Why should you cite?

In academic writing, we cite sources for a number of important reasons:

• to establish our credibility as scholars by demonstrating that we've done our research
• to give credit to the original creator of any material that we use
• to participate in an academic conversation and build on ideas within our field of study
• to help our readers understand the original context of the ideas we are using, and allow them to find more information

What should you cite?

Whenever you incorporate other people's ideas, words, theories, or concepts in your paper or project, you need to use citations. It is important to document:

• direct quotes, both entire sentences and phrases
• paraphrases (rephrased or summarized material)
• words or terminology specific to or unique to the author's research, theories, or ideas
• use of an author's argument or line of thinking
• scientific, statistical, or historical facts
• graphs, drawings, or other such aggregations of information or data

You do not need to cite:

• common knowledge (Thomas Edison invented the light bulb; Lake Champlain is located between Vermont, New York, and Canada)
• well-known quotations ("The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.")
• proverbs, axioms, and sayings ("The early bird catches the worm.")

Determining what is "common knowledge" may depend in part on your audience. If you are writing for a general audience, ask yourself whether information is something that the average adult reader would accept as reliable without having to look it up. When writing for others who are knowledgeable in your field, ask yourself whether the information represents a core concept that others in your field would accept as common knowledge.