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ENG W131ML Elementary Composition for Multilingual Writers

What Is Citation?

Citation involves properly crediting the authors of information sources used in a paper or presentation. Remember all your sources must be cited. This includes images and video.

Different disciplines use certain citation styles. Use one of the style guides to the right for the citation guidelines you need.

Quoting vs. Paraphrasing

Many of your assignments require use of both direct quotes and paraphrases.
Both quotes and paraphrases must be cited. 


Direct quotes are word-for-word quotations.
Cite them with quotation marks and an in-text citation

   e.g., The Gettyburg Address opens "Four score and seven years ago" (Lincoln, 1863, p. #). 

Paraphrases restate someone else's ideas in your own words.
Cite with an in-text citation.

   e.g., The Gettysburg Address opens by looking to past decades (Lincoln, 1863, p. #). 

Citing Sources

Always cite your sources. Follow these Quick Style Guides or the complete style manuals.

Quick Style Guides

Full Style Manuals