Citation

Overview

A citation is a reference to a source of information used in your writing. It serves multiple purposes: giving credit to original authors, allowing readers to verify your claims, and demonstrating the depth of your research.

Usage

Why Citations Matter

• Academic integrity: Shows you're not claiming others' ideas as your own
• Reader verification: Allows readers to check your sources
• Research depth: Demonstrates thorough research and engagement

When to Cite

• Quote directly from a source
• Paraphrase someone else's ideas
• Summarize research or findings
• Use statistics or data

Examples

MLA In-Text Citation

"According to recent studies, social media usage has increased dramatically" (Smith 45).

APA In-Text Citation

"Recent studies indicate that social media usage has increased dramatically" (Smith, 2020, p. 45).

History

Citation practices evolved from medieval scholarly traditions. The modern academic citation system developed in the 19th century as universities formalized research standards and plagiarism prevention measures.