3. I only need to cite sources for quantitative information (i.e., numbers); ideas are not quantitative information, so I don't need to cite a source for them.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The statement asks about when sources must be cited, focusing on the idea that only quantitative information needs citations.
Option 1: Correct. This suggests that citations are only necessary for numbers, not for ideas. This view is misleading because academic writing requires acknowledging sources for all information that is not your own original thought, including ideas, theories, arguments, and paraphrased concepts, not just numerical data.
Option 2: Incorrect. The claim that ideas do not require citation is flawed because ideas, even if they are not numerical, are still derived from others' work or prior scholarship. When you restate someone else’s argument, framework, or interpretation, you must cite the source to avoid plagiarism and to give credit.
Option 3: Incorrect. Limiting citations to quantitative information ignores the broader standards of academic integrity and citation practices across disciplines, where many non-numeric concepts—such as conceptual definitions, methodological approaches, and theoretical claims—need proper attribution.
Option 4: Incorrect. Treating ideas as exempt from citation may lead to misrepresenting the originality of the work and undermines the traceability of the evidence that supports your claims, which is why most style guides require citations for both data and ideas that are not your own.
In sum, the underlying principle is that citations are required whenever you rely on someone else’s ideas, not only when you present numbers; therefore the statement in the question is not accurate.

3. I only need to cite sources for quantitative information (i.e., numbers); ideas are not quantitative information, so I don't need to cite a source for them.

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Similar Questions

6. I thought of an idea before I discovered that another author had said the same thing in a published source. Since I had already thought of it, I don't need to cite a source.

8. I do not need to cite a source for information that is common knowledge.

7. I only need to cite sources when I have directly quoted (i.e., copied word-for-word) other people's ideas or information; I don't need to cite sources if I have rephrased the idea using my own words.

3. Is it necessary to cite the source when paraphrasing?

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