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Citation Resources

MLA, APA, Chicago, Government Documents... Citing sources can be confusing until you get the hang of it. This guide is here to help.

Citation Resources

Why Do We Cite?

Why is citation so important in academic writing, speaking, and research? Watch this video or read the text below for an answer:

Tigers Write: Why We Cite from University Libraries on Vimeo.

3 Reasons that We Cite

Academic citation demonstrates the these three qualities:

  • Academic generosity: correctly citing sources you researched shares useful information to your reader.
  • Your ethos: citation shows your credibility as a researcher because it allows your reader to verify your conclusions, see that you made a good faith effort to tell the truth, and that your research is serious and thorough.
  • Academic integrity: higher education values that you do your own work and do not steal others' work, and properly citing shows that you have done so.
Ethos - Credibility; Pathos - Emotion; Logos - Logic
Image: Stewart, Charles H. (2018). Ethos, logos, and pathos: Tools of persuasion [image]. Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart. https://charleshstewart.com/blog/ethos-logos-and-pathos/
Why Do We Cite? is adapted from Tigers Write: Why and How to Cite with APA by the University of Memphis Center for Writing & Communication and University Libraries and is licensed CC BY 4.0.

What is a Citation Style?

Style guides, also called a style manual or manual of style, provides guidance on formatting, grammar, punctuation, language use, and more to create consistent, understandable writing. Style guides for academic writing provide instruction on how to cite properly, which you often see referred to as citation styles.

Three of the most-commonly used academic style guides are:

  • The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Style)
  • The Modern Language Association Handbook (MLA Style)
  • The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago Style)

Each style manual has rules for how to cite in that stye. The Chicago Manual actually has two citation styles: Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date.

What is a Citation Style? is adapted from Tigers Write: Why and How to Cite with APA by the University of Memphis Center for Writing & Communication and University Libraries and is licensed CC BY 4.0.

What Do I Need to Cite?

When Should I Cite?

You should cite when:

  • Referring to a source, stating someone else's opinions, thoughts, ideas, or research

  • Using an image or media file that you did not create

Don't worry about citing:

  • Your thoughts and your interpretations

  • Common knowledge​

When in doubt, cite it!

When Should I Cite? is adapted from Citation Guides by the Butler University Libraries under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Do I need to Cite?

"Do I Need to Cite?" flowchart. Text equivalent in caption
  • Is this your original idea or research?
    • If yes, then no need to cite!
    • If no, then go to the next step.
  • Is the information common knowledge?
    • If yes, then no need to cite!
    • If no, then cite it!
    • If not sure, then cite it just in case!

The flowchart "Do I Need to Cite?" is adapted from "To cite or not to cite?", a part of Exploring Academic Integrity in Your Research: A Tutorial, by Bronwen Maxson of the University of Oregon Libraries. It is adapted under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 Unported license. The adapted chart was created by the University of Memphis Center for Writing & Communication and University Libraries and is shared under a Creative Commons BY 4.0 license.

Intentional and Unintentional Plagiarism

For more information and resources about plagiarism - intentional and unintentional: