Different academic disciplines use different documentation styles; your instructor may require you to use

a particular style, or may allow you use one of your choosing.

It is important to fully understand the documentation style to be used in your paper, and to apply it
consistently. Furthermore, documentation styles allow you to give credit for secondary sources you have
used in writing your paper.

Citing sources not only gives credit where it’s due, but also allows your reader to locate the sources you
have consulted. In short, the reader of your paper must be able to use the information you provide, both in
the text and in appended list(s), to duplicate the research you have done.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DOCUMENT?

In general, you must document information that originates in someone else’s work. All of the following
should be accompanied by a reference to the original:

Direct quotations, Paraphrases and summaries, Information and ideas that are not common knowledge or
are not available in a standard reference work, Any borrowed material that might appear to be your own if
there were no citation

By now you’re likely wondering, “Yes, but how do I know where the ideas of others end and my own
begin?” If you’re writing papers that require research, you’ve probably been in academia long enough to
know that the only good answer to such a question is, “Good question.”

Giving credit where it’s due is a founding principle of academic inquiry, one that fosters the free exchange
of ideas. Ultimately, you’ll need to decide for yourself which ideas you can claim as your own and which
should be attributed to others. Perhaps we should consider how we’d like our work to be credited, and
use that as our guide.

HOW SHOULD I GATHER INFORMATION FOR DOCUMENTING SOURCES?

You can make the process of applying any documentation style easier if you keep good notes while you
perform research.

Write down the most complete bibliographic information available for each source that you consult; you
may want to take a look at the sample references list for the style you will be using to get an idea of the
amount of detail that’s required. If you write out quotations or data from a source, be sure to note the
number of the page(s) on which the information appears in the original. Double check the quotation for
accuracy before you return the source to the library.

It’s a good idea to put citations into your paper as you draft it. When you quote, put the source and page
number directly after, perhaps marked with asterisks. When you refer, do the same. And when you place
a citation in your text, add the source to your working bibliography.
When it comes time to put the finishing touches on your paper, the information you need will be available
right in your text, and may be easily put into the proper format.

WHICH STYLE SHOULD I USE?

Choosing the appropriate documentation style for your paper may depend on three factors:

The requirements of the particular course;

The standard for the discipline in which you are studying; or

Your individual preference.

Documentation style required for a course

Your instructor may assign a documentation style for papers to be written for that course. This will often
be indicated on the course syllabus or in the paper assignment, but may simply be mentioned during
class. If no documentation style is prescribed, you should ask whether the instructor has a preference. If
no preference is indicated, then you are free to choose a style.

Documentation style used in a discipline

In doing so, consider which style will be most appropriate for your area of specialization. If you are
pursuing a major in the humanities, consider learning the MLA style. If behavioral or social sciences are
likely to be your interest, then the APA style may be most appropriate. For information about the major
documentation styles, click on one of the menu items on the Documentation styles page.

Documentation style based on individual preference

If you don’t know what you want to major in, or aren’t particularly interested in adopting a documentation
style that will last your whole life long, then what you should do is read the Writing Center Review of
Documentation styles, where we compare the distinguishing features of the most commonly used
documentation styles. Take a look around, choose a style that fits your style, and then go to its pages to
learn how to use it.

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

You will often use sources for academic writing, and it’s important to know how to responsibly cite and
integrate those sources into your own writing. APA format provides guidelines and structures for citing
those sources in a way that helps you avoid plagiarism and give proper credit to your sources.
APA stands for the American Psychological Association. Most papers that use APA formatting and
citation style are those written in the Social Sciences: Psychology, History, Political Science, Economics,
Geography, and Sociology.
In addition to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition, the APA
maintains its own website with multiple examples of how to format your paper and cite your sources. If
you’re unable to find the answer to your question here, check the APA Manual 7th edition or the APA
website.

Papers constructed according to APA guidelines generally include the following elements:

 Title Page
 Abstract
 Body
 Subsections within the body, with headings
 Tables and Figures
 References
In most cases, each of these elements will begin on a separate page, and it is important to note that not
all academic papers will include all of these elements.

