : Information about the image is placed directly below the image in your assignment. If the image has not been changed but simply reproduced use "From" instead of "Adapted from" before the source information.

Figure 2 . Table of symbols. Adapted from Case One Study Results  by G. A. Black, 2006, Strong Online. https://www.strongonline/ casestudies/one.html. Copyright 2010 by G.L. Strong Ltd.

• << Previous: Government Documents
• Next: Journal Articles >>
• Last Updated: Aug 29, 2024 4:58 PM
• URL: https://columbiacollege-ca.libguides.com/apa

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

Citing Images in APA Referencing

• 3-minute read
• 1st March 2019

Most sources you cite in a college paper will be text based (e.g., books and journal articles). But how do you cite images in academic writing? In this post, we look at how to cite an image using APA referencing .

Including Images in a Document

In APA referencing, and paintings, illustrations, diagrams, tables, or graphs you include in your work should come with a caption. You can use the caption tool in Microsoft Word to do this, but you can also add captions manually.

The caption that accompanies an image should do at least three things:

• Label the image so it can be identified in the text (e.g., Figure 1 , Figure 2 ).
• Provide a title for the image or describe what it shows or represents.
• Offer any additional details (e.g., when a photograph was taken).

If the image is your own work (e.g., a photo you took yourself), unless your school’s style guide says otherwise, you do not need a citation. Nor do you need to include your own photographs or illustrations in your reference list.

However, if you have taken an image from another source (e.g., a photograph found online or an illustration from a journal article), you will need to reference it in full. We will explain how this works in the rest of this article.

In-Text Citations for Images

In-text citations for images can work two ways in APA referencing. You can simply refer to an image in the text. For example, if you were to write about a painting without including the image in the document, you would cite it as follows:

In November 2018, Portrait of an Artist (Hockney, 1972) became the most expensive work of art to sell at auction by a living artist.

If you do include an image in your work, the citation should go in the caption.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

You would then refer to the image in the text using the label from the caption (i.e., “Figure 2” for the image above). This also applies if you have borrowed a chart or an illustration from a print source (simply cite the authors and date of publication for the print source in question). In all cases, though, you will need to add the image you have cited to the reference list.

Images in an APA Reference List

As with any source, if you have used images made by someone else in your work, you must include them in the reference list at the end of your document. If you have taken the image in question from another print source (e.g., a diagram from a journal article), simply list the print source.

However, if you have found an image online, the format is a little different:

Artist Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the artwork [Format]. Website. URL

For example, we would list the poster from the example above as follows:

Roepp, G. (1943). I’ve found the job where I fit best! [poster]. Northwestern. https://images.northwestern.edu/multiresimages/inu:dil-41913a91-037f-494b-9113-06004a8a98fb

And don’t forget to have your written work proofread . This will make sure that all your references are clear and complete in the final draft.

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

5-minute read

Free Email Newsletter Template

Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...

6-minute read

How to Write a Nonprofit Grant Proposal

If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...

9-minute read

How to Use Infographics to Boost Your Presentation

Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...

8-minute read

Why Interactive PDFs Are Better for Engagement

Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...

7-minute read

Seven Key Strategies for Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...

4-minute read

Five Creative Ways to Showcase Your Digital Portfolio

Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

• Essay Check
• Chicago Style
• APA Citation Examples
• MLA Citation Examples
• Chicago Style Citation Examples
• Writing Tips
• Plagiarism Guide
• Grammar Rules
• Student Life
• Create Account

MLA Photograph Citation

- powered by chegg, create citations for free.

Website Book Journal Photo

←Back to MLA Citation Examples

How to cite a photograph in a bibliography using MLA

The most basic entry for a photograph citation consists of the creator’s name(s), the image title, the creation date, and location details. The MLA 9 citation format varies depending on where you viewed the image.

Begin with the name of the photographer. This person’s name should be reversed, with a comma after the last name and a period after the first name (and any middle name). A suffix, such as a roman numeral or Jr./Sr. should appear after the person’s given name, preceded by a comma.

Photograph viewed firsthand in a museum:

When citing an image viewed in-person in a museum and/or collection, vary the format by including the name of the museum/collection and the city where the museum is located.

Last Name, First Name. Image Title . Creation Date, Museum/Collection Name, Location.

Smith, John. Sunset on the Atlantic . 2000. Museum of Modern Art, New York City.

Personal photograph viewed firsthand:

When citing an image viewed in-person, such as a personal photograph, vary the format by using a description of the image, not a formal title of the image. When describing an image without a title, capitalize the first word of the description as you would in a regular sentence. Omit the location information since it isn’t a famous or published work. You may also include the file format detail (e.g., JPEG, GIF, PNG) in the optional-element slot at the end of the entry.

Last Name, First Name. Description of the image. Creation Date. Digital File Type (optional).

Doe, Jane. My dog enjoying her walk. 3 May 2021. PNG.

Photograph viewed in a print publication:

For a photograph from a publication, conclude the citation with location information for the publication information, or the larger container, housing the photograph. See the Citation Guide entries for these works (e.g., books, magazines, newspapers) for more specific guidelines.

Last Name, First Name. Image Title . Publication Title , Publication Date, page(s).

Smith, John. Sunset on the Atlantic . The New Yorker , 14. Apr. 2015, p. 53.

If there is no creation date available, omit the date.

Smith, John. Sunset on the Atlantic . The New Yorker , p. 53.

Photograph viewed online:

For a photograph viewed online, conclude the citation with the website name in italics and the location (such as a DOI, permalink, or URL). According to MLA’s 9th edition updated in 2021, you may usually leave out http:// or https:// from URLs unless you want to hyperlink them or unless instructed otherwise. When in doubt, ask your instructor. If a DOI is available, use that instead of the URL. For DOIs, use http:// or https:// before the DOI: https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxx.xxxx.xxxx. Use a period after the DOI.

If a publication or posting date isn’t available, include the accessed date after the location. Format the date using the international format of day-month-year. Follow the access date with a period. For dates, abbreviate month names, except for May, June, and July (using the first four letters for September and the first three letters for all other months), followed by a period.

Last Name, First Name. Image Title . Publication Date. Publication Title , DOI or URL.

Smith, John. Sunset on the Atlantic . 1 Nov. 2000. CNN , cnn.com/imagearchives/image-sunset-on-atlantic.

Last Name, First Name. Image Title . Publication Title , DOI or URL. Accessed Date.

Smith, John. Sunset on the Atlantic . CNN , cnn.com/imagearchives/image-sunset-on-atlantic. Accessed 1 May 2021.

Troubleshooting

Solution #1: how to cite a photograph with no photographer.

1. Double check that the photo doesn’t have an organization or group photographer. If this is the case, the photo credit provided for the photo will be the name of an organization.

For example:

World Health Organization. Photograph of three doctors giving the thumbs up sign. “WHO and Partners Call for Action to Better Protect Health and Care Workers from COVID-19,” by Sonali Reddy, 21 Oct. 2021.  World Health Organization, www.who.int/news/item/21-10-2021-who-and-partners-call-for-action-to-better-protect-health-and-care-workers-from-covid-19.

