LibAnswers

A citation is a formal reference to a source that supports a statement or idea in a piece of writing. Citing the source is necessary when quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing a written work.

• Essential for Avoiding plagiarism:

  Proper citation is essential to avoid plagiarism, which is the act of using a work without crediting the source. 

• Different citation styles:

  There are various citation styles, such as APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), each with its own rules and formatting guidelines. 

• In-text citations and reference lists or bibliographies

  Citations typically include in-text citations (short references within the body of the text) and a full list of references or bibliography at the end of the work. 

• Footnotes and endnotes can also include citations (and also can include supplemental information, or commentary to a document.) Both use superscript numbers or symbols in the main text to link to the corresponding note. Footnotes and endnotes offer a more detailed approach with potentially more extensive notes, whereas in-text citations prioritize a fluid reading experience with less information in the body. 

  • Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page where the reference is made

  • Endnotes are grouped together at the end of the document. 

• Academic context:

  In academic writing, citations are used to support claims, provide evidence, and acknowledge the sources of information used in a research paper, essay, or other scholarly work. 

• Legal context:

  In legal writing, citations refer to specific legal authorities like cases or statutes, supporting arguments and claims within legal documents.