For specific types of reports, your subsections may need to be named with headings that reflect the type
of report you are writing. For example, in reports on experiments or studies you’ll usually need to follow
the IMRAD structure with Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections. Be sure to check with
your instructor to determine what the expectations are for your paper.
The APA style demos in this section will provide you with more information regarding APA basic
formatting, in-text citations, and the references list.

APA

There are three basic “parts” of APA that you should understand: There is the basic format of how you set
up your paper for things like your cover page, margins, line spacing, etc. There is in-text citing, where you
use citations within your paper to let your readers know where your source material comes from. Finally,
there is the References list, where you list all of the publication information for any sources used within
your paper.

We’ll start with the overall formatting.

In the 7th edition of APA format, you should have a cover page that includes your title, your name, the
name of your program and school, the name of your class, the name of your professor, and the date. You
should also have the page number at the top right corner. Your page numbers should appear on every
page.

You should begin your essay on the next page. Your margins should be 1 inch all the way around. You
should use a clean, standard font, and you should double space your lines and single space after all
punctuation. Be sure to indent by hitting tab for all new paragraphs.
Next, we will explore in-text citing.

It is important to remember that you must cite your sources within your text when you quote, summarize,
and paraphrase information from your sources. This means, you must cite even information you put into
your own words.

In APA, there are two basic structures for in-text citations—the narrative citation and the parenthetical
citation.

The narrative citation is used when you mention the author or authors’ last names within the sentence. In
this kind of citation, the year citation is placed after the author or authors’ last names, and any page or
paragraph citations come at the end.

The parenthetical citation is used when you haven’t mentioned the author or authors’ names within the
sentence. This citation includes the author or authors’ last names, year, and page number if necessary for
a direct quote.

Finally, we will take a look at a References page.

The References page is where you will provide full publication and retrieval information for your sources.
The References page is presented in alphabetical order, and it is important to remember that your in-text
citations must match up with your References.

APA-IMRAD

In many of your courses in the sciences and social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, and biology,
you may be required to write a research paper using the IMRAD format. IMRAD stands for Introduction,
Methods, Results, and Discussion. In this format, you present your research and discuss your methods
for gathering research. Each section of the IMRAD structure can take several paragraphs to develop.

This structure is also sometimes referred to as the APA format, but be sure not to confuse this with the
APA format for documentation of your research.

IMRAD Outline
1. Introduction
1. provide research question
2. explain the significance
3. review of background or known information on your topic
2. Methods
1. describe your methods for gathering information
2. explain your sources of information, both primary and secondary
3. Results
1. describe what you found out from your research.
 2. develop each point thoroughly, as this is the main section of your research
paper
4. Discussion
1. explain the significance of your findings
2. describe how they support your thesis
3. discuss limitations of your research
NOTE: APA does not recommend or require any particular outline for your papers. If you’ve seen sample
papers in following APA format, you may have seen the IMRAD format used, but this is not an official
APA requirement. Your assignment should always dictate outline structure, not a formatting style.

So you might have an assignment that requires APA format for documentation but a very different
organizational pattern. In fact, you may use the traditional outline for some projects written in APA format.

APA-In Text Citation

In APA, you should use citations in parentheses, within the text, to let your audience know when you have
borrowed information and where that information has come from.
Most students know to cite direct quotes, but it is important to remember you must also include in-text
citations for summarized and paraphrased information.
You are not just citing words; you are citing ideas.
For more information about what kinds of information must be cited within your text, be sure to review the
Avoiding Plagiarism tutorial in the Excelsior OWL.
In APA, the basic in-text citation, referred to as a parenthetical citation, includes the author’s last name,
the year, and the page number or paragraph number. Please note the page or paragraph numbers are
only required for direct quotes.
Here, you will see the basic version of an in-text citation. In parentheses after the quote, you should
provide the author’s last name, a comma, the year, a comma, a p and a period, followed by the page
number. Also, in this example, the source included three authors, so the student has listed et al. after the
first name.
There are variations on the standard in-text citation, however, as you will often use the author or authors’
last names as you set up a quote or paraphrased material. This is referred to as a narrative citation.
Here, you will notice the student has used the author’s name to set up this quoted material. You must
place the year after the mention of the name. Then, you will need an additional citation for the page
number after the quote.
Let’s take a closer look at a citation from an online source that did not include a page number. In this
case, APA requires that you list the paragraph number. You will notice the “p-a-r-a.” in the citation. This
lets your readers know that there were no page numbers, but this is the paragraph number for that
information.
Finally, it is important to think about punctuation for your in-text documentation as well. In APA, you
should place commas between each item in your in-text citations.
For short quotes or paraphrases, you should place your period after the in-text citation.
For longer quotes or block quotes, you should place your period before the citation.
In closing, the important thing to remember is to cite any ideas you borrow and to include only the
required information in your in-text citation. Full publication information will be saved for your References
list, which is explored in the References section on APA format in the Excelsior OWL.

