Citations, in the research world, have nothing to do with traffic tickets. Instead, citations identify publishing information so that someone else can locate them again. Citations of articles include the author, title, magazine or journal name, page numbers, dates, and publication information. Citations of Web documents also include the URL and the date the information was accessed.

The list of sources you used when researching your paper is called a bibliography or works cited. These sources must be listed according to the rules of the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or some other style specified by your professor. The bibliography allows others who read your work to verify facts or research the same information easily.