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The Difference Between Citations and References

Learn the crucial differences between citations and references in academic writing. This guide explains their roles, importance, and usage in scholarly work, ensuring accuracy and integrity in research.

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The Difference Between Citations and References

In academic writing, the terms "citation" and "reference" are often used interchangeably, but they hold distinct meanings. Understanding this difference is crucial for anyone engaged in research or academic writing. This blog post aims to clarify these terms and their specific uses.

Understanding Citations

A citation is a brief mention within the text of your document that acknowledges the source of information or ideas. Citations typically include the author's last name and the year of publication. They serve as a roadmap for readers to find the source material in your reference list.

An example of an in-text citation in APA format

Exploring References

References, on the other hand, are listed at the end of your document. They provide full details of the sources cited in your work. A reference entry includes information such as the author’s name, publication year, title of the work, and publication details.

An example of a reference entry in MLA format

The Key Differences

The primary difference between a citation and a reference is where they appear and the information they contain. Citations are brief and in the main body of your text, guiding readers to the detailed references at the end.

Infographic showing differences between citations and references

Why This Distinction Matters

Understanding the difference between citations and references is essential for academic integrity. It helps in accurately crediting sources, thereby avoiding plagiarism. It also allows readers to verify and further explore the sources you’ve used.

Diagram illustrating the importance of proper citation and referencing in academic integrity

In conclusion, while citations and references are both pivotal in academic writing, they serve different purposes. For a more in-depth look at citation tools, refer to our previous post: “Top Citation Generators”.

People also ask

The main difference lies in their placement and detail. Citations are brief, in-text mentions of sources, while references are detailed listings at the end of the document.

Differentiating between citations and references is vital for academic integrity, as it ensures proper crediting of sources and enables readers to locate and verify your research materials.

While the same style guide (like APA or MLA) is used for both, the format for in-text citations and reference entries varies within each style.

Citations contribute to academic research by acknowledging the work of others, providing context, and aiding in the validation and exploration of research topics.

Yes, references are mandatory in academic papers as they provide essential details about the sources cited, upholding the transparency and credibility of the work.
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Privacy Policy

Effective date: December 02, 2018

Artistic Bird (us, we, or our) operates the https://www.artisticbird.com website (the "Service").

This privacy policy has been ordered to more readily serve individuals who are worried about how their Personally identifiable information (PII) is being utilized on the web. As used in US protection law and data security, PII can be utilized alone or with other data to distinguish, contact, or find a solitary individual or recognize a person in a setting. Kindly read our security strategy cautiously to get a reasonable comprehension of how we gather, use, ensure, or handle your Personally Identifiable Information as per our site.

We use your data to provide and improve the Service. Using the Service, you agree to this policy's collection and use of information. Unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy, terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms and Conditions, accessible from https://www.artisticbird.com.

Information Collection And Use

We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you.

Types of Data Collected

 

Personal Data

While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you ("Personal Data"). Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:

  • Email address
  • First name and last name
  • Phone number
  • Cookies and Usage Data
Usage Data

We may also collect information on how the Service is accessed and used ("Usage Data"). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer's Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

Tracking & Cookies Data

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Service and hold certain information.

Cookies are files with a small amount of data, including a unique anonymous identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and improve and analyze our Service.

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, you may not use some portions of our Service if you do not accept cookies.

Examples of Cookies we use:

  • Session Cookies. We use Session Cookies to operate our Service.
  • Preference Cookies. We use Preference Cookies to remember your preferences and various settings.
  • Security Cookies. We use Security Cookies for security purposes.

Please visit our Cookies Policy Page for more information about the cookies we use and your choices regarding cookies.

Use of Data

Artistic Bird uses the collected data for various purposes:

  • To provide and maintain the Service
  • To notify you about changes to our Service
  • To allow you to participate in interactive features of our Service when you choose to do so
  • To provide customer care and support
  • To provide analysis or valuable information so that we can improve the Service
  • To monitor the usage of the Service
  • To detect, prevent and address technical issues
Transfer Of Data

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers outside your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those from your jurisdiction.