APA Headings

Even experienced APA users will sometimes feel confused about APA headings. Headings in your paper
are separate from your paragraphs. They work to let readers know what content is coming and to help
organize your information in a hierarchical structure. If you have written a paper in APA, you know how
important those headings are to establishing focus, flow, and cohesion in your paper, but many are
unsure about how to use those headings, especially the different levels.

For beginning writers, most of the time, APA first-level headings are all we need, and in some cases, we
have to take it to the second level. But, if you have to create a larger project in APA, chances are you
really are going to need to know how to use third and fourth-level headings.

The following provides summaries and examples of all of the headings in APA, from your title, which is a
first-level heading, to fifth-level headings.

 Your title should be presented as a first-level heading. It is centered, in bold font, and all major
words should be capitalized. When all major words are capitalized, this is called Title Case. It is
important to note that you should not use the heading “Introduction.” Your paper title acts as your
first-level heading, and the first paragraphs of a paper after the title are understood as introductory
paragraphs.
Your Title Is a First-Level Heading
 First-level headings can appear throughout your paper as well. They should be centered,
in bold font, and in Title Case. A first-level heading should look like this on your page:
First Level of Headings
 Second-level headings are for sections within first-level headings, so you would use second-level
headings to break up a bigger section that you have established with a first-level heading. Second-
level headings are placed flush against the left margin, in bold font, and in Title Case. A second-
level heading looks like this on your page:
Second Level of Headings
 Third-level headings are necessary when you need to break down your second-level headings
into smaller sections. A third-level heading exists inside a second-level heading section. Third-level
headings are flush against the left margin, in bold and italic font, and in Title Case for capitalization.
A third-level heading looks like this on your page:
Third Level of Headings
 Fourth-level headings are sections inside third-level headings. Fourth-level headings are indented
or tabbed once from the left margin, in bold font, in Title Case for capitalization, and end with a
period. Your text should also appear on the same line as a fourth-level heading. On your page,
fourth-level headings will look like this:
Fourth Level of Headings. Your paragraph begins right here on the same line.
 The final level of headings APA describes is the fifth-level heading. This fifth level would be
necessary if you need to break up your fourth-level section into additional sections. Fifth-level
headings are tabbed once from the left margin, in bold and italic  font, in Title Case for capitalization,
and end with a period. Just like fourth-level headings, your text begins after the period. On your
page, fifth-level headings will look like this: Fifth Level of Headings. Your paragraph begins right
here on the same line.
Documenting Sources at the End of Your Paper

Every cited source from your essay, with the exception of personal communications, should appear in
your References page, which comes at the end of the essay.

The References page must conform to the following rules:

 Begin on a separate page at the end of your essay, using the same format as your essay (i.e.,
one-inch margins and page number).
 Entries in your list of references should be alphabetized by the authors’ last names. Use the title if
a work does not have an author.
 Center and bold the word References at the top of the page.
 Double-space all references, even within individual references.
 Use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for each reference. This means the first line of each entry will
be flush against the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.

This APA video will provide you with the basic information for formatting your References page. Here are
some important things to remember about your references list:

 No source should appear on your references list that is not cited in your paper with in-text
citations.
 Your sources should be listed in alphabetical order by the first word of each entry.
 Each source type has its own structure, so a book has a certain structure, as does a journal
article, a magazine article, etc.
 You should not try to memorize the structures. You simply have to look up the formatting each
time you begin putting together your references. You can use a reference generator, but be careful
to always double check, as the generators often make mistakes. The APA References section in the
OWL provides you with visual support and clear examples for each source type.
 Pay close attention to the capitalization rules in your references, as APA does not follow what you
might perceive as “standard” capitalization for some titles. For example, in article titles, you should
capitalize only the first word, any proper nouns, and the first letter of the subtitle, which is found after
the colon. APA refers to this capitalization style as “sentence case” capitalization.
When you begin your References page, you will notice that it is simply another page in your document, so
you should have the page number at the top right.

