Why the ‘RIGHT’ Genealogy Citation Style Might Not Be What You Think

Devon Noel Lee
2 days ago
2 min read

If you’ve spent any time in the genealogy world, you’ve probably heard the phrase “cite your sources.” And if you’re writing a family history book, chances are you’ve also asked yourself: What’s the correct way to do that?

It’s a good question—but the answer might surprise you.

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No One-Size-Fits-All Standard

Some writers assume there is a single "official" style that everyone in genealogy must follow. But in reality, there's no universal standard across the field. Instead, different organizations recommend (or require) different approaches.

For example, the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) strongly recommends using the Evidence Explained style developed by Elizabeth Shown Mills. This system builds on the Chicago Manual of Style. Evidence Explained offers extremely detailed, layered citations designed to lead another researcher directly to the exact source you used, down to the repository and entry level. This citation style is crucial for those seeking BCG certification or aiming to publish in scholarly genealogical journals.

But it's not the only acceptable option.

Flexibility From ICAPGen and Beyond

The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) takes a different approach. Rather than requiring a specific format, they encourage researchers to choose any formal citation style as long as you use it consistently.

That means you can use Chicago, MLA, Evidence Explained, APA, or another academic format. Just don't mix and match partway through your project.

And for those pursuing academic programs in family history writing, such as those through the University of Strathclyde, you may work with Harvard Style, which is more common in the UK.

So what's the takeaway?

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Consistency Is King

You might be hoping for a definitive answer like: Use this style. Done. But the truth is, the "right" genealogy citation style fits your purpose and is something you use consistently.

What matters more than the format itself is your reader's ability to find the same source based on the information you've given. Whether you're writing for accreditation, your extended family, or future historians, your goal is clarity and traceability.

And that's something you can achieve with any standard format as long as you commit to it.

Don't Let Genealogy Citations Stall Your Writing

One final piece of advice: don't let the question of citation style slow you down. Citations should support your story, not become the story. If you find yourself stuck because you're trying to perfect a footnote instead of writing the next paragraph, it may be time to shift your focus.

Get the story written. Get the memories, the emotions, and the meaning onto the page. You can always go back and polish your citations later.

If you'd like help with that part of the process, I've also made a video about using the Cite Builder tool. The video shows you how to format citations across several styles.