Dissertations can take months if you’re studying for a Masters degree and years if you’re striving for a Doctorate degree. This amount of time is required for properly researching and writing your content along with valid arguments and findings in your dissertation. That is why it is imperative that you follow the proper formats and requirements while compiling and citing your sources.

As per the academic requirements of your university, you may use any of the different well-known formatting methods such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), the American Psychological Association (APA) style or the Chicago Style citation format. It is necessary to confirm just exactly which one you will be using to prepare your final dissertation.

Here are a few helpful tips that you can use to properly cite any sources in your dissertation.

• Make sure to note every instance in your dissertation where you refer to someone else’s work, ideas or a summary of their work. Place these citations in the body of the text, i.e. at the end of the sentence in which you refer to them.

• If you’re using the APA style, list the author first followed by the year of publishing. Follow this with the title (without using italics font) and then the publisher. Add other optional information such as volume, page number or publication number at the end. Use parenthesis to set your citations apart from the rest of the text with all styles.

• If you’re using the MLA method, list the author first followed by the title (in italics font), the year, page number, publisher and date of publication.

• If you’re using Chicago Style, list the author's name first followed by the year, title without italics, publisher, volume, and page number.

• Prepare a comprehensive bibliography as a reference to all of the resources you cited in your text. This is the overall compilation of the sources you have included in the dissertation; however it is not a breakdown by page or quote. Use the corresponding format above but omit listing a source more than once and don't include page numbers.

• If you need help in compiling your content and citations in the format required by your university, you may get help from your professor or examiner. Getting assistance from a dissertation editing service is also a valuable option if you wish to make sure that your dissertation meets the required standards of citation.