If you are located outside India and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to India and process it there.

Your consent to this Privacy Policy, followed by your submission of such information, represents your agreement to that transfer.

Artistic Bird will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and following this Privacy Policy. No transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or country unless adequate controls exist, including the security of your data and other personal information.

Disclosure Of Data

Legal Requirements

Artistic Bird may disclose your Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

  • To comply with a legal obligation.
  • To protect and defend the rights or property of Artistic Bird.
  • To prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service.
  • To protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public.
  • To protect against legal liability.
Security Of Data

The security of your data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Service Providers

We may employ third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service ("Service Providers"), provide the Service on our behalf, perform Service-related services, or assist us in analyzing how our Service is used.

These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

Analytics

We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service.

  • Google Analytics
  • Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its advertising network.
  • You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity.
  • For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.
Links To Other Sites

Our Service may contain links to other sites that we do not operate. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third-party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.

We have no control over and assume no responsibility for third-party sites or services' content, privacy policies, or practices.

GDPR Privacy

Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data under GDPR

We may process Personal Data under the following conditions:

  • Consent: You have given Your consent for processing Personal Data for one or more specific purposes.
  • Performance of a contract: Provision of Personal Data is necessary for the performance of an agreement with You and/or for any pre-contractual obligations thereof.
  • Legal obligations: Processing Personal Data is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the Company is subject.
  • Vital interests: Processing Personal Data is necessary to protect Your vital interests or another natural person.
  • Public interests: Processing Personal Data is related to a task carried out in the public interest or the exercise of official authority vested in the Company.
  • Legitimate interests: Processing Personal Data is necessary for the legitimate interests pursued by the Company.

In any case, the Company will gladly help clarify the specific legal basis that applies to the processing, mainly whether the provision of Personal Data is a statutory or contractual requirement or a requirement necessary to enter into a contract.

Your Rights under the GDPR

The Company undertakes to respect your personal data confidentiality and guarantee. You can exercise Your rights.

You have the right under this Privacy Policy, and by law, if You are within the EU, to:

  • Request access to Your Personal Data. The right to access, update or delete the information We have on You. Whenever made possible, you can access, update or request the deletion of Your Personal Data directly within Your account settings section. Please contact us to assist you if you cannot perform these actions yourself. This also enables You to receive a copy of the Personal Data We hold about You.
  • Request correction of the Personal Data that We hold about You. You have the right to have any incomplete or inaccurate information. We hold about You corrected.
  • Object to processing of Your Personal Data. This right exists where we rely on legitimate interest as the legal basis for Our processing. There is something about Your particular situation which makes You want to object to our processing of Your Personal Data on this ground. You also have the right to object where We are processing Your Data for direct marketing purposes.
  • Request erasure of Your Personal Data. You have the right to ask Us to delete or remove Personal Data when there is no good reason for Us to continue processing it.
  • Request the transfer of Your Personal Data. We will provide to You, or to a third party You have chosen, Your Personal Data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format. Please note that this right only applies to automated information that You initially provided consent for Us to use or used the information to perform a contract with You.
  • Withdraw Your consent. You have the right to withdraw Your consent to use your Personal Data. If You cancel Your consent, We may not be able to provide You with access to certain specific functionalities of the Service.

Exercising Your GDPR Data Protection Rights

You may exercise your access rights, rectification, cancellation, and opposition by contacting Us. Please note that we may ask You to verify Your identity before responding to such requests. If You make a request, We will try our best to respond to You as soon as possible.

You have the right to complain to a Data Protection Authority about Our collection and use of Your Personal Data. If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), please contact your local data protection authority in the EEA for more information.

COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act)

Our Service does not address anyone under 18 ("Children").

We don't intentionally gather recognizable data from kids or anybody younger than 18. Please contact us if you are a parent or guardian and know that your Children have provided us with Personal Data. If we become mindful that we have collected Personal Data from children without confirmation verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

Changes To This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

We will notify you via email and a prominent notice on our Service before the change becomes effective and update the "effective date" at the top of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. This Privacy Policy changes are effective when posted on this page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, you may contact us using the information below.

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