Keep a source record
Record the title, author, year and usable link when you read a source. Separate copied wording from your notes so you do not accidentally present a quotation as your own sentence.
Use the originality search for a limited check of public-web matches. It searches the first 2000 characters and at most three sources, so retain your own source records.
- Save known source details.
- Label copied wording.
- Check the relevant excerpt.
Choose quote or paraphrase
A quotation keeps the original words and needs clear marking and attribution according to your publication rules. A paraphrase explains the idea in a different structure.
A borrowed idea still needs attribution when paraphrased. Check that your wording preserves the meaning and does not simply replace a few words mechanically.
- Identify the borrowed idea.
- Choose quote or paraphrase.
- Connect it to its source.
Finish the bibliography carefully
Use the citation formatter with verified source details. Its output is a basic entry, so check the required style and source type before submission.
Do not invent an author, date or publisher to fill a gap. Return to the actual source or follow the relevant rules for missing information.
- Verify the title and date.
- Choose the required style.
- Check the final entry.
Worked example
Fictional source note: Clear writing helps readers identify the next action.
Attributed paraphrase: The fictional guide recommends making the reader’s next step explicit.
This is an invented teaching example, not a real publication or a citation you should add to a bibliography.
Before you finish
- Quotes are visibly marked.
- Borrowed ideas are attributed.
- Source details are real.
- Paraphrase meaning is checked.
Questions and answers
Does paraphrasing remove the need to cite?
No. Changing wording does not turn another source’s idea into your own.
Can the formatter discover a missing author?
No. Supply verified details; the local formatter does not fetch or verify metadata.