Crediting

Credit is not only financial; crediting is the act of acknowledging sources and contributions, and it can also mean recording or extending credit in financial terms. Good crediting requires clear attribution of authors, creators, sponsors, and factual sources, preserving provenance and establishing accountability.

In media and publishing, credits list individuals and roles involved in a work, such as writer, director, performer, or designer. They may appear at the end or beginning of a film or publication. Credits fulfill legal and contractual obligations, recognize labor, and help audiences understand authorship. Variations occur across industries and jurisdictions.

In academia and research, crediting relies on citations and references to acknowledge prior work. Style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago) specify formats for in-text citations and bibliographies. Proper attribution supports verification and minimizes plagiarism, while disputes over credit can affect authorship, reputation, and scholarly integrity.

In software, open-source licenses and content platforms require attribution through license notices, contributor lists, or provenance metadata. This helps users understand origins and comply with licensing terms. In finance, crediting also refers to extending or recording credit to borrowers, involving risk assessment, terms, and regulatory compliance.