AAA Style Guide

    Master AAA (American Anthropological Association) citation style with comprehensive examples and guidelines for anthropology writing.

    Try Our Tools
    Free

    Put these guides into practice with our powerful academic tools

    AAA Citation Generator

    Featured

    Generate perfect AAA citations instantly for anthropology sources

    Try Now

    Deep Research

    Find anthropological sources for your AAA references

    Try Now

    What is AAA Style?
    Chicago-Based

    The American Anthropological Association Style Guide

    AAA Style is the official citation format of the American Anthropological Association, based on Chicago Manual of Style but adapted for anthropological research. It emphasizes the documentation of diverse sources including ethnographic materials, field notes, and cross-cultural data.

    When to Use AAA Style

    AAA style accommodates the diverse methodological approaches and source types characteristic of anthropological research. Its flexible framework supports the citation of ethnographic materials, oral histories, visual media, and cross-cultural data that form the foundation of anthropological scholarship.

    Primary Uses:

    Cultural Anthropology
    Linguistic Anthropology
    Archaeology
    Physical Anthropology
    Ethnography
    Applied Anthropology

    AAA Citation Fundamentals

    In-Text Citation Format:

    Basic Format:(Author Year)
    With Page Number:(Author Year:Page)
    Multiple Authors:(Smith and Brown 2023)

    Reference List Format:

    Author, First Last. Year. Title of Work. Place: Publisher.

    Quick Reference Examples

    Journal Article

    Smith, John A. 2023. Cultural Practices in Urban Communities. American Anthropologist 125(2):123-145.

    Ethnography

    Brown, Mary L. 2023. Life in the Village: An Ethnographic Study. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Online Resource

    American Anthropological Association. 2023. Research Ethics Guidelines. Electronic document, https://americananthro.org/ethics, accessed March 15, 2023.

    Expand Your AAA Knowledge

    Master AAA Formatting →

    Learn document setup and formatting requirements for anthropological writing.

    Perfect Your Citations →

    Master AAA's Chicago-based system for anthropological research.

    Cite Journal Articles →

    Learn to cite anthropological journals, ethnographic studies, and research articles.

    Cite Books & Ethnographies →

    Format citations for ethnographies, textbooks, and anthropological monographs.

    Cite Conference Papers →

    Reference anthropological conference presentations and proceedings.

    Build Your Bibliography →

    Create properly formatted reference lists following AAA guidelines.