Universal Access
Style manuals do more than dictate citation formats—they establish standards for consistency in writing, covering grammar, punctuation, layout, and more. They also guide the presentation of tables and figures, the formatting of headings and page numbers, capitalization and abbreviation rules, and field-specific nomenclature. Consulting a style guide before writing can save time and improve clarity.
For assignments, the citation style is often determined by your instructor. For manuscripts you plan to submit, the style is often determined by the publisher or editor.
When you are allowed to choose a citation style, use these guidelines:
