Citing Sources

Citing a source means giving credit to the original author or creator of the information you use in your work. This includes ideas, quotes, data, images, and anything else that isn’t your own.

Citing is important because it:

• Shows where your information came from

• Gives credit to the original authors

• Helps others find the sources you used

• Avoids plagiarism, which is using someone else’s work without permission

Using citations shows that you’re a responsible researcher and helps build trust in your work.

You should cite any material that is not your own original thought or common knowledge. This includes:

1. Direct Quotations

• Any word-for-word use of someone else’s writing, no matter how short.
• Example: A sentence from a book, article, or website.

2. Paraphrased or Summarized Ideas

• Even if you put someone else’s ideas into your own words, you must still cite the source.
• Example: Rewriting a theory or argument from a scholarly article.

3. Data and Statistics

• Any numerical information, charts, or graphs that you did not create yourself.
• Example: Census data, survey results, or figures from a research study.

4. Visuals and Media

• Images, videos, audio clips, tables, and diagrams that you did not create.
• Example: A photo from a news site or a chart from a journal article.

5. Unique Phrases or Terminology

• Specialized terms or coined phrases that are specific to a particular author or field.
• Example: A concept like “invisible hand” from Adam Smith.

6. Ideas from Lectures or Personal Communications

• Information from class lectures, interviews, emails, or conversations that are not publicly accessible.
• Example: A professor’s explanation during a lecture.

7. Software, Algorithms, and Code

• Any code, scripts, or algorithms that are not your own original work.
• Example: A function copied from GitHub or Stack Overflow.

You will need to cite the elements of the publication in your work so readers can easily find it. What's included in a citation will depend on the type of source.

Core elements of a citation:

• Author(s) or editor(s)
• Title of the article or book chapter
• Title of the journal or book
• Publication year

Journal articles will also include:

• Volume 
• Issue
• Page numbers
• DOI or URL (if applicable)

Book/book chapters will also include:

• Publisher
• Place of publication (optional, depends on the style used)
• Page numbers (if applicable)

For more detailed information on how to cite specific sources, please navigate to your citation style of choice.