Cite/ Citing/ Citation

Citing is the practice of giving credit to the original authors or sources when using their ideas, information, or words in your writing. Citations typically include details like the author's name, the title of the work, publication year, and page numbers, depending on the citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Citations can appear as in-text references, footnotes, or endnotes, with a full reference list or bibliography at the end of the work.

Importance of Citing:

1. Avoids Plagiarism:

   • Citing sources is essential for avoiding plagiarism, which is the unethical practice of using someone else’s work or ideas without proper acknowledgment. Proper citation shows academic integrity and ensures you are not passing off another person's work as your own.

2. Gives Credit to Original Authors:

   • Citations recognize and honor the contributions of the original authors or researchers. Acknowledging the original sources shows respect for the intellectual property of others.

3. Supports Your Arguments:

   • Citing credible sources strengthens your own arguments by backing them up with expert evidence or established research. It shows that your ideas are well-researched and grounded in authoritative work.

4. Helps Readers Locate Sources:

   • Citations provide the necessary information for readers to locate and verify the original sources if they want to explore the topic further. This transparency adds credibility to your work.

5. Demonstrates Depth of Research:

   • By citing a variety of sources, you demonstrate that you have engaged deeply with the literature on the subject. It shows that you have explored different perspectives and gathered information from reliable sources.

6. Promotes Academic Dialogue:

   • Citations are part of the academic conversation. By citing other works, you are contributing to the ongoing dialogue within your field, and you allow others to engage with the sources that informed your work.

7. Fosters Ethical Scholarship:

   • Academic writing relies on building upon previous knowledge, and citing helps maintain ethical standards. Proper citation promotes a culture of fairness and trust within academia.

Example of a Citation (APA Style):

• In-text citation:
  According to Hargreaves (1994), sports have historically played a role in shaping gender identities.

• Reference list entry:
  Hargreaves, J. (1994). Sporting females: Critical issues in the history and sociology of women’s sport. Routledge.

In summary, citing is a fundamental practice in academic and professional writing that helps ensure the ethical use of information, strengthens your work, and maintains transparency and credibility in scholarship.

Citation Styles 

Different citation styles are used across various academic disciplines and publishing contexts. Each style has specific rules for formatting citations and references. Here’s an overview of some of the most common citation styles, along with their key characteristics:

1. APA (American Psychological Association) Style

• Discipline: Social Sciences, Psychology, Education
• In-text citation: Author-date format. Example: (Smith, 2020)
• Reference list format:
  Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher.
  Example: Smith, J. (2020). Understanding psychology: An introduction. Academic Press.

2. MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

• Discipline: Humanities, Literature, Arts
• In-text citation: Author-page format. Example: (Smith 23)
• Works Cited format:
  Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Publisher, Year.
  Example: Smith, John. Understanding Literature. Penguin, 2020.

3. Chicago/Turabian Style

• Discipline: Humanities, History
• Two systems:
  • Notes and Bibliography: Common in humanities. Uses footnotes or endnotes.
    • Example of a footnote: 1. John Smith, The History of Time (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2020), 45.
  • Author-Date: Common in sciences.
    • In-text: (Smith 2020, 45)
    • Reference list: Smith, John. 2020. The History of Time. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

4. Harvard Style

• Discipline: Various (Commonly used in UK and Australia)
• In-text citation: Author-date format. Example: (Smith, 2020)
• Reference list format:
  Author Last Name, Initial(s). (Year) Title of work. Publisher.
  Example: Smith, J. (2020) Understanding Society. Routledge.

5. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Style

• Discipline: Engineering, Computer Science
• In-text citation: Numbered format. Example: [1]
• Reference list format:
  [1] A. Author, Title of Book, Publisher, Year.
  Example: [1] J. Smith, Introduction to Algorithms, MIT Press, 2020.