You should center the word References at the top of your page and then begin your entries. The word
“References” should be in bold font. Keep your line spacing at double-spaced.

A nice thing about following APA formatting carefully is that your readers can tell by simply looking at your
references list what kinds of sources you used because of the structure and order of information. This can
help your readers note your diverse and credible sources even at a glance.
 APA FORMAT

Book

Parenthetical
Reference Narrative Citation
Citation
(Larson, 1977, p. According to Larson (1977), insert
LarsLarson, M. S. (1977). The rise of 121). quote or paraphrase here (p. 121).
Note: Page numbers are only
professionalism. University of California required for direct quotes.
Press.

Online Book

Parenthetical
Reference Narrative Citation
Citation
If the electronic Presnall (1995)
PresPresnall, J. J. (1995) Rachel Carson. Lucent Books. book has page argues, insert quote or
numbers, the paraphrase here
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL1436989M/Rachel_Carso citations would (para.35)
look as they look or
n for a traditional
book. However, if Presnall (1995)
there are no page argues, “insert quote
numbers, APA here” (Chapter 3).
recommends
paragraph numbers Note: Paragraph
or names of the numbers or
headings. chapters/sections are
(Presnall, 1995, only required for
para.35). direct quotes.

or
(Presnall, 1995,
Chapter 3).

Online or Database Journal Article: With DOI

Reference Parenthetical Citation Narrative Citation

(Herbst-Damm & Kulik, According to Herbst-
HeHHerbst-Damm, K. L. & Kulik, J. A. (2005). 2005, p. 225). Damm and Kulik (2005),
insert quote or paraphrase
Volunteer support, marital status, and the here (p. 225).
Note: Page numbers are
survival times of terminally ill only required for direct
quotes.
patients. Health Psychology, 24(2), 225-229.
 https://doi.org/10.1037/027806133.24.2.225

Online or Database Journal Article: Without DOI

Parenthetical
Reference Narrative Citation
Citation
(Gasinska, 2016, p. According to
Gas Gasinska, A. (2016). The contribution of women to 251). Gasinska (2016),
insert quote or
radiobiology: Marie Curie and beyond. Reports of paraphrase here (p.
251).
Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy, 21(30), 250-253. Note: Page
numbers are only
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5002019
required for direct
/ quotes.

Web Page

Reference Parenthetical Citation Narrative Citation

(Boyd, 2012, para. 10). According to Boyd, (2012),
Boyd, V. (2012). About Zora Neale insert quote or paraphrase
here (para. 10).
Hurston. https://zoranealehurston.com/a Note: Paragraph numbers are
only required for direct
bout quotes.

Video

Reference Parenthetical Citation Narrative Citation

(Ezekial, 2012). According to Ezekial
Eze Ezekial, S. (Lecturer). (2012, March (2012), insert quote or
paraphrase here.
21). MIT understanding laser and

fiberoptics: Fiberoptics

fundamentals [Video]. YouTube.

https://youtube.com/watch?

v=0DCrIAxEv_Y

Source with Two Authors

Parenthetical Narrative
Reference
Citation Citation
 (Barker & Pollan, According to
Bar Barker, D., & Pollan, M. (2015, December 15). A secret weapon 2015, para. 5). Barker and
Pollan, insert
to fight climate change. The Washington Post. quote or
paraphrase here
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2015/12/04/fe22879e (para. 5).
Note: Page or
-990b-11e5-8917-653b65c809eb_story.html
paragraph
numbers are only
required for
direct quotes.

