Welcome to Writing Lab
Home	Facilities	Ethical Use of Sources	Criteria for Papers	Writing Inventory	Links to Writing Sites	Staff

A citation is both a signpost and an acknowledgement of debt. When you use words or ideas from a source, the citation identifies the location of that source and acknowledges that you are indebted to that source. In addition, a citation allows your reader to go to that source to find out more.

A citation can appear in different formats: within the text (in-text citation) at the bottom of the page (footnotes ), or at the end of the paper (endnotes). Different disciplines use different formats. The mechanics of citing are complicated, and vary in each format. To answer specific questions on the mechanics of citation, you may consult sources on each type. (link)

Although you should try to use the proper format to cite, you may find it most useful to think about how citations function as a signpost, a way for you as a writer to communicate with your reader. Citations keep the reader always apprised of whose idea or words you are using at any given time in each sentence and in each paragraph.