Does the period go before or after the citation? This is a common question among students and professionals alike when it comes to formatting academic papers. The answer to this question depends on the citation style being used, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard. Understanding the rules for punctuation in citations is crucial for maintaining consistency and clarity in your writing.
For those who follow the APA (American Psychological Association) style, the period should come after the citation. This means that if you have a citation within a sentence, the period will be placed after the closing parenthesis that contains the citation. For example: “The study found that the new medication significantly reduced symptoms (Smith, 2020).” In this case, the period is placed after the citation because it is part of the sentence structure.
On the other hand, MLA (Modern Language Association) style dictates that the period should be placed before the citation. When citing a source within a sentence, the period comes before the closing parenthesis that contains the citation. For instance: “In his novel, the protagonist faces numerous challenges (Smith 2020).” In this example, the period is placed before the citation to maintain the sentence structure.
The Chicago style, which is often used in the humanities, has a different rule. When citing a source within a sentence, the period should be placed before the closing parenthesis that contains the citation. However, if the citation is at the end of the sentence, the period should be placed after the citation. For example: “The author argues that the novel is a reflection of the times (Smith 2020).” In this case, the period is placed before the citation because it is part of the sentence structure, but if the citation were at the end of the sentence, the period would follow the citation.
Lastly, the Harvard style, commonly used in the social sciences, requires the period to be placed before the citation when it is within a sentence. For example: “The data shows a significant correlation between the two variables (Smith, 2020).” If the citation is at the end of the sentence, the period should be placed after the citation. However, it is important to note that the Harvard style also allows for the use of footnotes or endnotes, in which case the period is placed after the citation.
In conclusion, the placement of the period in relation to the citation depends on the citation style being used. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the specific rules of the style guide you are following to ensure proper formatting and maintain consistency in your academic writing.
