What is citation in business writing and research?

Citation in business writing and research refers to directing readers to your sources with parenthetical notes in the text. It's the formal way of acknowledging the ideas, facts, or quotations you've borrowed from others, allowing readers to locate your sources and verify information. Proper citation is essential for maintaining academic and professional integrity.

What types of information require citation in business documents?

Information that requires citation in business documents includes specific statistics (like 'Five new Facebook profiles are created every second in the United States'), direct quotes, specialized research findings, and non-common knowledge. General information that's widely known (like 'Facebook is a popular social media application') typically doesn't require citation.

What is plagiarism and why is it important to avoid it?

Plagiarism is using others' ideas, words, or research without proper documentation or attribution. It's considered unethical in all professional and academic contexts and can be illegal in cases of copyright infringement. Avoiding plagiarism is crucial for maintaining professional credibility, respecting intellectual property, and ensuring the integrity of business communications.

[Solution] Learn It: Concept Check Quiz 10-4

Created at: Sat Apr 19 2025

Author: Sarah Bennett

Introduction: Take this quiz to get a quick check on your understanding of chapter concepts.

Citation refers to which of the following?

Using only direct quotes when incorporating information from others
Directing readers to your sources with parenthetical notes in the text
Incorporating only primary research into a report

View Explanation

Citation involves directing readers to your sources with parenthetical notes in the text.

Which of the following statements would require a citation?

Facebook is a popular social media application.
Facebook has recently come under fire for inciting political divisiveness.
Five new Facebook profiles are created every second in the United States.

View Explanation

Because it is not considered common knowledge, Five new Facebook profiles are created every second in the United States would require documentation.

Using others' ideas without proper documentation is called

View Explanation

Using others' ideas without proper documentation is called plagiarism and is unethical (and, in some cases, illegal).

[Solution] Learn It: Concept Check Quiz 10-4

Recommended Books