Citations & Sources: Why Cite

Have you ever read an article and wondered where the author found their information?

Citing sources is how readers verify the information in an article This information enables someone else to find and read the item (article, data, report) that you used.

Citations also benefit the writer: Every citation can be considered an expert conscripted into supporting your arguments. Without that chorus behind you, your work will sound hollow.

All citations should have three key identifiers: author, title, and year. Additional information such as the name of the publication, the name of the database and a stable URL or DOI are helpful.

The American Psychological Association (APA) style guide is commonly used in business writing. However, some professors may ask you to use the Modern Language Association (MLA) style guide. The other tabs will provide examples and other resources to help you cite your work in both styles.