Why Citations Matter

The Purpose of Citations

Citations serve multiple essential functions in academic and professional writing.

Giving Credit

Citations acknowledge the intellectual contributions of others. Using someone's ideas without attribution is plagiarism, regardless of whether you quote directly or paraphrase.

Building Credibility

Citations show that your arguments are supported by established research. They demonstrate the depth and breadth of your research.

Enabling Verification

Citations allow readers to find and verify your sources, evaluate the evidence themselves, and explore the topic further.

Contributing to Scholarly Conversation

Academic writing is a conversation among scholars. Citations position your work within existing research and show how it extends or challenges previous findings.