How to Write Citations

What is a citation? 

Citing a source means that you are giving credit to the original author or creator of information that you have used in your own work. This can include: ideas, data, quotes, images, and/or anything that is not your own. 

Why does citing your sources matter?

• Credit is given to the original author 
• Avoids plagiarism - copying someone else's work and passing it off as your own 
• Shows where your information comes from & can be verified
• Allows others to find more information on the topic
• Builds trust in your work and credibility as an author / researcher 

You need to cite your sources whenever you do not use an original thought or common knowledge. This includes: 

• Direct Quotes
  • word-for-word quotes - no matter how short. 
  • Example: A sentence from a book, article, newspaper, or website
• Paraphrased or Summarized Information
  • Even if you reword someone else's ideas - you need to cite them as a source
  • Example: a summary of an article that you're evaluating 
• Data & Statistics
  • Numerical information, charts, graphs, or tables that you did not create yourself. 
  • Example: A data table from the CDC 
• Images, Visuals, & Media
  • Images, videos, audio clips, tables, and diagrams that you did not create.
  • Examples: A video from YouTube or Image from a newspaper
• Unique Phrases or Terminology
  • Coined terms or phrases that are unique to an author or field of research should be cited. 
  • Example: "Paradigm Shift" was coined by Thomas Kuhn, in his 1962 book “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” 
• Ideas from Lectures or Personal Communication
  • Information from class lectures, interviews, emails, or conversations that are not publicly accessible.
  • Example: An email from a professor about a lecture topic. 
• Software, Algorithms, & Code
  • Any code, scripts, or algorithms that are not your own original work.
  • Example: A function from GitHub copied to your own work.
• Copyright Attribution, Patents, & Trademarks
  • Any image, text, or information held within a copyright, patent, or trademark that is not your own
  • Example: patent owner/ patent number used in your work

There are many basic elements that each citation style has, but depending on the style it may be structured in a different order or include a few unique elements. Below are the basic elements most citation styles include:

• Core elements
  • Author(s) or Editor(s)
  • Title of the item
  • Title of the source that the item was found in, ie: the journal or book 
  • Publication year
• Journal articles will often include
  • Volume
  • Issue
  • Page Number
  • DOI or URL
• Book or Book Chapters often include:
  • Publisher
  • Place of Publication 
  • Page Number(s)
• Patents
  • Patent Owner(s)
  • Patent Number 
  • Date of Issue
  • Patent Stage - In process or fully granted
• Copyright
  • Title
  • Author(s)
  • Year of Publication
  • Source of Material 
  • Copyright Status 
  • Indicate whether the material was reprinted ("FROM") or Adapted ("ADAPTED FROM")
• Trademarks
  • Trademark Name
  • Trademark owner(s)
  • Registration Status 
  • USPTO Registration Number
  • Year Registered

Please note: Ask your professor about citation style requirements BEFORE beginning your assignment. Different professors will require different styles - check first!!

For further information on how to cite using a specific citation style please see the following sources:

• Purdue Owl - for general citation information 
• APA Citations 
• MLA Citations
• Chicago Manual Style Citations
  • Turabian 
• IEEE Citation Style Guide
• AMA Style Guide

If you have suggestions for how to make this page better, please contact Elizabeth Jerow, Library Director (jerow@msoe.edu).