When and What to Cite

You should cite when

you are directly quoting.
you are summarizing and paraphrasing.
you are writing something that is highly debatable.

Basically, you need to cite all kinds of information including articles, books, websites, tweets, images, videos, and any idea not originated from you, unless it's common knowledge.

Examples

Direct Quotation

Every direct quotation must be identified by quotation marks, by appropriate indentation or by other means of identification and must be promptly cited in a footnote.

Example:

Original Text: And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Your Text: In The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry says, “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Paraphrase

Prompt acknowledgment is required when material from another source is paraphrased or summarized in whole or in part in your own words.

Example:

Original Text: And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Your Text: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry emphasizes in The Little Prince the importance of seeing through the obvious and understanding the essential truth of things with one's heart.

Borrowed Facts or Information

Information obtained in one’s reading or research that is not common knowledge among students in the course must be acknowledged. Examples of common knowledge might include the names of leaders of prominent nations, basic scientific laws, etc.

Example:

Original Facts of Information: The Little Prince was translated into 300 languages and dialects.
Your Text: The Little Prince was translated into 300 languages and dialects. (Relaxnews)
Citation in the Work Cited page: Relaxnews. “'The Little Prince' Becomes World's Most Translated Book, Excluding Religious Works.” CTV News, 7 Apr. 2017, www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/the-little-prince-becomes-world-s-most-translated-book-excluding-religious-works-1.3358885.

Images, Videos, and other Non-textual Information

Remember, you need to cite images, videos, and other non-textual information that are not created by you too! Check out our guides on different citation styles and tools.

Tricks

Use the citation feature in OneSearch to quickly generate citations, send yourself the sources you like, and pin your sources while writing. Don't know how? Check out this interactive screenshot of OneSearch.

Double check your citation using guides on different citation styles and tools
Check out the guide from MIT to learn more strategies and examples of paraphrasing
Sign up for a workshop by LRC on summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting