What is a Citation and Why is it Important?

What Exactly is a Citation?

Think of a citation as your way of giving credit where credit is due. It's how you formally tell your readers that specific material used in your work originated from another source.

More than just an acknowledgement, a citation provides your readers with the necessary information to find that original source again. It acts as an important roadmap to your research process.

• Information about the author(s) or editor(s)
• The title of the work
• The name and location of the publisher
• The date your copy was published
• The page numbers of the material you are borrowing or referencing

Whenever you use sources like books, journals, or websites in your research, you must give credit to the original author by citing the source.

Why Do We Need to Cite Sources?

Citation is about more than just following rules; it's fundamental to academic honesty and strengthens your own work.

But there are many other powerful reasons to cite:

• Helping Your Readers: Citations are extremely helpful to anyone who wants to find out more about your ideas and where they came from.
• Adding Strength and Authority: Citing sources strengthens your work by lending outside support to your ideas.
• Showcasing Your Research: Citing sources shows the amount of research you've done.
• Protecting Your Reputation: Proper citation will keep you from taking the rap for someone else's bad ideas.
• Placing Your Work in Context: By citing your sources, you are placing your work in a specific context to show where you "fit" within the larger conversation.

Good citations should honestly reflect the research you conducted.

Doesn't Citing Make My Work Seem Less Original?

Absolutely not! This is a common concern, but the opposite is true. Citing sources actually helps your reader distinguish your ideas from those of your sources, emphasizing your originality.

It also gives you greater credibility because you are demonstrating your knowledge on the subject and your understanding of the work that's already been done by others.

So, When Exactly Should I Cite?

A simple rule of thumb: Whenever you borrow words or ideas from another source, you need to acknowledge that source.

• Whenever you use quotes.
• Whenever you paraphrase (restating someone else's ideas in your own words).
• Whenever you use an idea that someone else has already expressed.
• Whenever you make specific reference to the work of another.
• Whenever someone else's work has been critical in developing your own ideas.