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Writing & Citing in Engineering: What is a Citation?

Citations: The Basics

What is a Citation?

A citation is the basic information required to identify or locate a specific publication (book, article, video, etc.). Citations are found in print indexes, databases, and catalogs to identify resources. They are also included in research papers, articles, and books to reference text that has been quoted or a source that has been used as an authority.

Parts of Common Citations:

Books:

  • Author(s) or Editor(s)
  • Book Title
  • Edition
  • Publication Date
  • Publisher and Place of Publication

Articles:

  • Article Title
  • Author(s)
  • Page Numbers
  • Periodical Title
  • Publication Date
  • Volume and Issue