Citing your sources is an important part of doing good research. Here’s why it matters:
It shows others where you found your information, so they can read or explore it too.
It builds your credibility by showing you’ve done careful research using trustworthy sources.
It gives credit to the original authors whose work helped shape your own ideas.
It helps you avoid plagiarism, which is using someone else’s work without giving them credit.
Citing isn’t just a rule—it’s a way of being a respectful and responsible researcher!
Publication Manual (OFFICIAL) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
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MLA 9 Simplified
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Forgetting to cite a source—even by accident—is considered plagiarism, so it’s important to stay organized while you research and write.
Here are some simple tips to make citing your sources easier:
Don’t wait until the end! Start collecting citation information as soon as you decide to use a source.
Write it down right away. When you find a source, copy all the details you’ll need for your citation—like the author, title, publication date, and page numbers.
Quoting something? Make note of the exact page or paragraph number where the quote appears.
Be careful with copy-paste. If you copy a quote from a database, make sure you also save the citation info at the same time—it’s easy to forget later!
Best practice: Cite while you write to stay organized and avoid missing any sources.
Avoid using online citation generators!
Taking these small steps along the way will save you time—and stress—later on!