Source with Multiple Authors (3 or more)

Reference Parenthetical Citation Narrative Citation
(Any source type may have For three or more authors, APA According to Rivano et al.
multiple authors. This example requires using the first author’s (2001), insert quote or
shows a book, but if you have a last name followed by et al. on paraphrase here (p. 42).
different source, simply model all in-text citations. Note: Page numbers are only
the author portion from this (Rivano et al., 2001, p. 42). required for direct quotes.
sample and the appropriate
portion for your source from
another sample).

Riv Rivano, A. S., Hoson, A. &

Stallings B. (2001). Regional

integration and economic

development. Palgrave.
MLA Style | 8th Edition

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association. Most papers that use MLA formatting and citation
style are those written in the humanities, especially in languages and literature. In 2016, the MLA
Handbook was updated in an effort to simplify much of the documentation process in MLA format.

MLA Formatting: The Basics

Papers constructed according to MLA guidelines should adhere to the following elements:

 Double-space all of the text of your paper, and use a clear font, such as Times New Roman or
Courier 12-point font.
 Use one-inch margins on all sides, and indent the first line of a paragraph one half-inch from the
left margin.
 List your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date in the upper left-hand corner of
the first page. This is your heading. There is no cover page.
 Type a header in the upper right-hand corner with your last name, a space, and then a page
number. Pages should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half
inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
 Provide in-text citations for all quoted, paraphrased, and summarized information in your paper.
 Include a Works Cited page at the end of your paper that gives full bibliographic information for
each item cited in your paper.
 If you use endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page
 Your Works Cited page at the end of your project should line up with the in-text citations in the
body of your essay.
The following pages in this section will provide you with more information regarding MLA basic formatting,
in-text citations, and the Works Cited entries. The information in this section follows the MLA Handbook,
8th edition. MLA guidelines do change over time, so it’s important to be aware of the most current
information.

MLA In-Text Citations

MLA citations follow specific conventions that distinguish them from other styles. In-text citations are also
sometimes known as “parenthetical citations” because they are enclosed in parentheses. The author’s
last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in
parentheses at the end of the sentence.

At the end of the day Wilbur made “in excess of half a million dollars” (Marx 43).

If you use the name of the author to set up your quote or parphrase, you mention the author’s name in the
sentence and then put the page number only in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.

According to Marx, Wilbur made “in excess of half a million dollars” (43).
If you need to cite more than one source in your in-text citation, you should use a semicolon to separate
the sources.

(Jones 101; Williams 23).

It’s important to remember, in MLA style, each citation in your text must have a complete bibliographic
entry in your Works Cited page, so, if readers want to go to the original source, they can!

The examples above are just a few of the most common examples of in-text citations in MLA style. The
following pages provide more detailed information about in-text citing in MLA.

MLA Style Demo

This short video will provide you with key information about how to set up and format your papers in MLA
format. We will cover things like spacing, headings, and headers—information you need to ensure the
pages of your document meet the expectations of MLA format.
First, you will notice that MLA does not require a cover page as some formatting styles do. In MLA, on the
first page of your essay, you should have what is called a “heading.” This heading is placed in the top,
left-hand corner of your page.

You should list the following items in the correct order:

 Your name
 Your professor’s name
 The name of your course
 And the date (using military format where the date appears before the month)
Remember, the heading appears only on page 1.

At the top right hand corner of each page, you will place your header. Your header should include your
last name and the page number. You will need to use the “header” function in your word processing
program to make proper headers that will appear on every page.

The header should be placed ½ inch from the top of the page and 1 inch from the right side of the page.

We will now look at the text of your essay and examine the formatting requirements that begin here.

You will center your title below your heading. Your title should be the same font as the rest of your text
and should not be in italics or bold font.

In terms of line spacing, you will notice your text is double-spaced–always. There are no exceptions to
this in MLA. Even long or block quotes should be double-spaced.

You should use 12 point font in MLA format. The MLA recommends a clear, standard font style, such as
Times New Roman.
You should also set your margins to 1 inch and use left alignment. This means your alignment is standard
on the left but jagged on the right.

In terms of spacing within your text, you should always indent for new paragraphs ½ inch. Using your TAB
key will allow you to indent appropriately.

MLA recommends single spacing after end punctuation, such as periods. However, the MLA does not
consider it to be “incorrect” to double space after end punctuation, as some professors may prefer double
spacing after periods. Be sure to check with your professor, but know that single spacing is considered
the “standard.”

