This document provides guidelines for citations, including:
1) Citations are required for any numbers, statistics, or hard-to-find information to directly support the information.
2) Examples of information requiring citations include specific numbers, percentages, and claims that are not common knowledge or easy to verify.
3) Direct quotes also require citations, including the author and source, unless the quote is very well known.
The guidelines help writers determine what information requires citations to protect the client's interests and provide credibility.
2. The Guidelines
• According to the Writing Guidelines, “Citations are
required for any numbers, stats, or hard-to-find
information.”
• A citation should directly support the number, stat,
or information it is attached to.
• Here are some examples.
3. Numbers
• Reports show that 2 gazillion traffic
citations were issued last year alone.
• Beginning May 32, 2015, all citation
paper used by law enforcement
officers will be pink.
• After 3.6 citations, you and your
favorite pet will be thrown in jail.
4. Stats
• 9 out of 7 cops recommend that
you drive no faster than they do.
• It is estimated that 14% of
citations are given.
5. Hard-to-find information
• Cops who eat at least one donut a day are less likely
to give undeserved citations to drivers, reputable
reports say.
• Sprinkled donuts are directly related to elevated
friendliness levels in police officers.
• According to experts, watching “Cops” may or may
not make you a better criminal.
6. Direct quotes
• Citations are also required for
direct quotes. Include the author
of the quote and a link to the
quote.
• “Good afternoon, sir.”
-Cop
• “Have a nice day.”
-Police people
• “Hide your kids, hide your wife”
-Antoine Dodson
• Quotes that are so well known
that they are often quoted in
speech (Example: “To be or not
to be.”) are exceptions.
7. A citation is not needed in the
following…
• “The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.”
• This is common knowledge and is easy to find.
• “Add 1/3 Tbsp. of flour.”
• Though this includes a number, the instruction is subjective.
Every recipe is different.
• “The average cost of replacing your shingle roof is $12,000."
• This is easy to find in a quick search and is not an exact
number.
• “A gallon of milk costs around $3.”
• Again, this is common knowledge and is easy to find.
8. Ask yourself:
• Is it easily verifiable?
• If not, it needs a citation.
• Is it believable?
• If it would make readers
question, it’s best to include a
citation.
• Does it need a citation to
protect the client’s interests
and reputation?
• Again, anything questionable
needs a citation.
s
9. Remember…
• You can link to sources just to provide the reader with
extra information.
• Example: “Never give a cop a donut in an attempt to get out of
a citation.”
(real link!)
• But! Do not require the reader to click on a link in order
to understand the rest of the article.
(Another real link!)
• Example: “It’s important to understand what a doughnut is.
Now that you know, reward yourself with a donut hole and
keep reading.”
10. We don’t accept links to…
(Warning: These links are all legit. Almost too legit.)
• Product pages
• Pictures/Images
• UNLESS they are purely
supplementary. In other
words, the article does a
great job of explaining X
concept, and Y picture is
just included as a bonus.
• Example: “Donuts are
small fried cakes of
sweetened dough, typically
shaped into a ring.”
• Searches
12. And a link to Jeremy’s post
about sources…
• Because it gives great tips on how to cite sources
and talks about some of the best sources to cite. The
examples in the slideshow were fun and all, but this
article gives some great, real-life examples. Check it
out here!
(I almost didn’t make this link real…but that would be mean. So this one’s real too!)
