You will encounter references (abbreviated publication information) in footnotes, databases, bibliographies, textbooks and articles. References contain clues (such as dates, volume numbers, and total pages) that can help you determine the type of publication.
Books:
Publishers and total pages help identify books:
Pomeranz, Kenneth. The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000) 382 pp.
Elements of this reference:
Author: Pomeranz, Kenneth
Book Title: The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy
Edited Book:
A reference to an edited book is a little harder to unpack. As a rule, the book title and the book editor are indexed in the library catalog.
Goddard, Ives (1978). "Delaware." In Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 15, Northeast, edited by Bruce G. Trigger, 213-239. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution
Book Section Title: "Delaware"
Author: Ives Goddard
Book Title: Handbook of North American Indians
Book Editor: Bruce G. Trigger
Journal Article:
A volume number usually indicates a journal article. Here's one with four authors:
Saywitz, K.J., Mannarino, A.P., Berliner, L., & Cohen, J.A. (2000). Treatment for sexually abused children and adolescents. American Psychologist 55, 1040-1049.
Author(s): Saywitz, Mannarino, Berliner, and Cohen
Journal Title: American Psychologist
Journal Article Title: Treatment for sexually abused children and adolescents
Volume number: 55
First page: 1040
Year of Publication: 2000
Citations for journal articles can contain abbreviated journal titles, though, like this one:
Karabel J. 1995. Towards a theory of intellectuals and politics. Theory Soc. 25:205-33.
Author(s): Karabel, J.
Journal Title: Theory and Society
Journal Article Title: Towards a theory of intellectuals and politics
First page: 205
Year of Publication: 1995
Newspaper:
A date, as opposed to only a year, usually indicates publication in a periodical, journal or newspaper:
Schwartz, J.(1993, September 30) Obesity affects economic, social status. The Washington Post, pp. A1, A4.
Author: Schwartz, J.
Article Title: Obesity affects economic, social status.
Periodical Title: The Washington Post
First Page: A1
Date of Publication: September 30, 1993
Examples of common citation formats in APA style:
Examples of common citation formats in MLA Style: