Citation
A citation is a reference to a published or unpublished source used to support claims, arguments, or ideas in academic and research writing. It provides necessary details—such as the author, title, publication date, and source—so that others can locate and verify the original material. Citations are crucial for maintaining academic integrity, preventing plagiarism, and giving credit to the original creators of ideas. Proper citation also helps situate research within the context of existing literature, allowing scholars to track the evolution of knowledge. Different citation styles, like APA, MLA, and Chicago, provide standardized formats for referencing sources.