Citation is a reference in or at the end of a text to indicate a source or reference for the reader to find additional information

Types of citations

inline

  • = citations written within the author's text
    • i.e., the author includes the citations inside the essay/ text

footnote

  • a citation or reference that is indicated in the text and placed at the bottom of the page

endnote

  • a citation or reference that is indicated in the text and placed at the end of the text (or essay, etc.)

bibliography / works cited

Introductory signals

  • Introductory signals are abbreviations to indicate to the reader the type of reference
  • Introductory signals are written in italics
  • see What Are Introductory Signals?

Supporting signals

  • indicate a supporting source
  • types:

[no signal]

  • no signal is used if the citation directly identifies the source or the information or quotation
  • i.e, the is no "introduction" to the source

E.g.,

  • exempli gratia
  • = "good example"
  • used to indicate a specific example of the author's point

Accord

See

  • tells the reader to go to the source for more information

See also

  • indicates a supporting source that also discusses the topic

Cf.

  • = "compare to"
    • indicates that the author's text is similar to or otherwise related to the cited source

Comparison signals

Cf.

  • Cf is generally a "supporting signal," but can be used as a comparison signal if suggesting an analogy

Compare with

  • indicates to the reader to see the source in order to compare or related to the source

Contradictory signals

Contra

  • indicates the direct source is a contradiction to the author's text or idea
  • = equivalent to the negative [no signal] (direct citation)

But see

  • used to indicate a source that contradicts the author's text or idea

But Cf.

  • used to indicate a source that provides an analogous contradiction to the author's text or idea


See also Latin terms and abbreviations entry