Citations typically include information such as:
* Author's name(s): The person or people who created the work.
* Date of publication: When the work was published or created.
* Title of the work: The name of the book, article, website, etc.
* Publisher or source: Where the work was published or found (e.g., journal name, website URL).
* Specific location within the source (e.g., page number, paragraph number): This helps readers pinpoint the exact information used.
Citations are formatted according to a specific style guide (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago). These style guides dictate the precise rules for presenting citation information, including punctuation, capitalization, and order of elements. The style used depends on the discipline (e.g., humanities, social sciences, sciences) and the publication's requirements.
There are two main types of citations:
* In-text citations (parenthetical citations or footnotes/endnotes): Brief references within the body of the text that indicate the source of specific information.
* Bibliography or works cited page: A list at the end of the document that provides complete bibliographic information for all the sources cited in the text.
Using citations correctly is crucial for academic integrity and responsible scholarship. Failing to properly cite sources can lead to serious consequences, including accusations of plagiarism and academic penalties.