A citation (or reference) is a short, multi-part description of a source.A good citation will lead the reader to the source of the writer's information.

See the Libraries' video on How to Read a Citation for assistance in understanding the parts of a citation.

Maintaining complete citations as you conduct your research will enable you to retrace your steps and provide accurate notes and bibliographies at the end of your projects.

One must cite ideas and direct and indirect quotations from other sources. Citations identify the sources that you consulted—signposts for your readers.Proper citation allows your readers to distinguish between your work and the work of others on which you drew, a critical element in maintaining integrity in research.

Plagiarism is the most common form of academic dishonesty and is a serious violation of the Code of Student Life at the University of Arkansas. Using the links on this pages and the resources of the University of Arkansas should enable you to practice academic integrity.

More information is available on the Provost's Web site. You can also consult one of the Libraries' guides listed below:

Citations usually must conform to a specific, uniform style. Researchers within a specific discipline frequently share a common style.

Recent editions of several major style manuals are available in print at the Mullins Help Desk. The Libraries also provide online interpretations of the major styles at Citing Your Sources. These are not the original sources themselves, but interpretations of the major styles, with examples. For a synopsis of what's changed in the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook, visit the Purdue OWL or MLA's Web site.

Many databases (including OneSearch) offer tools that can help you with citations. This video tutorial explains how. For more information, check out the resources below.