Citing sources in an essay is an important part of academic writing. It helps readers understand who is responsible for the information included in the paper and also allows them to access the sources for further reading. There are many citation styles and formats, including MLA, APA, and Chicago style. To properly cite a source in an essay, you should include the authors name and year of publication in the sentence and include the source in the Works Cited list at the end of the paper.
When citing a source within a sentence, it is important to include the authors last name, the year of publication, and if relevant, the page number. This information should appear in parentheses after the quote or paraphrased content that uses the source. For example, According to Smith (2020, p. 3), the moon has been an object of fascination since ancient times.
When citing a source in your Works Cited list, include all relevant information such as the authors name, the title of the work, the year of publication, and where it was accessed. If you accessed the source online, include a link to the source. This information should be formatted according to the citation style you are using. For example, an MLA formatted citation for a book might look like this:
Smith, John. The Moon: A History. Oxford University Press, 2020.
If you are citing multiple sources in your paper, make sure to provide a clear Works Cited list and number each citation so that readers can easily locate it within the text. Citing sources correctly is an essential part of academic writing, so make sure to do it properly and accurately.