Academic Integrity Tutorial

When do I cite?

You should cite in any of the following cases:

• Direct quotations taken from sources–place quotation marks around direct quotes as you write them down.

• Paraphrased ideas and opinions taken from someone else's work.

• Summaries of ideas taken from someone else's work.

• Factual information, including statistics or other data unless it is considered common knowledge.​

The Exception: ​Common knowledge

When writing an essay, the only source material you do not have to cite is information that is considered common knowledge. Common knowledge generally refers to any well-established, uncontroversial fact about the world, or a fact that cannot be attributed to a single source. However, common knowledge does not necessarily mean that everyone knows it.

Common knowledge: 5 credible sources rule

A general rule is that you can consider information common knowledge if you can find that information uncredited in 5 credible sources. If you're not sure if something is common knowledge, it's better to be safe and cite it!