Citation vs. Reference: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on December 28, 2023
Citation is a specific mention in a text pointing to a source, while a reference is a detailed listing of sources used, typically at the end of a document.
Key Differences
Citation is the act of acknowledging or citing a source directly in the text of a document, often using a specific format like APA or MLA, indicating exactly where specific information was found. Reference, on the other hand, is a comprehensive list of all sources consulted and cited in a work, usually found at the end of the document, providing full details for further exploration.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
In academic and professional writing, Citations are necessary to credit the original authors and avoid plagiarism, showing where information or ideas were sourced within the body of the text. References compile all these citations into a detailed bibliography, providing a roadmap of the research and sources used in the writing process.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Citation formats can vary, including parenthetical, footnote, or endnote styles, depending on the guidelines followed, and they typically include author's name, year of publication, and page number. References are more detailed, including the author's full name, title of the work, publication date, publisher's name, and other publication details.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Citations directly support or back up claims made in the text, helping readers to verify or consult the source for more information. References, in contrast, offer a broader context, allowing readers to explore the full range of materials the author engaged with to inform their work.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
The primary function of a Citation is to direct the reader to the exact place where specific information was found. References, however, serve to acknowledge all the sources that contributed to the work, even if they were not directly cited in the text.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Location in Document
In-text, where the source is mentioned
At the end of the document
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Dec 28, 2023
Detail Level
Brief, just enough to identify the source
Comprehensive, full source details
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Dec 28, 2023
Purpose
To credit specific information or quote
To list all sources used in the document
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Formats
Parenthetical, footnotes, endnotes
Bibliography, works cited, reference list
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Example Content
Author's name, year, page number
Full publication details of the source
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Dec 28, 2023
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Citation and Reference Definitions
Citation
Citation involves referencing authors or works within the body of a text.
The citation format used in his essay was APA style.
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Dec 15, 2023
Reference
Reference is the detailed listing of sources at the end of a document.
Her thesis concluded with a reference list spanning several pages.
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Dec 15, 2023
Citation
Citation is a reference within a text to a source of information.
The study's findings were supported by a citation from a peer-reviewed journal.
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Dec 15, 2023
Reference
Reference is a section that credits sources, supporting the document's content.
His report's reference section was meticulously organized by source type.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 15, 2023
Citation
Citation is the act of crediting a quote or idea to its original source.
Her paper included a citation for every statistic mentioned.
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Dec 15, 2023
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Reference
The act of referring to something
Filed away the article for future reference.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
Citation
Citation is a way to avoid plagiarism by acknowledging the original source.
Accurate citations were crucial in her research to maintain academic integrity.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 15, 2023
Reference
Significance for a specified matter; relation or relationship
Her speeches have special reference to environmental policy.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
Citation is used to direct readers to a more detailed source of information.
He included a citation for each historical event mentioned in his article.
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Dec 15, 2023
Reference
Meaning or denotation
The reference of the word “lion” is to a kind of wild cat.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A mention of an occurrence or situation
Made frequent references to her promotion.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
A quotation of or explicit reference to a source for substantiation, as in a scholarly paper.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A note in a publication referring the reader to another passage or source.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
(Law) A reference to a previous court decision or other authority for a point of law, usually by case title and other information.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
An official commendation for meritorious action, especially in military service
A citation for bravery.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
A formal statement of the accomplishments of one being honored with an academic degree.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A mark or footnote used to direct a reader elsewhere for additional information.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
An official summons, especially one calling for appearance in court.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A person who recommends another or who can vouch for another's fitness or qualifications, as for a job.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
The act of citing a passage from a text, or from another person, using the exact words of the original text or speech and giving credit to the original by referencing.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A statement about a person's qualifications, character, and dependability.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
An entry in a list of sources from which information was taken, typically following a prescribed bibliographical style; a reference.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
To supply (a text) with references
The author hadn't adequately referenced the third chapter, so the copyeditor suggested adding more citations. This article is thoroughly referenced with up-to-date sources.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
To cite as a reference
The monograph doesn't reference any peer-reviewed articles.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
(lexicography) A quotation with attached bibliographical details demonstrating the use of a particular lexical item in a dictionary, especially a dictionary on historical principles.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
Usage Problem To mention or allude to
The comedian's monologue referenced many Hollywood stars.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
A reference to decided cases, or books of authority, to prove a point in law.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
A commendation in recognition of some achievement, or a formal statement of an achievement.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
An official summons or notice given to a person to appear; the paper containing such summons or notice.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A person who provides this information; onlyn in UK English: a referee.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
The act of citing a passage from a book, or from another person, in his own words; also, the passage or words quoted; quotation.
This horse load of citations and fathers.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
(attributive) That which serves as a reference work.
