Why Do We Cite?

Why Cite our Sources

It is important to understand why citations are a fundamental part of any research assignment, aside from being a requirement. A citation is a reference to a source that contains key pieces of information about that source in order to find them. The following are three key reasons why citing is important.

Reason 1: For Scholarly Communication

By reading, analyzing, and including scholarly sources in your assignments, you are contributing to and participating in scholarly communication.

You grow in your understanding of a field of study by learning from its subject experts.

Reason 2: To Give Credit and Show Professionalism

This is key for showing professionalism and evidence in your paper.

You will mainly use scholarly and professional sources as evidence to support your research and give credit to their findings.

Citations allow others (and you) to find the sources used in your paper to learn more about them.

Reason 3: To Avoid Plagiarism

Watch these short videos to learn about plagiarism and how to avoid it.

Attribution & References