You can think of recognizing the work of other academics as giving credit. How do you give credit? With a citation!
Citations serve to,
- Inform a reader that material in your work, such as a quote, image, or idea, came from another source.
- Acknowledge the work of others and provide pathways to their work.
- Provide context to your argument in a larger scholarly discussion.
- Establish your credibility as a serious scholar by providing evidence that you have thoroughly considered the topic.
A good citation makes it easy for the reader to figure out the who, what, when, and where of the source. Many citation styles also indicate how the source was accessed.