However, if no credit is provided for the photo, do not assume that the organization/group that posted it is the photographer.

2. If no photographer or group/organization photographer has been identified for the photo you are trying to cite, you can begin your citation with the title or description of the photo.

For example: 

Photograph of watercolor paint tubes. “18 Essential Watercolour Techniques for Every Artist,” by Brynn Metheney, 21 Sept. 2021.  Creative Bloq , www.creativebloq.com/illustration/20-watercolor-techniques-every-artist-should-know-31619705.

Solution #2: How to cite a photograph within a book or article written by a different author

If you are citing a photo within an article or book, and the photographer is someone other than the author of the article or book, you need to make sure you give credit to both individuals in your citation. Follow the templates and examples below to learn how to format a reference list entry for a photograph within a book or article.

Reference list entry template:

Photographer Surname, First Name. Title or description of photograph. “Title of Article,” by Author First Name Surname, Publication date. Website/Publication Name , URL.

Photographer Surname, First Name. Title or description of photograph. Book Title , by Author First Name Surname, Publisher Name, Publication Year, Page Number.

Reference list entry example:

Akmen, Tolga. Photograph of commuters on London underground train. “An Offshoot of the Delta Variant is Rising in the U.K.,” by Sanjay Mishra, 2 Nov. 2021. National Geographic, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/an-offshoot-of-the-delta-variant-is-rising-in-the-uk.

Photograph of the inside of a tokamak.  The Atom: A Visual Tour , by Jack Challoner, MIT Press, 2018, p. 163.

Solution #3: How to cite a photograph posted on social media

The format for citing a photograph on social media depends on the site being referenced. Below are templates and examples for citing photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

1. Facebook

Account Name/Author Surname, First Name. Photo description. Facebook, Day Month Year posted, URL.

National Park Service. Photo of American Memorial Park. Facebook, 4 Nov. 2021, www.facebook.com/americanmemorialpark/photos/a.368285423296177/3292590387532318.

Account Name/Author Surname, First Name [@twitterhandle]. Photo description. Twitter, Day Month Year posted, URL.

Musk, Elon [@elonmusk]. Photo of rocket launch pad. Twitter, 12 Sept. 2021, twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1437220114613555202/photo/1.

3. Instagram

Account Name/Author Surname, First Name. Photo description. Instagram, Day Month Year posted, URL.

Green, John [@johngreenwritesbooks]. Photo of  A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor cover. Instagram,  7 July 2020, www.instagram.com/p/CCV89ubH-Ho/?utm_medium=copy_link.

←Back to MLA Citation Guide

“Words are a lens to focus one’s mind.” – Ayn Rand

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

As per MLA style, a personal photograph viewed firsthand has a different format that includes the description of the image rather than an official title. Use the format and example below as a base to build upon.

Rickets, Rob. An astronaut taking a walk in space. 5 March 2000. BMP.

According to MLA style, a photograph viewed firsthand at a museum includes the name of the photographer, the title of the photograph (or a description, if there is no title), the year it was taken, the name of the museum, and the museum’s location. Use the format and example below to create your own works-cited entry for this type of source.

Photographer Last Name, First Name. Title or Description of the Image . Year, Museum, Location.

Cassatt, Mary. Young Mother Sewing . 1900, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

APA Citation Style, 7th edition: Electronic Image

• General Style Guidelines
• One Author or Editor
• Two Authors or Editors
• Three to Five Authors or Editors
• Article or Chapter in an Edited Book
• Article in a Reference Book
• Edition other than the First
• Translation
• Government Publication
• Journal Article with 1 Author
• Journal Article with 2 Authors
• Journal Article with 3–20 Authors
• Journal Article 21 or more Authors
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Basic Web Page
• Web page from a University site
• Web Page with No Author
• Entry in a Reference Work
• Government Document
• Film and Television
• Youtube Video
• Audio Podcast
• Electronic Image
• Twitter/Instagram
• Lecture/PPT
• Conferences
• Secondary Sources
• Citation Support
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Formatting Your Paper

Helpful Tip!

Where can I go to find images?

If you locate an image online you need to determine who the source is as well as the copyright restrictions.

See our Images Research Guide for more information on Images and Copyright.

Below are a few good places to locate online images.

NOTE: Although some images are in the Public Domain and do not require attribution, you should always follow your instructor's requirements for citing images.

• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Public Health Image Library (PHIL)
• Health Education Assets Library (HEAL) Collection
• Historical Anatomies on the Web
• Medical Gallery: Hardin MD site
• National Cancer Institute: Visuals Online
• National Human Genome Research Institute: Digital Media Database
• National Library of Medicine:Images from the History of Medicine
• NIDDK image library
• Photoshare (USAID)
• Wellcome images
• Wikimedia Commons
• Yale Image Finder

Image from an Electronic Source

Images, diagrams and artistic works should be cited as you would cite any other type of work.

• Images in text are also generally accompanied by a caption that includes copyright information and a statement of permission for use. Please check with your instructor to see if this is necessary.

Tip: You should give as much information as possible about the images that you have used, including these basics:

• creator's name (author, artist, photographer etc.)
• date the work was published or created
• title of the work
• place of publication
• type of material (for photographs, charts, online images)
• website address and access date
• name of the institution or museum where the work is located (for artworks and museum exhibits)
• dimensions of the work (for artworks)

General Format

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

(Artist Surname, Year)

In-Text Citation (Quotation):

References:

Artist Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Title of the artwork [Format]. Title of the Website. URL (address of web site)

References (No Author):

Title of work [Type of work]. (Year image was created). Title of the Website. URL (address of web site)

References (No Author, No Title, No Date):

[Subject and type of work]. Title of the Website. URL (address of web site)

Many images found on the Web fall under this category. Try to locate the missing information by clicking on the image, and/or looking at the bottom of the image.

(Baumel, 2010)

References (Basic):

Baumel, A. (2010). Cholera treatment center in Haiti [Online image]. Doctors Without Borders. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Flu epidemic [Online image]. (1919). History. http://www.history.net/photo/flu-epidemic-art/collections

[Untitled illustration of a sleeping dog]. Sleeping Animals. http://www.sleepinganimals/pix.com

Subject Guide

• << Previous: Figures/Images
• Next: Figures >>

• Last Updated: Jul 26, 2024 1:06 PM
• URL: https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/APA

• Himmelfarb Intranet
• Privacy Notice
• Terms of Use
• GW is committed to digital accessibility. If you experience a barrier that affects your ability to access content on this page, let us know via the Accessibility Feedback Form .
• Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library
• 2300 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20037
• Phone: (202) 994-2962
• [email protected]
• https://himmelfarb.gwu.edu

• Ask a Librarian

Locating and Using Images for Presentations and Coursework

• Free & Open Source Images
• How to Cite Images
• Alt Text Image Descriptions

Copyright Resources

• Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States from Cornell University Library
• Copyright Overview from Purdue University
• U.S. Copyright Office
• Fair Use Evaluator
• Visual Resources Association's Statement of Fair Use of Images for Teaching, Research, and Study
• Creative Commons Licenses

Attribution

Again, the majority of images you find are under copyright and cannot be used without permission from the creator. There are exceptions with Fair Use, but this Libguide is intended to help you locate images you can use with attribution (and in some case, the images are free to use without attribution when stated, such as with stock images from pixabay). ***Please read about public domain . These images aren't under copyright, but it's still good practice to include attribution if the information is available. Attribution : the act of attributing something, especially the ascribing of a work (as of literature or art) to a particular author or artist. When you have given proper attribution, it means you have given the information necessary for people to know who the creator of the work is.

