Reasons for Citing Sources

Research Help Appointments

Need help with your research? A reference librarian is like a tutor for finding and citing information. Schedule an appointment to get uninterrupted individual time with a librarian.

Plagiarism is the use of words and ideas written by others without giving credit to the authors of those words. You should cite the sources of information you use in your academic work because:

  • Citing makes your work more credible.
  • Citing tells your reader where you found your information.
  • Citing allows your reader to learn more, beginning with your sources.
  • Citing gives credit to the people whose words or ideas you are using.
  • Citing protects you from plagiarizing.

For more information, try Purdue Online Writing Lab’s resources for avoiding plagiarism.

Learn more about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it on PCC Library’s Plagiarism page.