Citation and Attribution

Learn why and how to cite sources properly, and understand the difference between citation styles.

11 min 3 quiz questions Grade 7

Citations Give Credit and Enable Verification

Citing sources serves two purposes: it gives credit to the original creator, and it allows readers to verify your claims by finding the original source themselves.

Why Citation Matters

When you use someone else's ideas, words, or data in your work, you must acknowledge the source. Failing to do so is plagiarism — presenting others' work as your own. Citation is both an ethical obligation and a practical tool that strengthens your credibility.

Citation:A formal reference to a source that provides enough information for a reader to locate the original work.

Attribution:Acknowledging the creator of a work, even in informal contexts where a full citation is not required.

Common Citation Styles

MLA (Modern Language Association): Used in humanities — literature, language, arts
APA (American Psychological Association): Used in social sciences — psychology, education, sociology
Chicago/Turabian: Used in history and some social sciences
IEEE: Used in engineering and computer science

What a Citation Must Include

Every citation must include enough information for a reader to find the original source. For most sources this means: author name(s), title of the work, publication name, date, and location (page numbers, URL, or DOI).

Use Citation Tools

Tools like Zotero, EasyBib, and Citation Machine can generate citations automatically. Always review auto-generated citations for accuracy — they sometimes contain errors.

Paraphrasing Still Requires Citation

You must cite a source even when you paraphrase — restate the idea in your own words. Only common knowledge (facts known by most people) does not require citation.

Ready to test your knowledge?

3 questions · Grade 7 level