Citation General Guidelines

Include as much of the information below when citing images in a paper and formal presentations. Apply the appropriate citation style (see below for APA, MLA examples).

• Image creator's name (artist, photographer, etc.)
• Title of the image
• Date the image (or work represented by the image) was created
• Date the image was posted online
• Date of access (the date you accessed the online image)
• Institution (gallery, museum) where the image is located/owned (if applicable)
• Website and/or Database name

Citing Images in MLA, APA, Chicago, and IEEE

• Directions for citing in MLA, APA, and Chicago MLA: Citing images in-text, incorporating images into the text of your paper, works cited APA 6th ed.: Citing images in-text and reference list Chicago 17th ed.: Citing images footnotes and endnotes and bibliography from Simon Fraser University
• How to Cite Images Using IEEE from the SAIT Reg Erhardt Library
• Image, Photograph, or Related Artwork (IEEE) from the Rochester Institute of Technology Library

Citing Images in Your PPT

Currently, citing images in PPT is a bit of the Wild West. If details aren't provided by an instructor, there are a number of ways to cite. What's most important is that if the image is not a free stock image, you give credit to the author for the work. Here are some options:

1. Some sites, such as Creative Commons and Wikimedia, include the citation information with the image. Use that citation when available. Copy the citation and add under the image. For example, an image of a lake from Creative Commons has this citation next to it:  "lake"  by  barnyz  is licensed under  CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 .

2. Include a marker, such as Image 1. or Figure 1., and in the reference section, include full citation information with the corresponding number

3. Include a complete citation (whatever the required format, such as APA) below the image

4. Below the image, include the link to the online image location

5. Hyperlink the title of the image with the online image location

• << Previous: Free & Open Source Images
• Next: Alt Text Image Descriptions >>
• Last Edited: Jun 8, 2023 3:28 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.purdue.edu/images

• Essay Topic Generator
• Essay Grader
• Reference Finder
• AI Outline Generator
• Paragraph Expander
• Essay Expander
• Literature Review Generator
• Thesis Generator
• Text Editing Tools
• AI Rewording Tool
• AI Sentence Rewriter
• AI Article Spinner
• AI Grammar Checker
• Spell Checker
• PDF Spell Check
• Paragraph Checker
• Free AI Essay Writer
• Paraphraser
• Grammar Checker
• Citation Generator
• Plagiarism Checker
• AI Detector
• AI Essay Checker
• Proofreading Service
• Editing Service
• AI Writing Guides
• AI Detection Guides
• Citation Guides
• Grammar Guides
• Paraphrasing Guides
• Plagiarism Guides
• Summary Writing Guides
• STEM Guides
• Humanities Guides
• Language Learning Guides
• Coding Guides
• Top Lists and Recommendations
• AI Detectors
• AI Writing Services
• Coding Homework Help
• Citation Generators
• Editing Websites
• Essay Writing Websites
• Language Learning Websites
• Math Solvers
• Paraphrasers
• Plagiarism Checkers
• Reference Finders
• Spell Checkers
• Summarizers
• Tutoring Websites
• Essay Checkers
• Essay Topic Finders

Most Popular

10 days ago

Survey Reveals High Cost of Course Materials Stops Students from Success

Professors share 5 myths students believe about college, how to write a character analysis essay, anxiety among students: what do teachers think about it, dorm overbooking and transitional housing: problems colleges are trying to solve, how to cite an image.

Image: freepik.com

When writing research articles and papers, the use of visual elements like images, diagrams, and tables can significantly enhance the presentation of data and arguments. However, you have to properly cite these elements to maintain academic integrity and respect copyright laws. This article guides you through the general rules and specific scenarios for citing images, with a focus on Harvard referencing, and explains how to list these references effectively.

Citing Images in Academic Works – General Rules

When you incorporate an image, table, or diagram into your academic work, it’s essential to provide a citation that includes the author, date, title, and source of the image. The purpose of citing images is to acknowledge the original creator and to allow your readers to trace the source material. This process typically involves two components: an in-text citation and a corresponding entry in the list of references.

For the list of references, the full citation of an image should include:

• the author’s name,
• the year of publication,
• the title of the image,
• and the internet address or publication where the image was found.

If the image is untitled, a brief description can be used in place of a title.

Citing and Referencing Specific Types of Images

Online/Digital Images . When citing an online image or diagram, the citation should include the author (if known), the date of creation (or the date it was accessed) for the in-text citation, and the title, and the internet address for full reference. The Harvard referencing system requires these details in both the in-text citation and the list of references.

In-Text Citation Example : “The cartoon by Frith (1968) humorously illustrates the political climate of the time, highlighting…” .

Reference Example: Frith J 1968, From the rich man’s table, political cartoon by John Frith, Old Parliament House, Canberra, accessed 11 May 2007, http://www.oph.gov.au/frith/theherald-01.html.

Online Images/Diagrams Used as Figures . Online images used as figures in your work should be properly numbered and include a figure caption. The figure caption typically consists of the figure number, a brief description, and an in-text citation.

For example: Figure 1: A diagram of the solar system (Smith, 2020).

Citing a Photograph or Image from a Museum or Institution (Viewed Online). In the case of citing photographs or images from museums or institutions viewed online, include the name of the artist, the year of creation, the title of the image, the name of the institution, and the internet address where the image was found. This type of citation recognizes both the creator of the work and the institution that houses it.

In-Text Citation Example: “The picture (Van Gogh) evokes a deep sens of..”

Example Reference: Van Gogh, Vincent. Starry Night. 1889. The Museum of Modern Art, www.moma.org/collection/works/79802.

Properly Citing a Photograph You Took. If you are citing a photograph that you took, the citation should include your name, the year the photo was taken, a title or descriptive caption, and a note indicating that it is your own work. For instance, in the Harvard referencing style, it would be: (Your Name, 2024, View of the Grand Canyon, author’s collection).

In-Text Citation Example: “The landscape’s stark beauty is captured in the photograph (Doe),” if the photograph was taken by a student named Jane Doe.”

Reference List Citation Example: Smith, Jade. Playing dogs. 21 Aug. 20010. Author’s personal collection.

