The choice of citation style in academic writing is influenced by the academic discipline, with MLA and APA being the most prevalent styles. Technical writing may prefer APA due to its common use in the sciences. Both styles require in-text and external citations to credit sources and maintain credibility.
Academic writing involves various citation styles, each with specific formatting requirements for acknowledging sources. These styles include the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), Council of Science Editors (CSE), American Chemical Society (ACS), American Institute of Physics (AIP), Associated Press (AP), American Medical Association (AMA), and Bluebook for legal citations. The choice of citation style often depends on the academic discipline, with MLA and APA being the most commonly used in many academic fields.
In-text citations and a corresponding Works Cited or References page are essential to credit borrowed material, maintain credibility, and avoid plagiarism. Technical writing often requires precision and clarity, and the preferred citation style may vary based on the field, with APA style commonly used for sciences, and MLA for humanities.