When to cite

In order to avoid plagiarism, credit must be given to the sources you have used in your research paper. Acknowledge the sources by stating in a citation where you found a particular piece of data. The purposes of such acknowledgments are:

• to enable the reader to pursue further an idea or fact which is of interest
• to give credit to the person whose work you have read

Citations are required when you use:

• a direct quotation
• an indirect quotation
• a paraphrase
• an opinion or conclusion not originally yours
• a statistic or result of a study
• a distinctive form or organization
• a fact not part of common knowledge

Citations may not be needed for information considered common knowledge, such as:

• dates
• achievements
• religious beliefs
• facts that can readily be found in at least three separate sources
  

Use a web portal to help you create your Bibliography; such as Citation Machine

In-text citations

For further information speak with your Librarian or look at: Modern Language Association or Documenting Sources with The Owl at Purdue University.

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