Reference Dictionary of Linguistics
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
A reference to decided cases, or books of authority, to prove a point in law.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
Citation
An official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statement
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
(semantics) A relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
(law) the act of citing (as of spoken words or written passages or legal precedents etc.)
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
(academic writing) A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.
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Dec 13, 2023
Citation
A short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage;
The student's essay failed to list several important citations
The acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book
The article includes mention of similar clinical cases
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
Reference
(academic writing) A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
(computing) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A special sequence used to represent complex characters in markup languages, such as
™ for the ™ symbol.Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
Reference
To provide a list of references for (a text).
You must thoroughly reference your paper before submitting it.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
To refer to, to use as a reference.
Reference the dictionary for word meanings.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
Reference
To mention, to cite.
In his speech, the candidate obliquely referenced the past failures of his opponent.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
(programming) To contain the value that is a memory address of some value stored in memory.
The given pointer will reference the actual generated data.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
The act of referring, or the state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for guidance.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
That which refers to something; a specific direction of the attention; as, a reference in a text-book.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
Relation; regard; respect.
Something that hath a reference to my state.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
The act of submitting a matter in dispute to the judgment of one or more persons for decision.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A remark that calls attention to something or someone;
She made frequent mention of her promotion
There was no mention of it
The speaker made several references to his wife
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage;
The student's essay failed to list several important citations
The acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book
The article includes mention of similar clinical cases
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
Reference
An indicator that orients you generally;
It is used as a reference for comparing the heating and the electrical energy involved
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A book to which you can refer for authoritative facts;
He contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability;
Requests for character references are all to often answered evasively
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
The most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to;
The extension of `satellite of Mars' is the set containing only Demos and Phobos
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
The act of referring or consulting;
Reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
A publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to;
He carried an armful of references back to his desk
He spent hours looking for the source of that quotation
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
The relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to;
He argued that reference is a consequence of conditioned reflexes
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Dec 13, 2023
Reference
Reference is the compilation of all materials and sources consulted in writing.
The book's reference section included various articles and books.
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Dec 15, 2023
Reference
Reference provides full bibliographic details of sources for further reading.
Each entry in the reference list followed the MLA formatting style.
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Dec 15, 2023
Reference
Reference serves as a comprehensive guide to the research conducted.
The comprehensive reference list reflected the depth of her research.
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Dec 15, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the main purpose of a citation?
The main purpose of a citation is to credit the original source of information used in a text.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
What is the difference in formatting citations and references?
Citations are brief and in-text, while references are detailed and listed at the end of a document.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Why is it important to include both citations and references?
Including both ensures proper credit to original sources and allows readers to locate the sources for further study.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
How detailed should a reference entry be?
A reference entry should be detailed enough to allow the reader to find the exact source.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
What happens if a citation is missing in a document?
Missing citations can lead to accusations of plagiarism and reduce the credibility of the document.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Can the same formatting style be used for both citations and references?
Yes, formatting styles like APA or MLA provide guidelines for both citations and references.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Can a citation include more than one source?
Yes, a citation can include multiple sources if they collectively support a point.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Can a document have references without citations?
Yes, a document can list sources in the references that are not specifically cited in the text.
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Dec 28, 2023
Is it necessary to cite common knowledge?
Common knowledge generally does not need to be cited.
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Dec 28, 2023
What's an example of an in-text citation?
An example of an in-text citation is: (Smith, 2020, p. 15).
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Dec 28, 2023
What's the difference between bibliography and references?
A bibliography may include sources not directly cited in the text, while references only list cited sources.
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Dec 28, 2023
How often should you cite a source in your text?
You should cite a source each time you use information or ideas from that source.
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Dec 28, 2023
What is a DOI in referencing?
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique alphanumeric string used to identify content and provide a persistent link to its location on the internet.
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Dec 28, 2023
Are citations necessary in all types of writing?
Citations are essential in academic and professional writing to support claims and avoid plagiarism.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Can online sources be cited and referenced?
Yes, online sources should be cited and referenced just like print sources.
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Dec 28, 2023
How do you choose a citation style?
Citation style is often determined by the discipline, publisher, or institutional requirements.
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Dec 28, 2023
Can you cite personal communications?
Yes, personal communications like emails or interviews can be cited but usually are not included in the reference list.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Are footnotes and endnotes considered citations?
Yes, footnotes and endnotes can serve as forms of citation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
How do you cite a source with multiple authors?
For multiple authors, list them as they appear in the source, often using 'et al.' for more than three authors in citations.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Is it necessary to update citations and references over time?
It's important to use the most recent and relevant sources, so updating citations and references can be necessary, especially in rapidly evolving fields.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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