6. AMA (American Medical Association) Style

• Discipline: Medicine, Health Sciences
• In-text citation: Numbered format. Example: 1
• Reference list format:
  Author(s). Title of Article. Journal Name. Year; Volume(Issue): Page numbers.
  Example: Smith J. Understanding Health. J Med. 2020;10(2):123-129.

7. ASA (American Sociological Association) Style

• Discipline: Sociology
• In-text citation: Author-date format. Example: (Smith 2020)
• Reference list format:
  Author Last Name, First Name. Year. Title of Book. Publisher.
  Example: Smith, John. 2020. Social Theory in Practice. Sage Publications.

8. CSE (Council of Science Editors) Style

• Discipline: Natural Sciences
• In-text citation: Author-year or citation-sequence format. Example: (Smith 2020) or [1]
• Reference list format (author-date):
  Author Last Name First Initial. Year. Title of work. Publisher.
  Example: Smith J. 2020. Biology Today. Academic Press.

Key Differences Between Citation Styles:

• Format of In-text Citations: Some styles use author-date (e.g., APA, Harvard), while others use numbering (e.g., IEEE, AMA).
• Title Formatting: Styles like APA capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, while MLA and Chicago capitalize major words.
• List of References: Some styles (like APA and MLA) have a "References" or "Works Cited" section, while others use footnotes or endnotes (like Chicago's Notes and Bibliography).
• Use of Page Numbers: In-text citations in MLA always require a page number, while other styles may not.

Choosing a Citation Style:

The choice of citation style typically depends on the academic discipline, the preference of the instructor or institution, or the guidelines of the publication. It's essential to remain consistent with the chosen style throughout your work.

Here are examples of citing the same book in different citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard):

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Book Title:

Hargreaves, Jennifer. Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the History and Sociology of Women's Sport. Routledge, 1994.

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1. APA Style (7th Edition):

• In-text citation:
  (Hargreaves, 1994)

  Or, as part of the sentence:
  Hargreaves (1994) argues that...

• Reference list entry:
  Hargreaves, J. (1994). Sporting females: Critical issues in the history and sociology of women’s sport. Routledge.

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2. MLA Style (9th Edition):

• In-text citation:
  (Hargreaves 23) (Include page number if quoting or referring to a specific page)

  Or, as part of the sentence:
  According to Hargreaves, sports have long influenced women’s societal roles (23).

• Works Cited entry:
  Hargreaves, Jennifer. Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the History and Sociology of Women's Sport. Routledge, 1994.

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3. Chicago Style (17th Edition):

• In-text citation (Author-Date style):
  (Hargreaves 1994, 23)

  Or, as part of the sentence:
  Hargreaves (1994, 23) discusses...

• In-text citation (Notes and Bibliography style):
  Footnote:

  1. Jennifer Hargreaves, Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the History and Sociology of Women’s Sport (London: Routledge, 1994), 23.

• Bibliography entry:
  Hargreaves, Jennifer. Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the History and Sociology of Women’s Sport. London: Routledge, 1994.

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4. Harvard Style:

• In-text citation:
  (Hargreaves, 1994, p. 23)

  Or, as part of the sentence:
  Hargreaves (1994, p. 23) highlights that...

• Reference list entry:
  Hargreaves, J., 1994. Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the History and Sociology of Women's Sport. London: Routledge.

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Key Differences Between Citation Styles:

1. APA Style:

   • Primarily used in social sciences.
   • Focuses on the author’s surname and publication year.
   • Minimal capitalizations in the title.

2. MLA Style:

   • Common in humanities (literature, arts, etc.).
   • Focuses on the author’s name and page number for in-text citations.
   • Titles are italicized with major words capitalized.

3. Chicago Style:

   • Used in both humanities and sciences.
   • Allows for two citation formats: Author-Date (similar to APA) and Notes and Bibliography (footnotes or endnotes with a bibliography).

4. Harvard Style:

   • Similar to APA, but slightly more flexible.
   • Often used in the UK and Australia.

Each style has its own rules for formatting citations and bibliographies, so it's important to follow the guidelines specific to your field or institution.