These are the basic requirements for setting up your document in MLA format. For more detailed
information, be sure to consult The MLA Handbook, 8th edition.

The Chicago Manual of Style, 16  ed., favored by some fields in the humanities, such as
th

history, uses a raised numeral in the text after the item cited, and then either a footnote at
the end of the page or an endnote at the end of the essay. These notes contain full
bibliographic information about the source. Additionally, a complete bibliography is typically
included at the end of the paper.

Chicago Formatting Guidelines | 16th Edition

The following guidelines are based on The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed.
Title Page
The title page contains: the full title of your paper, your name, the course title, the
instructor’s name, and the date.

The title page does not receive a number, but it does count toward the overall number of manuscript
pages. Therefore, the first page of the text is numbered 2.
Pagination

Using Arabic numerals (2, 3, 4, etc.), number all pages except the title page in the upper
right corner. Unless your instructor prefers otherwise, it is a good idea to include your last
name or an abbreviated title before each page number to help identify pages if they were to
get separated from your manuscript.

Margins and Line Spacing

Use one-inch margins at the top, bottom, and sides of the page. (One-inch margins are the
minimum; slightly wider margins are permissible.) Use double-spacing for the entire
manuscript, including long quotations that have been indented from the standard one-inch
margin. Format your text so that it is left justified.

Long Quotations
When a quotation is fairly long (a good rule of thumb is five lines or more), it is set apart
from the regular body of text by indenting the entire quote an additional half inch (five
spaces) from the left margin. Do not use quotation marks.

Visuals

Visuals are classified by the Chicago Manual of Style as tables and illustrations, such as:
charts, figures, graphs, drawings, maps, photographs, etc. Do not let visuals create a
“cluttered” feel to your paper; keep them simple.

 Label each table with an Arabic numeral and a concise title that clearly identifies the
subject. The label and title should appear on separate lines above the table, justified
left.
 Label each illustration with an Arabic numeral and a concise title that clearly
identifies the subject. The label and title can appear on the same line below the
illustration, justified left. The labeled “Figure” may be abbreviated to “Fig.”
Below the table, reference its source in this manner:

Source: Bruce Frazer, Up in Arms over Arms (Newport, OR: United Peace Press, 1991), 52.
In the text of your paper, help your readers make the connection between the graphics and your text. 
Arrange visuals as close as possible to the sentences that relate to them and point out the most
important qualities of each visual.

Note: Your instructor may prefer to see visuals in an appendix.

Endnotes

Endnotes start on a new page at the end of your paper. Center the heading, “Notes,” about
one inch from the top of the page, and continue numbering the pages consecutively from
where you left off in the manuscript.

A. Indenting and numbering

The first line of each note is indented half an inch (or five spaces) from the left margin; do not indent
subsequent lines in the note. The number that corresponds to the number in the text is placed at the
start of the note, followed by a period.

B. Line spacing

It is standard practice to use single-spacing within each note, and double-spacing between notes, but
check to see if your instructor prefers double-spacing throughout.
Bibliography

Typically, you will be asked to create a bibliography at the end of your paper. It should list
every work cited throughout your paper, and it may also include materials that you
consulted but did not actually reference.

 Place the bibliography after the endnotes page.

  Center the heading, “Bibliography,” about one inch from the top of the page, and
continue numbering the pages consecutively from where you left off.
 Arrange works cited/consulted alphabetically by the last names of authors/editors.
 Alphabetize anonymous works by the first word of the title (ignoring articles such
as A, An, and The).
 For two or more works by the same author, use six hyphens (‐‐‐‐‐‐) instead of the
author’s name in all entries after the first and alphabetize them by title.
 Begin entries at the left margin.
 Indent additional lines a half inch or five spaces, and single-space each entry.
 Double-space between entries (unless your instructor asks for double-spacing
throughout).

