cite sources

Meaning

To refer to or quote books, articles, websites, or other documents to support an argument or show where information came from. This is essential in academic writing to avoid plagiarism and give credit to original authors.

Examples

• You must cite sources properly using APA style for your research paper.

  You must cite sources properly using APA style for your research paper.

• Failing to cite sources can result in a failing grade due to plagiarism.

  Failing to cite sources can result in a failing grade due to plagiarism.

• The bibliography at the end of the book makes it easy to cite sources.

  The bibliography at the end of the book makes it easy to cite sources.

• Always remember to cite sources when you use direct quotes or specific data.

  Always remember to cite sources when you use direct quotes or specific data.

• He spent hours verifying his data to ensure he could accurately cite sources.

  He spent hours verifying his data to ensure he could accurately cite sources.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ You need to site your sources in the bibliography.

  ✓ You need to cite your sources in the bibliography.

  'Cite' (to reference) and 'site' (a location) are homophones. In academic writing, always use 'cite' for references.

• ✗ I forgot to make citation of my sources.

  ✓ I forgot to cite my sources.

  While 'make citations' is grammatically possible, 'cite sources' or 'cite my sources' is the much more natural and direct verb-object collocation.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To avoid plagiarism, always ______ ______ when writing an academic essay.

  💡 Reference where you got your information.

  Show answer

  cite sources

• The professor reminded us to ______ ______ for any statistics we included.

  💡 Name the origins of your data.

  Show answer

  cite sources