citation

A citation is a reference to a source that informs readers about the origin of ideas, data, or language used in a work. Citations serve to give credit to authors, support claims, and enable readers to locate the original material for verification or further study.

Citations appear in two main forms: in-text citations placed within the body of the text, and bibliographic entries listed at the end of the work. A citation typically includes author(s), title, and publication details, with identifiers such as DOI, ISBN, or a URL when applicable.

Several citation styles provide rules for formatting. Common styles include APA, MLA, Chicago, and IEEE. Styles dictate how to present in-text references and how to organize the reference list, including punctuation, capitalization, and order of information.

Ethical use of citations underpins scholarly integrity. Accurate citations allow readers to verify sources, attribute ideas, and avoid plagiarism. Citation management tools can help organize sources and automate formatting, but users must ensure information is complete and correct.

Citations also vary by source type and medium, from journal articles and books to websites and multimedia. When quoting directly, page or section identifiers are often required; paraphrasing usually requires a citation as well.