The Differences of Citing Images in APA, MLA, and Chicago

Citing images in academic writing is an important practice for acknowledging sources and respecting copyright. The citation style varies depending on the format (APA, MLA, Chicago) and where the image was accessed (online, in-person). Here are general rules and unique examples for each style:

Online Images:

• General APA Format : Author Last Name, Initials. (Year). Image title [Format]. Site Name. URL
• Reference Entry Example: Johnson, K. (2022). Sunset Over the Mountains [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/sunset-mountains
• In-Text Citation: (Johnson, 2022)

Images Viewed in Person:

• APA Format: Author Last Name, Initials. (Year). Image title [Format]. Institution Name, Location. URL (if applicable)
• APA Reference Entry Example: Monet, C. (1900). Water Lilies [Painting]. The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
• APA In-Text Citation: (Monet, 1900)
• General MLA Format: Author Last Name, First Name. “Image Title.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
• Works Cited Entry Example: Thompson, Alice. “Full Moon Reflection.” Pixabay, 5 Apr. 2022, https://pixabay.com/photos/full-moon-reflection-2022
• In-Text Citation: (Thompson)
• General MLA Format: Author Last Name, First Name. “Image Title.” Year, Institution Name, City.
• Works Cited Entry Example: Van Gogh, Vincent. “Starry Night.” 1889, The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
• In-Text Citation: (Van Gogh)

Chicago Style

• Chicago Bibliography Entry Example: Smith, Robert. Morning Dew on Leaves . May 15, 2021. Photograph. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/morning-dew-leaves
• Chicago Footnote: 1. Robert Smith, Morning Dew on Leaves , May 15, 2021, photograph, Flickr, https://flic.kr/p/morning-dew-leaves.
• Chicago Bibliography Entry Example: Degas, Edgar. The Star . 1878. Pastel on paper, 73 x 60 cm. The Louvre, Paris.
• Chicago Footnote: 1. Edgar Degas, The Star , 1878, pastel on paper, 73 x 60 cm, The Louvre, Paris.

When citing images via a free citation machine , it’s important to include all necessary details such as the creator’s name, the title of the image, the year it was created or published, the format (e.g., photograph, painting), and its location or source. If the image is included directly in the text as a figure, a copyright/permissions statement should also be provided. Following these guidelines allows proper attribution and enhances the credibility of your academic work.

Accurately citing images, whether sourced online, from a database or taken personally, is a critical aspect of academic writing.  Now, that you know how to cite an image, you can move on to bigger things and learn how to cite Youtube videos . It upholds academic integrity and shows respect for the original creators of these visual elements. By following these guidelines and using the Harvard referencing system, you can be sure that your use of images, tables, and diagrams adheres to the best practices of academic writing, making your work credible and ethically sound. Remember, a well-cited image not only adds value to your argument but also enhances the overall quality and reliability of your academic work.

Do I need to cite images in academic papers?

Yes, you need to cite images in academic papers. Citing images is crucial for several reasons: it acknowledges the original creator’s work, avoids plagiarism, and provides your readers with a source they can refer to for more information. Whether the image is a photograph, a painting, a diagram, or any other type, proper citation is essential in academic writing.

Is there a difference in citing images from websites and books?

Yes, there is a difference in citing images from websites and books. When citing an image from a website, you typically need to include the author’s name, the date the image was published or accessed, the title of the image, the format (e.g., photograph, digital image), the website name, and the URL. For images in books, the citation should include the author’s name, the date of publication, the title of the image, the format, the title of the book, the publisher, and the page number or location of the image in the book.

How do I cite an image with no author or date?

If an image does not have an author or a specific date, you can still cite it by providing as much information as possible. For an image without an author, start the citation with the title of the image. If the date is unavailable, use ‘n.d.’ (no date) to indicate this. For example, in APA style, it would look like this: Image Title [Format]. (n.d.). Website Name. URL.

Should I include URLs in image citations?

Yes, you should include URLs in image citations for images found online. URLs are important as they allow readers to directly access the source material. However, for images found in print sources or physical locations like museums, URLs are not necessary unless there is a specific webpage for the image.

How to format image citations?

The format of image citations depends on the citation style you are using (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Generally, the citation should include the author’s name, the year of creation or publication, the title of the image, the format, and where the image was found (website and URL, book title and page number, museum location, etc.). Follow the specific rules of the citation style required for your academic work, including how to format in-text citations and the reference list or bibliography entries.

Follow us on Reddit for more insights and updates.

Comments (0)

Welcome to A*Help comments!

We’re all about debate and discussion at A*Help.

We value the diverse opinions of users, so you may find points of view that you don’t agree with. And that’s cool. However, there are certain things we’re not OK with: attempts to manipulate our data in any way, for example, or the posting of discriminative, offensive, hateful, or disparaging material.

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More from Citation Guides

How to Cite a Bill

How to Cite a Speech in MLA

How To Cite A Quote Within A Quote

Remember Me

Is English your native language ? Yes No

What is your profession ? Student Teacher Writer Other

Forgotten Password?

Username or Email

Research Guides

Gould library, how to cite your sources.

• Tools and Handbooks
• Chicago Manual of Style
• Citing Government Documents
• Citing Rare Books
• Citing Archival Material
• Image Credits and Captions

Elements of an Image Caption

Captioning creative commons media, find the original image, resources for learning more about image captions.

• Informal Attribution

The purposes of an image caption are to:

• Give credit to the creator
• Provide basic identification or description of the image
• Clarify the permissions or rights under which you are using the image

Due diligence

Before you decide to use the image, make sure you have done the following:

• Know who the creator is. Because other people have not captioned their images well does not give you license to do so as well. Dig to find who created the image.
• Dig to find the original. It is easy to discover images on social media, but usually those images were originally posted elsewhere. Do not settle for the most convenient location. Look for the most stable and authoritative original version. See the resources on this page for help.
• Determine whether you have the right to redistribute the image in this way. Remember that fair use does not extend to redistribution outside the classroom. If the image is copyrighted, ask for permission. If the image is license free, make sure. If the image is yours, say so. If the image is CC-licensed, you have less to worry about. 

Provide the following elements in this order:

• The phrase "Image source" or "Source"
• Author/Creator
• URL where accessed
• "Used with permission" - in the case of a copyrighted image where you have contacted the creator
• Text of the Creative Commons license - copy the language directly (ex. CC BY-SA, or CC BY 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International, etc.)
• "Public domain" - when you have determined the image is not under copyright or licensed
• "Original photo" or "Author photo" - when you are the creator of the image
• **If the image is Copyrighted or Licensed, you can't reuse it on a public website or document without author permission.

The adorable face of a hedgehog. Image source: Mark Fletcher, "Hedgehog," 2009. Accessed via https://www.flickr.com/photos/fletchthemonkey/3807893972. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Remember...

