How to Recognize and Avoid Plagiarism

Richard L. Saunders, Paul Meek Library

Univ. of Tennessee at Martin

Citation/Documentation

It is not enough just to use quotes to signal that words were copied, the original source needs to be documented as well. A citation provides information in enough detail and in a specific format to allow a reader to locate the words or ideas being cited. A citation is something like a street address for the quote.

Depending on the style for your discipline, a citation may be set up as an in-text citation, footnote, or endnote. Word processing functions make creating notes into an easy process, but the form (citation style) and content is still your responsibility. This tutorial uses one form of in-text citations; other note forms will vary, though some styles share similarities.

Citations follow specific rules about what sort of data is and is not used in a citation, and in what standardized form the data will appear. Both the Writing Center and library reference desk have copies of style manuals to help you format citations. Be sure to follow the style manual for the discipline in which you are writing.

Never put off or omit making a citation as you take notes or draft your writing, assuming you will return later to insert the reference. If you plan to confirm a detail or insert a citation later, mark the spot clearly, perhaps by inserting a note that says nothing more than re-check source.