Writing style and composition
The Associated Press Stylebook by ISBN: 9781541601659Publication Date: 2022-07-05Standard style manual for journalists and communications professionals, with rules on spelling, pronounciation, and the right words to use in your writing.
Citation styles
A citation style is a standard template or framework for citing your sources. It determines what information to include, in what order, and the punctuation and position of your citations in your work. You can find information on the most frequently used citation styles here.
Communication Studies literature uses both APA and Chicago styles. Ask your advisor, editor, or professor which style to use.
- Chicago Manual of Style This link opens in a new windowProvides information on manuscript preparation, punctuation, spelling, quotations, captions, tables, abbreviations, references, bibliographies, notes, and indexes.
- MLA Handbook Plus This link opens in a new windowThe MLA Handbook is a contemporary citation manual and grammar guide. It includes methods for citing sources in various formats including websites and videos as well as traditional book and journal sources.
Citation Management Software
The Library supports EndNote, RefWorks, Mendeley, Zotero, and BibTeX citation management software. BibTeX and LaTeX are most commonly used in mathematics.
Citations and Bibliographies Guide - Visit this site to learn more about citation management software as well as different citation styles.
- Citation management software comparison chartView a chart which shows compares features of the software packages supported by library staff.
Citing AI-generated content
A variety of guidelines are emerging on how to cite or credit the parts of your work generated by artificial intelligence and large language model tools.
Northeastern offers an Insider's Guide for students (PDF) and an Overview and guide for instructors (PDF) on the responsible use of AI at the University.
Practices and standards for citing and crediting the contribution of AI in your work vary between style guides, so always consult your instructor, advisor, or editor to be sure of expectations for your academic work and research.
- AMA: Acknowledgement of the use of Artificial Intelligence and Language Models (Opens in new window)Guidance from the American Medical Associaton
- APA: How to cite ChatGPT (Opens in new window)From the American Psychological Association style blog. If using the scite.ai website, the vendor/author is Scite, and the AI tool is called "Assistant by Scite".
- Chicago: How do you recommend citing content generated by AI? (Opens in new window)From the Chicago Manual of Style
- IEEE How to Cite AI-generated Content (Opens in new window)IEEE style, for engineering and technology.
- MLA: How do I cite generative AI in MLA Style? (Opens in new window)From the Modern Language Association Style website.
More Writing Assistance
For help with writing projects, consider a visit to Northeastern's Writing Center. Assistance by appointment is offered in the 412 Holmes center. Online consulting is also available (all appointments in EST).