C2 Lesson 2: Introduction to Referencing and Citation Styles (APA, MLA)
In our last lesson, we established the ethical importance of citing your sources. But *how* do you cite them? In academic writing, we use standardized citation styles1 to ensure that references are clear, consistent, and easy for readers to follow.
Today, we will introduce the two most common styles you will encounter at university: APA and MLA. Understanding their basic features is a critical research skill.
The Two Parts of Any Citation
All academic citation styles have two connected parts:
- The In-Text Citation: A brief note inside your paragraph, directly after the information you used from a source. It acts as a key.
- The Full Reference: The full details of the source, listed at the end of your paper. The in-text citation key "unlocks" this full entry.
Comparing APA and MLA Styles
The style you use will depend on your field of study. The main differences are in what they emphasize and how they are formatted.
| Feature | APA Style (7th Edition) | MLA Style (9th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Used In | Social Sciences, Business, Education, Psychology | Humanities (Languages, Literature, Arts, Philosophy) |
| Focus | Emphasizes the date of the research. | Emphasizes the author and page number. |
| In-Text Citation | (Author, Year), e.g., (Sok, 2024) | (Author Page), e.g., (Sok 78) |
| End-of-Paper List | Titled "References" | Titled "Works Cited" |
Example of a Full Reference (for a Book)
APA 7th Edition
Chan, D. (2025). The history of Kampot pepper. Royal University Press.
Structure: Author, A. (Year). Title of work in italics. Publisher.MLA 9th Edition
Chan, Dara. The History of Kampot Pepper. Royal University Press, 2025.
Structure: Author, A. Title of Work in Italics. Publisher, Year.A Note on Citation Tools
Websites and software (like Zotero, Mendeley, or Scribbr) can help generate citations. These are very useful, but they often make small mistakes. As the writer, you are always responsible for the final accuracy of your references. Always double-check the generated citations against an official style guide.
Practice Quiz: Identify the Style
Look at the in-text citations below and identify which style is being used.
1. The study revealed a significant correlation between the two variables (Jones & Smith, 2022).
Answer: APA Style, because it uses the (Author, Year) format.
2. The poet argues that memory is "a fragile photograph" (Ouk 34).
Answer: MLA Style, because it uses the (Author Page) format.
Homework: Practice Formatting
Your homework is to practice creating a full reference for a fictional book. This is a key skill for building your final reference list.
Source Information:
- Author: Meas Sothy
- Year of Publication: 2024
- Book Title: A Guide to Cambodia's Southern Coast
- Publisher: Khmer Writers Press
Your Task: In your notebook, write the full reference list entry for this book in both APA 7th style and MLA 9th style. Pay close attention to punctuation, italics, and the order of the information.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Citation Style: (Noun Phrase) - Khmer: រចនាប័ទ្មដកស្រង់ - A standardized set of rules for how to cite sources in academic writing (e.g., APA, MLA). ↩
- To reference: (Verb) - Khmer: យោង - To provide a citation for a source of information. ↩
- In-text Citation: (Noun) - Khmer: ការដកស្រង់ក្នុងអត្ថបទ - A brief note within your text that points the reader to the full reference. ↩
- Convention: (Noun) - Khmer: សន្និសញ្ញា - A way in which something is usually done; an established rule or custom. ↩
- Academic: (Adjective) - Khmer: បែបសិក្សា - Relating to education and scholarship.