What is Citation?
[[File:LaTeX bibliography plain.svg|thumb|right|450px|{{Center|An example of a [[bibliography]]}}]] {{Distinguish|Wikipedia:Citing sources}} A '''citation''' or '''source citation''' is a [[wikt:reference|reference]] to a published work (for [[example]], a [[book]], [[article]], [[image]], etc.,) that is used when creating a [[writing|written work]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://libguides.mit.edu/citing |title=Citing sources: Overview |website=MIT Libraries |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref> It shows readers where specific pieces of [[information]] came from and where readers can locate it for themselves.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncsu.edu/labwrite/res/res-citsandrefs.html |title=Citations and References; Documenting your Sources |date=2004 |website=LabWrite Resources |publisher=NC State University |access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref> It [[wikt:acknowledge|acknowledge]]s or gives [[wikt:credit#Verb|credit]] to the [[author]] who actually created the content being used in a paper.<ref name=keepsafe>{{cite web |url=http://ikeepsafe.org/be-a-pro/ethics/how-do-i-correctly-cite-internet-sources/ |title=How Do I Correctly Cite Internet Sources |publisher=Internet Keep Safe Coalition |access-date=24 August 2016 |archive-date=25 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825225025/http://ikeepsafe.org/be-a-pro/ethics/how-do-i-correctly-cite-internet-sources/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The opposite of a citation is [[plagiarism]], or not giving credit to others for their ideas, concepts, or images.<ref name=keepsafe/> Plagiarism, especially in [[academia]], is considered taking the work of others and presenting it as one's own.<ref name=Oxford>{{cite web |url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism?wssl=1 |title=Plagiarism |date=2016 |publisher=University of Oxford |access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref> The penalties for plagiarism can be severe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ithenticate.com/resources/6-consequences-of-plagiarism |t