According to the joint research efforts of Dr. Donald McCabe and the International Center for Academic
Integrity, 62% of undergraduate students and 40% of graduate students admit to cheating on written
assignments.
Understanding how and when to cite sources is a critical skill for students to learn. Whether you borrow
someone’s ideas from a textbook, blog post, or academic journal, you must give proper credit while
representing the source’s ideas fairly and coherently. This guide covers:
Plagiarism, Paraphrasing, Citations
What Is Plagiarism?
On its Basic Citation Guidelines page, the Purdue University Global Writing Center defines plagiarism as
“using another's words, ideas, results, or images without giving appropriate credit to that person,
therefore, giving the impression that it is your own work.”
Types of Plagiarism
The Harvard College Writing Program notes six common forms of plagiarism:
1. Verbatim plagiarism: You copy someone else’s work word for word.
2. Mosaic plagiarism: You take pieces from one or more sources and fail to sufficiently paraphrase or
directly quote information.
3. Inadequate paraphrase: Your paraphrase too closely resembles the original content.
4. Uncited paraphrase: You properly paraphrase someone else’s content but don’t give credit to the
original source.
5. Uncited quotation: You quote information in your writing but don’t provide the original source for your
readers.
Using another student’s work: You submit and take full credit for another student’s ideas.
It’s important to note that plagiarism can be intentional or unintentional. Unintentional plagiarism occurs
when a student unknowingly cites a source inaccurately or improperly. Intentional plagiarism, on the other
hand, is when a student chooses not to cite a source or tries to pass off someone else’s ideas as their
own.
Consequences of Plagiarism
The consequences of plagiarism vary by institution, but could get you expelled or dropped from a course.
In less severe instances, plagiarism—both intentional and unintentional—may result in a grade penalty,
fine, or suspension. Beyond the academic consequences, plagiarizing also tarnishes your reputation and
minimizes your integrity. Whether you’re in school or the working world, plagiarizing is not a good look.
How to Avoid Plagiarism
The key to avoiding plagiarism is learning how to incorporate research into your writing. According to the
Plagiarism Information page on the Purdue Global Writing Center website, you can do this in the following
ways:
Quoting: If you don’t want to alter a source, use quotation marks to enclose all verbatim phrases.
Summarizing: If you find multiple relevant points in a lengthy text, simplify them into your own condensed
synopsis.
Paraphrasing: If you want to use a source’s information, restate it in your own words through “new
wording and phrasing in just as many words or slightly more words than the original.”
What Is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing is using your own words to convey the meaning of an excerpt. It shows your reader that you
did your research and understand the content. While students may understand that they need to cite
sources, many struggle with paraphrasing the ideas of others into their own words. However, like many
aspects of writing, effective paraphrasing is a skill developed over time.
How to Approach Paraphrasing
The goal of paraphrasing is to translate the original work into your own wording and sentence structure.
The best way to approach this is to focus on the meaning of the text, forcing you to interact with its
purpose and context.
Remember that you still need to cite your paraphrases, but your follow-up analysis and discussion points
belong to you.
What Requires Citation?
Any time you use information that isn’t common knowledge or you didn’t come up with yourself, you must
cite it. The following requires citation, usually through in-text citation or a reference list entry:
Quotes: If you are quoting the actual words someone said, put the words in quotation marks and cite the
source.
Information and ideas: If you obtain ideas or information from somewhere else, cite it—even if you
paraphrase the original content.
Illustrations: If you use someone else’s graphic, table, figure, or artwork, you must credit the source.
These may also require permission and a copyright notice.
Common Knowledge Exception
You don’t need to cite information that’s considered common knowledge in the public domain—as long as
you reword the well-known fact. According to the Purdue Global Writing Center’s Basic Citation
Guidelines page, information must have the following traits to be considered common knowledge:
The reader would already be aware of it.
It’s a widely accepted fact; for example, there are 24 hours in a day.
It’s accessible via common information sources.
It originates from folklore or a well-known story.
It’s commonly acknowledged in your field and known by your audience.
Why Citation Is Important
The importance of citation goes beyond the avoidance of plagiarism. According to the Purdue Global
Writing Center’s Plagiarism Information page, citation:
Distinguishes new ideas from existing information
Reinforces arguments regarding a particular topic
Allows readers to find your sources and conduct additional information
Maintains ethical research and writing
Ensures attribution of ideas, avoiding plagiarism
Additionally, proper citation enhances your credibility with readers, displays your critical thinking skills,
and demonstrates your strong writing ability.