PDFs are a great way to share documents with other users. They are simple to download and easy to read on various devices.
If you use PDFs in your writing, it is essential to know how to cite them correctly. It is especially true if you use them in APA, MLA or Chicago-style papers.
Citing PDFs in MLA
A PDF is often used as a supplement to a written paper, but it’s still a form of writing that requires a citation. It gives credit to the original writers and enables readers to find other sources with similar information.
The most common way to cite a PDF in MLA is with the author’s last name and the year of publication. Alternatively, you can cite the PDF as a whole. You’ll then list the publisher’s name, the date it was published, and the address where you got it.
Another common type of PDF that you’ll likely encounter is extracts from books. These can be found online, but you may need to look for the book’s copyright page or title page before you can cite it.
To cite an extract from a book in MLA, you’ll want to include the author’s name, the book’s title, and the year it was published. You’ll also need to list the publisher, the year it was published, and the full address where the book was purchased or downloaded.
Occasionally, you’ll see an entire book in PDF format. It can be especially common when a book is being printed out. You’ll need to find out who owns the copyright and get permission to use figures or tables from the book.
Regarding how to cite a PDF, it isn’t as difficult as it seems, and you can even use software like PDFelement to help you input citations. This software might be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to cite PDFs.
Citing PDFs in APA
Many online materials come in PDF format, making it easier for students to access various documents. These include books, journals, reports and other academic materials. However, these materials require proper citation to avoid plagiarism. It is why APA has provided a uniform citation system for these files, similar to the one it uses for print reads.
Most of these files have a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) that you can use instead of a URL to cite the file. It can make the process of citing the PDF file easier, and it can also help you to identify the source.
To cite a PDF using APA, you will need to add the following information to your reference entry: author’s last name, initials, date of publication.
A report is also often accessed online in PDF form, and they will generally have a clear identification of the organization they are from and the report number, if available. When citing a report, you must include the author’s last name, date of publication, publisher, and report number (if available).
The same rules apply to a white paper, which is also frequently accessed online in PDF form. These papers are often a starting point for new businesses and have a lot of details that can be useful for students. To cite a white paper in APA, you will need to include the author’s name, date of publication, and the document’s title. You will also need to include the publisher and the full address where the document was sourced from or the DOI.
Citing PDFs in Chicago
When citing a PDF, you need to include the same information you would for a regular publication or website: author, date, title, and publication information. In most cases, you’ll also want to cite the URL or DOI for the PDF.
If you have multiple authors, you’ll need to indicate them individually in your in-text citation. The easiest way to do this is with an et al. citation, which looks like this: Charles, Carl A., and Barry Jackson.
In Chicago style, you can include up to five authors in a single reference entry. It will look like this (Singleton and Sorrell 2017, 10). However, if you have more than five authors, you’ll need to write them separately in your citation, with et al. at the end.
You can also cite an eBook downloaded as a PDF, but you’ll need to add “PDF.” at the end of your citation. It is a standard part of the citation process for eBooks.
The best thing about citing a PDF in Chicago style is that it doesn’t change how you cite the author-date format or footnotes. It is essential if you’re citing an online source.
Regardless of your style, a PDF citation can be quick and easy to make. Most of the time, you’ll be able to enter the relevant information in the body of your paper and include the link or DOI for your PDF at the end. There are also a few ways to automatically generate citations for you if you don’t have access to a computer or need some quick help.
