Why should I cite?

Citing seems so picky and time consuming to me. I think it is a waste of my time. Why do I need to cite?

• It is required, and it helps you avoid plagiarism!

  You must always give credit for information you obtain from another person or source. Courses at UMUC will require you to cite sources, and correct style will be expected. Citing correctly can protect you against charges of plagiarism.

• It ensures complete information is included

The structured format of a citation may seem unnecessarily limiting, but it ensures that you include all the information a reader needs in order to find the source to which you refer.  If you have ever had to trace a publication with inadequate or inaccurate information, you will know how important it is to use a structured format for references.

• It's the right thing to do!  

Like correct grammar or proper spelling, good citation style demonstrates your attention to detail, consideration for your reader, and good organizational skills. It makes a favorable impression, and may even influence your faculty member to look more favorably on your work as a whole.

• It keeps you focused!

Thinking about citing can make you aware of factors that will help you judge a paper. For instance, you need to include the date of publication in a citation. Being forced to look for the date for citing purposes is useful because currency is usually an important factor in evaluating information. If you decide initially that the date is too old, you will not have to spend time reading the paper. Similarly, a reputable author or publisher or a scholarly journal are additional clues that indicate a source is worth including in your paper. You will be noticing and accumulating all of this data while preparing to cite the resource.