The practice of image caption formatting changes depending on context. Different kinds of publications require more and less documentation. Different disciplines also vary. The elements listed above are suggestions based on the most common elements necessary to describe an image, make it possible to find again, and clarify why you get to share it. Take additional cues from good examples in the context where you are publishing. Finally, be responsible. Someone put work into the production of this image and they deserve credit. 

• Chicago Manual of Style: Caption formatting. 3.30: Placement of credit lines. How to format a caption that has content and a citation in it.
• Captioning Creative Commons Images and Media When you caption Creative Commons media (including images), you should include 4 major parts (TASL). You may need to modify the order or add more information based on the citation style you are using. Title : What is the name of the work? Author : Who allows you to use the work? Source : Where can people find the work? License : How can you use the work?

"Creative Commons 10th Birthday Celebration San Francisco" by  Timothy Vollmer  is licensed under  CC BY 4.0

• TinEye Reverse Image Search Find all the other places online where this image has been posted. Great way to find the original source.
• Jeffrey Friedl's Image Metadata Viewer This tool shows you all the metadata hidden in an image file, which might help you determine date of creation as well as basic attributes.
• Google Images - Search by Image Click the camera icon in the search box and search by the image you have in hand (either by URL or by dragging in). Like TinEye, it finds other places online where the image has been posted.

Check the source's "Terms of Use," Image Credits," or "Image Permissions" section to make sure you know whether the image is under license or copyright or other terms of use.

• Adding Photo Credits to Talk Slides (blog post) A helpful overview of writing image captions for presentations with many good tips. By Colin Purrington, photographer and former professor at Swarthmore.
• Harder to Find Than Nemo: The Elusive Image Citation Standard (journal article) An article about the inconsistencies in the current standards for citing and captioning images. By Jennifer Yao Weinraub.
• << Previous: Citing Archival Material
• Next: Informal Attribution >>
• Last Updated: Sep 5, 2024 3:09 PM
• URL: https://gouldguides.carleton.edu/citation

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Powered by Springshare.

• msstate.edu
• MSU Directory

Library update: Recent database changes

• Mississippi State University Libraries
• Research Guides
• Research Skills

Image Use & Citation

Asa image citation.

• Creative Commons
• Public Domain
• Copyright & Fair Use
• MLA 9th ed. Artwork & Image Citation
• Chicago Image & Artwork Citation
• APA 7th Ed. Image & Artwork Citation
• Citing Creative Commons
• Tables, Figures, Charts, & Graphs
• Image Reference
• Reverse Image Search
• Google Images for PD & CC Use
• Online Resources for Images
• Can I Use It?
• Images in Theses/ Dissertations

Image from an online source with no creator listed:

"Title of Image." Date created. From Site Title . Retrieved date (URL) .

"Vienna, Austria Unknown Artist." 22 March 2015. Reddit . Retrieved 17 October 2018 (https://www.reddit.com/r/StreetArtPorn/duplicates/2zvt2d/vienna_austria_unknown_artist_found_exploring/)

Image from a print source with a creator listed:

Creator, First M. Date created. "Title of Image." In [Continue the remainder of the citation with citation information of the book or article as appropriate.]

Dürer, Albrect. 1497-98. "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." In [Stockstad, Marilyn. 1995. Art History. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.]

ASA Photograph Citation Format

Format : Author. year. "Title of work." Medium (format). Title of collection. Retrieved date (URL).

Faulkner, Rob. 2011. "A yawning alpaca." Image (JPEG). Yawn_A Yawning Alpaca. Retrieved 17 October 2018 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/robef/5688248840/in/photostream/).

http://libguides.dixie.edu/c.php?g=57887&p=3052732

• << Previous: APA 7th Ed. Image & Artwork Citation
• Next: Citing Creative Commons >>
• Last Updated: Jul 29, 2024 12:00 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.msstate.edu/citingimages

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

How to cite self-created images or pictures in thesis

When we put some images in a thesis, we provide a reference to its source where it’s located. If I have created my own images or pictures, how do I make it clear that they are my images and I did not copy and paste them from somewhere?.

So here is the scenario. I am comparing my application architecture with the existing architecture. Since it was a literature study, my architecture is quite different except for one or two components that share the idea with the other one. I am showing both architectures. I explicitly mention the source of the other. But what about my own?

Is there a need to cite self-created images? If yes then how to cite them?

• writing-style

3 Answers 3

Have a look at the relevant guidelines/rules at your university/department.

Where I am, one typically signs that everything that is not your work or that is not novel is cited. Novelty in the thesis context is defined as "has not been used in any other exam/thesis". Papers published as part of the thesis work do not hamper thesis-relevant novelty at "my" university . But since it is up to the unviersity (or even faculty) to decide their exam rules, you may be subject to different rules.

In addition, copyright plays a role. You may be author without having the copyright. The holder/owner of the copyright can allow you to re-use images but stipulate certain ways of citing.

Anything (images, diagrams, tables, text) you created for the current thesis (so they are novel according to the thesis rules ) and where you hold the copyright (so no rules binding to use particular citation forms) are not cited. If there is no citation, you claim it's yours and novel for this thesis - and thus that it should be included in the content based on which your work is judged by the thesis committee.

In my case, I needed to cite my own work only if/when:

I wanted to reuse an image/diagram that I used already for an earlier thesis or exam, e.g. had I wanted a diagram from my Master thesis to re-appear in my PhD thesis. In that case, I'd have cited my Master thesis like unrelated work. Unrelated since this is not part of the work the committee should judge.

I transfered copyright for several papers I authored to the respective publishers. They typically did allow re-use in theses but prescribed citation sentences like e.g. "This image is reused from [CB3] with kind permission of $publisher ." [CB3] would be how I cited e.g. the third paper I wrote as part of PhD current thesis. Had I retained copyright (non-exclusive license to the publisher), I wouldn't have need to cite this way. Nevertheless, I'd still think it advisable to tell the reader that this diagram can also be found in that paper - it saves people from trying to find out whether the paper contains anything in addition to what the thesis contains. Similarly, I could have used [3], i.e. there was no requirement to make the citiations of my papers for the thesis immediately distinguishable from other citations, but I thought it a good idea to provide such a distincition - e.g. because it makes it clear to the committee that this is part of what they judge as my thesis.

For your scenario of diagrams illustrating some application architecture described in some paper:

if the diagram for the existing one is directly taken from the paper, you apply for a license to re-use that image with the publisher and then do whatever they stipulate in this license.

if you draw your own diagram (in your architecture diagram "language"/style) from the description in the paper, you cite the idea/description, e.g. "diagram of architecture described in [27]" but the diagram itself is your own work , and novel and original part of your thesis.

With "your own diagram" I mean e.g. situations like: They have some diagram in the paper. But their way of illustrating isn't really suitable for your thesis since you need to highlight/contrast aspects that are similar to|differ from the architecture you developed. You therefore make a new graph that describes their architecture in another language/style that allows to depict their architecture as well as your architecture.

Your diagram of your architecture is original and novel work that is part of your thesis. No citation here, unless you signed away the copyright for this diagram - in which case you need a license by the new copyright owner (= journal publisher). In which case you do whatever the license says you should do.

• really helpful. I just wanted to avoid any ambiguity about the components. we are both using the same component because we have to. Its the component provided by the technology to use however we can. I just wanted to avoid that I stole the idea just because the name of the components are the same and function in the same way. but that's their job to provide this functionality –  Jonny_G Commented Aug 19, 2020 at 18:45

There is no need to cite self-created, previously-unpublished images any more than you need to cite self-written, previously unpublished words. By absence of a citation you are claiming the work as your own.

Since this is for a thesis, you should probably check with your advisor / supervisor to be absolutely certain they share that view.

• 7 You may be asked to document the sources of figures in your thesis as part of the process of submitting to ProQuest or other repositories. If that happens, just state that you created these images yourself. –  Brian Borchers Commented Aug 19, 2020 at 15:35

Cite your own work just like you'd cite someone else's. Without citation you're suggesting originality.

A reader knows when an author cites their own work. The author of both works are the same (or overlapping). There's no need to be explicit (by stating, for instance, in my earlier work ), unless it is useful.

For works derived from a thesis (as opposed to published works), there isn't an explicit need to self-cite, since works derived from a thesis are considered original, they haven't been published before. That said, you might want to mention something along the lines of: My thesis contains a preliminary version of this work, or similar. (You'll need to adapt slightly when you aren't the sole author.)

• 2 kindly check my updated question to understand the scenario –  Jonny_G Commented Aug 19, 2020 at 13:36
• Aren't the first two sentences in direct contradiction? You say to "cite your own work". Then you say "A reader knows when an author cites their own work [...] there's no need to be explicit", which I take to mean, "you don't need to cite your own work." –  user91988 Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 14:25
• @user91988 you don't need to cite your own work isn't my reading, my edit clarifies. –  user2768 Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 14:47

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged citations thesis writing-style graphics ..

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• A seven letter *
• "It never works" vs "It better work"
• Why is LiCl a hypovalent covalent molecule?
• What are the most commonly used markdown tags when doing online role playing chats?
• How do you tip cash when you don't have proper denomination or no cash at all?
• Does a party have to wait 1d4 hours to start a Short Rest if no healing is available and an ally is only stabilized?
• How to realize the index shift operation in quantum circuit?
• Can I Use A Server In International Waters To Provide Illegal Content Without Getting Arrested?
• What's "the archetypal book" called?
• Manhattan distance
• Why does this theta function value yield such a good Riemann sum approximation?
• Wien's displacement law
• Can reinforcement learning rewards be a combination of current and new state?
• Book about a wormhole found inside the Moon
• How should I tell my manager that he could delay my retirement with a raise?
• What should I consider when hiring a graphic designer to digitize my scientific plots?
• Stained passport am I screwed
• Star Trek: The Next Generation episode that talks about life and death
• Did the Turkish defense industry ever receive any significant foreign investment from any other OECD country?
• Sylvester primes
• Is there a way to read lawyers arguments in various trials?
• Is there a problem known to have no fastest algorithm, up to polynomials?
• How to run only selected lines of a shell script?
• \ExplSyntaxOn problem with new pagaraph

In-Text Citations

In scholarly writing, it is essential to acknowledge how others contributed to your work. By following the principles of proper citation, writers ensure that readers understand their contribution in the context of the existing literature—how they are building on, critically examining, or otherwise engaging the work that has come before.

APA Style provides guidelines to help writers determine the appropriate level of citation and how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism.

We also provide specific guidance for in-text citation, including formats for interviews, classroom and intranet sources, and personal communications; in-text citations in general; and paraphrases and direct quotations.

Academic Writer ®

Master academic writing with APA’s essential teaching and learning resource

Course Adoption

Teaching APA Style? Become a course adopter of the 7th edition Publication Manual

Instructional Aids

Guides, checklists, webinars, tutorials, and sample papers for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of APA Style

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources

How to Cite Sources

Here is a complete list for how to cite sources. Most of these guides present citation guidance and examples in MLA, APA, and Chicago.

If you’re looking for general information on MLA or APA citations , the EasyBib Writing Center was designed for you! It has articles on what’s needed in an MLA in-text citation , how to format an APA paper, what an MLA annotated bibliography is, making an MLA works cited page, and much more!

MLA Format Citation Examples

The Modern Language Association created the MLA Style, currently in its 9th edition, to provide researchers with guidelines for writing and documenting scholarly borrowings.  Most often used in the humanities, MLA style (or MLA format ) has been adopted and used by numerous other disciplines, in multiple parts of the world.

MLA provides standard rules to follow so that most research papers are formatted in a similar manner. This makes it easier for readers to comprehend the information. The MLA in-text citation guidelines, MLA works cited standards, and MLA annotated bibliography instructions provide scholars with the information they need to properly cite sources in their research papers, articles, and assignments.

• Book Chapter
• Conference Paper
• Documentary
• Encyclopedia
• Google Images
• Kindle Book
• Memorial Inscription
• Museum Exhibit
• Painting or Artwork
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Sheet Music
• Thesis or Dissertation
• YouTube Video

APA Format Citation Examples

The American Psychological Association created the APA citation style in 1929 as a way to help psychologists, anthropologists, and even business managers establish one common way to cite sources and present content.

APA is used when citing sources for academic articles such as journals, and is intended to help readers better comprehend content, and to avoid language bias wherever possible. The APA style (or APA format ) is now in its 7th edition, and provides citation style guides for virtually any type of resource.

Chicago Style Citation Examples

The Chicago/Turabian style of citing sources is generally used when citing sources for humanities papers, and is best known for its requirement that writers place bibliographic citations at the bottom of a page (in Chicago-format footnotes ) or at the end of a paper (endnotes).

The Turabian and Chicago citation styles are almost identical, but the Turabian style is geared towards student published papers such as theses and dissertations, while the Chicago style provides guidelines for all types of publications. This is why you’ll commonly see Chicago style and Turabian style presented together. The Chicago Manual of Style is currently in its 17th edition, and Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations is in its 8th edition.

Citing Specific Sources or Events

• Declaration of Independence
• Gettysburg Address
• Martin Luther King Jr. Speech
• President Obama’s Farewell Address
• President Trump’s Inauguration Speech
• White House Press Briefing

Additional FAQs

• Citing Archived Contributors
• Citing a Blog
• Citing a Book Chapter
• Citing a Source in a Foreign Language
• Citing an Image
• Citing a Song
• Citing Special Contributors
• Citing a Translated Article
• Citing a Tweet

6 Interesting Citation Facts

The world of citations may seem cut and dry, but there’s more to them than just specific capitalization rules, MLA in-text citations , and other formatting specifications. Citations have been helping researches document their sources for hundreds of years, and are a great way to learn more about a particular subject area.

Ever wonder what sets all the different styles apart, or how they came to be in the first place? Read on for some interesting facts about citations!

