uncited

Uncited is an adjective used to describe a statement, claim, or piece of information that has not been supported by a citation or reference. In academic and professional writing, uncited information is considered open to challenge because it cannot be verified against primary or reliable sources. The term can apply to text within documents, articles, or reports.

Within editing and publishing, uncited material is often flagged or removed unless a source is provided. Many style guides require citations for factual claims, figures, or quotations. Editors may annotate such content with notes indicating that a citation is needed, or they may request the author to supply sources or to rephrase the material as common knowledge.

In bibliometrics and research evaluation, uncited describes publications that have not been cited by other works within a given period. The proportion of uncited papers is sometimes used as an indicator of influence or visibility, though it is also influenced by field size, publication year, and citation practices, and it does not equate to quality.

Related terms include citation, citation needed, and unreferenced. While uncited status can reflect gaps in sourcing or awareness, it is not always a sign of poor quality; some information may rely on widely accepted knowledge or be pending peer review. Clear attribution remains a cornerstone of credible writing.