CBE is a formal academic referencing manual by Council of Biology Editors. This style is mostly for writing and citing sources in biology. Chemists and another scientist also use this style as they write scientific papers to show the sources of the information in their text and the bibliography at the end of paper.

However, there is a system called Name-Year that provides citations in the main text by way of parenthetical citations.

ASA is an academic referencing style by American Sociological Association to assist students in referencing and citing of their essays and other academic papers. It is a reference style suitable for students studying sociology. Those who take their major in sociology or pursuing master’s degree in sociology rely much on ASA editorial guide.

Overview

Oxford referencing is a style that uses a bibliography (a list of references) and footnotes. The prestigious University of Oxford developed Oxford referencing style. These guidelines more comprehensive compared to those of other writing styles. Oxford style provides more detailed guidance to follow when writing. Its main features are:

MLA short for Modern Language Association is an American academic writing style guide founded in 1883. MLA offers its members opportunities to share scholarly findings and their teaching experiences with colleagues. It also helps them to discuss the trends in academia during meetings and the annual convention. MLA members work with other organizations to strengthen study and teaching of languages and literature.

APA format is an official academic writing style by American Psychological Association. The use of APA style originates in a 1929 article published in Psychological Bulleting to present the basic guidelines. APA referencing style is usually for citing sources in psychology and social sciences.