1. There are Over 7,000 Different Citation Styles

You may be familiar with MLA and APA citation styles, but there are actually thousands of citation styles used for all different academic disciplines all across the world. Deciding which one to use can be difficult, so be sure to ask you instructor which one you should be using for your next paper.

2. Some Citation Styles are Named After People

While a majority of citation styles are named for the specific organizations that publish them (i.e. APA is published by the American Psychological Association, and MLA format is named for the Modern Language Association), some are actually named after individuals. The most well-known example of this is perhaps Turabian style, named for Kate L. Turabian, an American educator and writer. She developed this style as a condensed version of the Chicago Manual of Style in order to present a more concise set of rules to students.

3. There are Some Really Specific and Uniquely Named Citation Styles

How specific can citation styles get? The answer is very. For example, the “Flavour and Fragrance Journal” style is based on a bimonthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal published since 1985 by John Wiley & Sons. It publishes original research articles, reviews and special reports on all aspects of flavor and fragrance. Another example is “Nordic Pulp and Paper Research,” a style used by an international scientific magazine covering science and technology for the areas of wood or bio-mass constituents.

4. More citations were created on  EasyBib.com  in the first quarter of 2018 than there are people in California.

The US Census Bureau estimates that approximately 39.5 million people live in the state of California. Meanwhile, about 43 million citations were made on EasyBib from January to March of 2018. That’s a lot of citations.

5. “Citations” is a Word With a Long History

The word “citations” can be traced back literally thousands of years to the Latin word “citare” meaning “to summon, urge, call; put in sudden motion, call forward; rouse, excite.” The word then took on its more modern meaning and relevance to writing papers in the 1600s, where it became known as the “act of citing or quoting a passage from a book, etc.”

6. Citation Styles are Always Changing

The concept of citations always stays the same. It is a means of preventing plagiarism and demonstrating where you relied on outside sources. The specific style rules, however, can and do change regularly. For example, in 2018 alone, 46 new citation styles were introduced , and 106 updates were made to exiting styles. At EasyBib, we are always on the lookout for ways to improve our styles and opportunities to add new ones to our list.

Why Citations Matter

Here are the ways accurate citations can help your students achieve academic success, and how you can answer the dreaded question, “why should I cite my sources?”

They Give Credit to the Right People

Citing their sources makes sure that the reader can differentiate the student’s original thoughts from those of other researchers. Not only does this make sure that the sources they use receive proper credit for their work, it ensures that the student receives deserved recognition for their unique contributions to the topic. Whether the student is citing in MLA format , APA format , or any other style, citations serve as a natural way to place a student’s work in the broader context of the subject area, and serve as an easy way to gauge their commitment to the project.

They Provide Hard Evidence of Ideas

Having many citations from a wide variety of sources related to their idea means that the student is working on a well-researched and respected subject. Citing sources that back up their claim creates room for fact-checking and further research . And, if they can cite a few sources that have the converse opinion or idea, and then demonstrate to the reader why they believe that that viewpoint is wrong by again citing credible sources, the student is well on their way to winning over the reader and cementing their point of view.

They Promote Originality and Prevent Plagiarism

The point of research projects is not to regurgitate information that can already be found elsewhere. We have Google for that! What the student’s project should aim to do is promote an original idea or a spin on an existing idea, and use reliable sources to promote that idea. Copying or directly referencing a source without proper citation can lead to not only a poor grade, but accusations of academic dishonesty. By citing their sources regularly and accurately, students can easily avoid the trap of plagiarism , and promote further research on their topic.

They Create Better Researchers

By researching sources to back up and promote their ideas, students are becoming better researchers without even knowing it! Each time a new source is read or researched, the student is becoming more engaged with the project and is developing a deeper understanding of the subject area. Proper citations demonstrate a breadth of the student’s reading and dedication to the project itself. By creating citations, students are compelled to make connections between their sources and discern research patterns. Each time they complete this process, they are helping themselves become better researchers and writers overall.

When is the Right Time to Start Making Citations?

Make in-text/parenthetical citations as you need them.

As you are writing your paper, be sure to include references within the text that correspond with references in a works cited or bibliography. These are usually called in-text citations or parenthetical citations in MLA and APA formats. The most effective time to complete these is directly after you have made your reference to another source. For instance, after writing the line from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…,” you would include a citation like this (depending on your chosen citation style):

(Dickens 11).

This signals to the reader that you have referenced an outside source. What’s great about this system is that the in-text citations serve as a natural list for all of the citations you have made in your paper, which will make completing the works cited page a whole lot easier. After you are done writing, all that will be left for you to do is scan your paper for these references, and then build a works cited page that includes a citation for each one.

Need help creating an MLA works cited page ? Try the MLA format generator on EasyBib.com! We also have a guide on how to format an APA reference page .

2. Understand the General Formatting Rules of Your Citation Style Before You Start Writing

While reading up on paper formatting may not sound exciting, being aware of how your paper should look early on in the paper writing process is super important. Citation styles can dictate more than just the appearance of the citations themselves, but rather can impact the layout of your paper as a whole, with specific guidelines concerning margin width, title treatment, and even font size and spacing. Knowing how to organize your paper before you start writing will ensure that you do not receive a low grade for something as trivial as forgetting a hanging indent.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a formatting guide on APA format .

3. Double-check All of Your Outside Sources for Relevance and Trustworthiness First

Collecting outside sources that support your research and specific topic is a critical step in writing an effective paper. But before you run to the library and grab the first 20 books you can lay your hands on, keep in mind that selecting a source to include in your paper should not be taken lightly. Before you proceed with using it to backup your ideas, run a quick Internet search for it and see if other scholars in your field have written about it as well. Check to see if there are book reviews about it or peer accolades. If you spot something that seems off to you, you may want to consider leaving it out of your work. Doing this before your start making citations can save you a ton of time in the long run.

Finished with your paper? It may be time to run it through a grammar and plagiarism checker , like the one offered by EasyBib Plus. If you’re just looking to brush up on the basics, our grammar guides  are ready anytime you are.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Citation Basics

Harvard Referencing

Plagiarism Basics

Plagiarism Checker

Upload a paper to check for plagiarism against billions of sources and get advanced writing suggestions for clarity and style.

Get Started

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Citing sources

How to Cite Sources | Citation Generator & Quick Guide

Citing your sources is essential in  academic writing . Whenever you quote or paraphrase a source (such as a book, article, or webpage), you have to include a  citation crediting the original author.

Failing to properly cite your sources counts as plagiarism , since you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

The most commonly used citation styles are APA and MLA. The free Scribbr Citation Generator is the quickest way to cite sources in these styles. Simply enter the URL, DOI, or title, and we’ll generate an accurate, correctly formatted citation.

Generate accurate citations with Scribbr

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text.

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

When do you need to cite sources, which citation style should you use, in-text citations, reference lists and bibliographies.

Scribbr Citation Generator

Other useful citation tools

Citation examples and full guides, frequently asked questions about citing sources.

