Writing & citation guides
Practical help for term papers, essays and theses — how to cite your sources correctly, build a bibliography, sharpen a thesis statement, and write without plagiarising. Reflects the current editions: APA 7, MLA 9 and Chicago 18.
APA vs MLA vs Chicago vs Harvard
Which style to use, the current editions, and the same source shown in each.
How to cite a website
Website citations in APA, MLA and Chicago — including no author or no date.
How to cite Wikipedia
Whether you should, how to do it properly, and the permanent-link trick.
How to cite a book
Book citations in APA, MLA and Chicago, including chapters and editions.
How to cite a journal article
Journal articles in APA, MLA and Chicago, with the DOI explained.
Bibliography vs Works Cited vs References
What each list is called in each style — and the difference.
How to write a thesis statement
A simple formula, plus weak-vs-strong examples you can copy.
How to structure a research paper
A clear outline for term papers: intro, body, conclusion, references.
How to avoid plagiarism
Quoting, paraphrasing and summarising — and exactly when to cite.
How to evaluate sources
A quick checklist for credible sources, and primary vs secondary.
Tip: use the Study search to find trusted, ad-free sources, then come back here to cite them correctly.