Why should you cite?

Why do teachers always tell you to cite your sources?

We cite our sources for 3 main reasons.

1. To credit to the ideas of others
   It's important to give credit when you're using other people's ideas. Pretending other people's ideas are your own original thoughts is called plagiarism, and it can have severe academic consquences.
2. To help readers find our sources
   Readers might want to find more information about the topic you're writing about. By citing your sources, you can lead them to credible relevant sources of further information.
3. To support our conclusions
   You're probably not an expert on your topic yet, but by citing the ideas and thoughts of people who are, you give more credibility to your own conclusions.

Quick Check