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Computer Science

A general guide to Computer Science

Citing Sources

Why Cite?

When you incorporate someone else's thoughts or words into your own writing, it's important to cite your source.

Citing:

  1. Gives the original author the credit they deserve
  2. Points your readers to the original work, in case they'd like to consult it themselves
  3. Shows the evolution of scholarship on a topic over time

The following short video gives an introduction to what citation is and why you should do it.

Avoiding Plagiarism

By accurately citing your sources, you also avoid plagiarism. 

If you have any doubts or questions about your written work and what constitutes plagiarism and what is acceptable, visit the Library's Avoiding Plagiarism page or talk to your instructor.

Citation Styles for Computer Science

APA, ACM and IEEE are among the common citation styles in Computer Science. Be sure to check with your instructor to find out which style they prefer.

APA = American Psychology Association
ACM = Association of Computing Machinery
IEEE = Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (from Monash University Library - IEEE Style)

Help on Citation Styles

For helpful examples of citation styles, see the library's Citing Your Sources page.

For additional guidance, visit Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL), Research and Documentation Online, or Ask a Librarian.