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TCOM 444 Gender, Ethnicity, Class, & the Media - Moore: When do I need to cite a source?

When should I cite?

A citation should be used when content that did not originate with you is used to support your writing.

Content includes:

  • words (quotations, phrases, sayings, etc.)
  • thoughts or ideas (summarizations and paraphrases)
  • audio or visual material (photos, videos, screencaptures, powerpoint slides, social media content, audio recordings, etc.)

The UW Tacoma TLC Writing Center can help you understand proper citation within your work. 

What you don't need to cite

Don't cite common knowledge.

  • Widely known scientific or historic facts that are not up for interpretation. 
  • Ideas that are broadly held by a group of experts. 

Cite ideas that critique "common knowledge," new ideas within a field of study, opinions, interpretations, and study results. 

For more examples of how to determine if something is common knowledge, check out The Exception: Common Knowledge.

When in doubt, cite

You won’t be judged harshly for adding unneeded citations. On the other hand, skipping a citation--accidentally or not--is considered plagiarism.

  • Last Updated: Oct 14, 2024 3:25 PM
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