Citations are required in all types of academic texts. They are needed for several reasons:

• To avoid plagiarism by indicating when you’re taking information from another source
• To give proper credit to the author of that source
• To allow the reader to consult your sources for themselves

A citation is needed whenever you integrate a source into your writing. This usually means quoting or paraphrasing:

• To quote a source , copy a short piece of text word for word and put it inside quotation marks .
• To paraphrase a source , put the text into your own words. It’s important that the paraphrase is not too close to the original wording. You can use the paraphrasing tool if you don’t want to do this manually.

Citations are needed whether you quote or paraphrase, and whatever type of source you use. As well as citing scholarly sources like books and journal articles, don’t forget to include citations for any other sources you use for ideas, examples, or evidence. That includes websites, YouTube videos , and lectures .

Scribbr Citation Checker New

The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:

• Missing commas and periods
• Incorrect usage of “et al.”
• Ampersands (&) in narrative citations
• Missing reference entries

Usually, your institution (or the journal you’re submitting to) will require you to follow a specific citation style, so check your guidelines or ask your instructor.

In some cases, you may have to choose a citation style for yourself. Make sure to pick one style and use it consistently:

• APA Style is widely used in the social sciences and beyond.
• MLA style is common in the humanities.
• Chicago notes and bibliography , common in the humanities
• Chicago author-date , used in the (social) sciences
• There are many other citation styles for different disciplines.

If in doubt, check with your instructor or read other papers from your field of study to see what style they follow.

In most styles, your citations consist of:

• Brief in-text citations at the relevant points in the text
• A reference list or bibliography containing full information on all the sources you’ve cited

In-text citations most commonly take the form of parenthetical citations featuring the last name of the source’s author and its year of publication (aka author-date citations).

An alternative to this type of in-text citation is the system used in numerical citation styles , where a number is inserted into the text, corresponding to an entry in a numbered reference list.

There are also note citation styles , where you place your citations in either footnotes or endnotes . Since they’re not embedded in the text itself, these citations can provide more detail and sometimes aren’t accompanied by a full reference list or bibliography.

A reference list (aka “Bibliography” or “Works Cited,” depending on the style) is where you provide full information on each of the sources you’ve cited in the text. It appears at the end of your paper, usually with a hanging indent applied to each entry.

The information included in reference entries is broadly similar, whatever citation style you’re using. For each source, you’ll typically include the:

• Author name
• Publication date
• Container (e.g., the book an essay was published in, the journal an article appeared in)
• Location (e.g., a URL or DOI , or sometimes a physical location)

The exact information included varies depending on the source type and the citation style. The order in which the information appears, and how you format it (e.g., capitalization, use of italics) also varies.

Most commonly, the entries in your reference list are alphabetized by author name. This allows the reader to easily find the relevant entry based on the author name in your in-text citation.

In numerical citation styles, the entries in your reference list are numbered, usually based on the order in which you cite them. The reader finds the right entry based on the number that appears in the text.

Because each style has many small differences regarding things like italicization, capitalization , and punctuation , it can be difficult to get every detail right. Using a citation generator can save you a lot of time and effort.

Scribbr offers citation generators for both APA and MLA style. Both are quick, easy to use, and 100% free, with no ads and no registration required.

Just input a URL or DOI or add the source details manually, and the generator will automatically produce an in-text citation and reference entry in the correct format. You can save your reference list as you go and download it when you’re done, and even add annotations for an annotated bibliography .

Once you’ve prepared your citations, you might still be unsure if they’re correct and if you’ve used them appropriately in your text. This is where Scribbr’s other citation tools and services may come in handy:

Plagiarism Checker

Citation Checker

Citation Editing

Plagiarism means passing off someone else’s words or ideas as your own. It’s a serious offense in academia. Universities use plagiarism checking software to scan your paper and identify any similarities to other texts.

When you’re dealing with a lot of sources, it’s easy to make mistakes that could constitute accidental plagiarism. For example, you might forget to add a citation after a quote, or paraphrase a source in a way that’s too close to the original text.

Using a plagiarism checker yourself before you submit your work can help you spot these mistakes before they get you in trouble. Based on the results, you can add any missing citations and rephrase your text where necessary.

Try out the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker for free, or check out our detailed comparison of the best plagiarism checkers available online.

Scribbr Plagiarism Checker

Scribbr’s Citation Checker is a unique AI-powered tool that automatically detects stylistic errors and inconsistencies in your in-text citations. It also suggests a correction for every mistake.

Currently available for APA Style, this is the fastest and easiest way to make sure you’ve formatted your citations correctly. You can try out the tool for free below.

If you need extra help with your reference list, we also offer a more in-depth Citation Editing Service.

Our experts cross-check your in-text citations and reference entries, make sure you’ve included the correct information for each source, and improve the formatting of your reference page.

If you want to handle your citations yourself, Scribbr’s free Knowledge Base provides clear, accurate guidance on every aspect of citation. You can see citation examples for a variety of common source types below:

And you can check out our comprehensive guides to the most popular citation styles:

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (Latin for “and others”) is used to shorten citations of sources with multiple authors.

“Et al.” is used in APA in-text citations of sources with 3+ authors, e.g. (Smith et al., 2019). It is not used in APA reference entries .

Use “et al.” for 3+ authors in MLA in-text citations and Works Cited entries.

Use “et al.” for 4+ authors in a Chicago in-text citation , and for 10+ authors in a Chicago bibliography entry.

The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

APA format is widely used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social and behavioral sciences, including fields like education, psychology, and business.

Be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you want to be published in to double-check which style you should be using.

MLA Style  is the second most used citation style (after APA ). It is mainly used by students and researchers in humanities fields such as literature, languages, and philosophy.

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• Citation Styles Guide | Examples for All Major Styles
• APA vs. MLA | The Key Differences in Format & Citation
• The Basics of In-Text Citation | APA & MLA Examples

More interesting articles

• Citation examples for common sources types
• Et Al. | Meaning & Use in APA, MLA & Chicago
• Hanging Indent | Word & Google Docs Instructions
• How to Cite a Book | APA, MLA, & Chicago Examples
• How to Cite a Journal Article | APA, MLA, & Chicago Examples
• How to Cite a Lecture | APA, MLA & Chicago Examples
• How to Cite a Newspaper Article | MLA, APA & Chicago
• How to Cite a Website | MLA, APA & Chicago Examples
• How to Cite a Wikipedia Article | APA, MLA & Chicago
• How to Cite a YouTube Video | MLA, APA & Chicago
• How to Cite an Image | Photographs, Figures, Diagrams
• How to Cite an Interview | APA, MLA & Chicago Style
• Parenthetical Citation | APA, MLA & Chicago Examples
• What Are Endnotes? | Guide with Examples
• What Are Footnotes? | Guide with Word Instructions
• What Does Ibid. Mean? | Definition & Examples
• What is a DOI? | Finding and Using Digital Object Identifiers
• What Is an Annotated Bibliography? | Examples & Format

What is your plagiarism score?