Not-so-hidden tips

Do you get frustrated when you write a paper and you're trying to figure out how to cite a source properly? You have any number of options available:

• Citation Management Tools
  • the FSU Libraries link out to 3 widely used tools for citation management
• Have your own laptop or computer? check out Zotero
  • Zotero is a free software program you can download and you'll still be able to use it after graduation or if you change schools.
  • Zotero has a browser plug-in you can use to download the citation information into your citation library (and in many cases, the journal article too)
  • Zotero has a software extension for Microsoft Word that makes it easy to add your source while you write. Generating bibliographies is a breeze too! 
  • Zotero sample screens below!
• EasyBib can help too, but is not as powerful as Zotero.
  • Don't let the many ads distract you!
• Purdue OWL
  • Great resource for general writing and tips on citation styles.

Why do we have these things called citation styles? Ultimately these provide a uniform way to refer to a resource -- for example, in Chicago/Turabian, we know any title in quotation marks is going to be a part of a larger work -- for example, an essay in a book or an article in a journal issue. 

Be sure to install the Word plugin from Zotero Word Processor Plugins.

These examples are from Word for Mac; the Windows plugins work well, but may appear a little differently.

Once the Zotero toolbar is installed, you may have a menu item just for Zotero, it may be under "Add ons," or in a different menu. Why? Depends on your version of Word, your operating system, etc.

Ready to insert your citation?

Choose your preferred style, choose OK, then get ready to choose the source you wish to cite...

Now, what does the citation look like in Word?

What about my Sources Cited or a Bibliography? No problem!