why does common knowledge not have to be cited? course hero

Common knowledge does not need to be cited in your paper, because it is widely known, undisputed, easily verified, and generally not attributable to a specific author. To avoid plagiarism, it can be tempting to include a citation for every sentence, but in some cases over-citation can weaken your academic writing.

Full Answer

Does common knowledge need to be cited in a paper?

 · That is why common knowledge does need to be cited because by its nature, it is already common and it's like something that everyone knows. Unlike facts that are not know to all such as specific facts, they need to be cited because not all people know about that and it is something that is not common. Thus, common knowledge does not require citation.

What is not included in common knowledge?

 · While writing a paper common knowledge needs no internal citation. Common knowledge are information that is considered a well-established fact and supportable in five or more sources. Common sayings or proverbs, historical dates, places and events are included in common knowledge. Jane Austen was born in 1775 is an example of common needing no …

What is common knowledge and why is it important?

 · Which of the following sentences is not common knowledge and needs to be cited? a. In general, women have longer lifespan than men. b. Alberta became a province of Canada in 1905. c. In the 1930s, the immigrant population of Calgary was mostly made up of Europeans. d. Canada is involved in peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.

What counts as common knowledge in academic writing?

Broadly speaking, common knowledge refers to information that the average, educated reader would accept as reliable without having to look it up. This includes: Information that most people know, such as that water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or that Barack Obama was the first American of mixed race to be elected president.

Why does common knowledge not have to be cited?

Common knowledge does not need to be cited. Common knowledge includes facts that are known by a lot of people and can be found in many sources. For example, you do not need to cite the following: Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.

What is common knowledge in citing?

What is 'common knowledge'? Generally, common knowledge is information that someone finds undocumented in at least five credible sources. For example, writing is difficult,” is considered common knowledge in the field of composition studies because at least five credible sources can back the claim up.

Do you have to cite common knowledge MLA?

Common knowledge is information that is accepted and known widely you do not need to cite it: Facts that can be easily verified. As you are conducting your research on a topic, you will see the same facts repeated over and over.

Do speakers have to cite common knowledge?

You don't need to cite what would be considered common knowledge, such as facts, events, concepts, etc. that are widely known and accepted as true. In other words, you don't cite information you can reasonably expect other people to know.

How do I determine if the information I am using is common knowledge?

To help you decide whether information can be considered common knowledge, ask yourself:

Which of the following statements would be considered common knowledge? Which would need to be cited?

The Big Bang theory posits that the universe began billions of years ago with an enormous explosion.

What is common knowledge?

Common knowledge includes information that appears across many sources without a clear origin — for example, famous historical dates. It also includes long-established facts or theories that are considered foundational to a field — for example, fundamental equations in physics. Common knowledge does not include data and statistics gathered in ...

Is APA a common citation style?

The examples below indicate the subtle differences in what is considered common knowledge. Yes: APA is a common citation style used by students. This is an undisputed and easily verified fact. Maybe: The APA reference style is mainly used in social sciences, business and nursing.

Is the Amazon rainforest the largest rainforest in the world?

This is not an undisputed fact, and should be attributed to one or more sources. Yes: The Ama zon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. This is a widely known fact that you can assume any reader will accept. Maybe: Due to deforestation, the Amazon has been rapidly decreasing in size since the 1960s.

Do you need to cite someone else's words?

You should always provide a citation when you quote someone else’s words. However, sometimes you might use phrases that are not your own, but that are not attributable to a single source — for example, proverbs and idioms.

How many degrees does Shona have?

Shona has a bachelor's and two master's degrees, so she's an expert at writing a great thesis. She has also worked as an editor and teacher, working with students at all different levels to improve their academic writing.

Main Points

1. In general, cite information sources who (or that) have informed your writing.

Discussion

Question: “If a ‘fact’ that I’m stating in my paper is well known, must I cite the fact?”