What You Need to Know About Research Project Formatting and Citation Styles
Why is it important to provide a single formatting style in a research project? What are the two most popular citation styles? When is citation unnecessary?
Answer:
Providing a single formatting style allows (1) consistency in both formatting and handling of research, (2) a familiar structure to unify all authors in a given discipline, (3) standardized cues that allow authors and readers to follow ideas and locate information, (4) a concentration on ideas instead of a distraction of having to decipher formatting, and (5) established credibility for an author.
The two most popular citation styles are MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association).
Citation is unnecessary for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations, and common knowledge.
There are many reasons to provide a single formatting style in a research project. First, choosing a single style allows the reader to follow a text easily. This also allows him to locate the necessary information in an efficient way. Finally, this also helps the writer appear more credible and professional.
Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) are the two most popular citation styles.
Although citing your sources is very important, it is not always necessary. It is unnecessary to provide citations when talking about very famous and well-known proverbs or quotations. It is also unnecessary when you are talking about facts that are common knowledge.