Common Citation Mistakes
Learn from these frequent errors to improve your citation skills
After fixing citations, run the draft through TextCheck to catch grammar slips that can sneak in with citation edits.
Even experienced students make citation mistakes. Here's a gallery of the most common errors we see, with clear examples of what's wrong and how to fix it. Learning to spot these mistakes will make you a stronger writer.
Missing Citation After Paraphrase
Citation Placement
The Problem
Students often forget that paraphrased information needs citations, not just direct quotes.
❌ WRONG:
Climate change is causing increased migration patterns across the globe as people seek more stable environments.
✅ CORRECT:
Climate change is causing increased migration patterns across the globe as people seek more stable environments (Smith, 2023).
💡 Why This Matters:
Paraphrasing without citation is plagiarism. Even when you use your own words, you must credit the source of the ideas.
🔧 Quick Fix:
After writing a paraphrase, ask yourself: "Did this information come from a source?" If yes, add a citation.
Incorrect Comma Placement in APA
Format-Specific Error
The Problem
APA requires a comma between author and year, but students often forget it.
❌ WRONG:
According to Johnson (2022) the results were significant.
✅ CORRECT:
According to Johnson (2022), the results were significant.
💡 Why This Matters:
The comma after the parenthetical year is required in APA style. Missing it is a formatting error that can lose you points.
🔧 Quick Fix:
When using a signal phrase in APA, always place a comma after the closing parenthesis: (Year),
Using "Page" or "Pg." Instead of "p."
Format-Specific Error
The Problem
Students write out "page" or use "pg." instead of the correct abbreviation.
❌ WRONG:
The author argues this point (Martinez, 2021, page 45).
✅ CORRECT:
The author argues this point (Martinez, 2021, p. 45).
💡 Why This Matters:
Citation styles have specific abbreviations. APA and Chicago use "p." (or "pp." for multiple pages), not "page" or "pg."
🔧 Quick Fix:
Use "p." for single pages and "pp." for page ranges. Never spell out "page" in citations.
Citing Common Knowledge
Over-Citation
The Problem
Not everything needs a citation. Common knowledge facts don't require sources.
❌ WRONG:
The Earth revolves around the Sun (NASA, 2023).
✅ CORRECT:
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
💡 Why This Matters:
Over-citing makes your writing choppy and suggests you don't understand when citations are needed.
🔧 Quick Fix:
Ask: "Is this widely known by most educated people?" If yes, no citation needed. Examples: historical dates, basic scientific facts, geographic information.
Forgetting the Period After Parenthetical Citation
Punctuation Error
The Problem
Students place the period before the closing parenthesis instead of after.
❌ WRONG:
This is a paraphrased statement (Author, 2023.)
✅ CORRECT:
This is a paraphrased statement (Author, 2023).
💡 Why This Matters:
In parenthetical citations, the period comes after the closing parenthesis, not inside it.
🔧 Quick Fix:
Think: the citation is part of the sentence, so the period goes at the end of everything: statement (citation).
Using First Names in In-Text Citations
Format Error
The Problem
Students include first names or initials in in-text citations when only last names are needed.
❌ WRONG:
According to Sarah Johnson (2022), the effect was minimal.
✅ CORRECT:
According to Johnson (2022), the effect was minimal.
💡 Why This Matters:
In-text citations use last names only. First names belong in the reference list, not in the text.
🔧 Quick Fix:
In your text, only use the author's last name. Save full names for the References/Works Cited page.
Citing the Citation Generator Instead of Original Source
Source Attribution Error
The Problem
Students cite tools like "EasyBib" or "Citation Machine" instead of the actual source.
❌ WRONG:
According to EasyBib (2023), climate change affects migration.
✅ CORRECT:
According to Smith (2023), climate change affects migration.
💡 Why This Matters:
Citation generators are tools, not sources. You must cite the original author of the information.
🔧 Quick Fix:
Never cite the tool you used. Always cite the actual author and source of the information.
Dropping Citations Mid-Paragraph
Citation Placement
The Problem
Students cite the first sentence from a source but continue discussing that source without additional citations.
❌ WRONG:
Smith (2023) found that temperatures are rising. The Arctic ice is melting rapidly. Sea levels are increasing. Coastal cities face flooding risks.
✅ CORRECT:
Smith (2023) found that temperatures are rising. The Arctic ice is melting rapidly, sea levels are increasing, and coastal cities face flooding risks (Smith, 2023).
💡 Why This Matters:
Readers need to know which sentences come from your source. If an entire paragraph discusses one source, cite again at the end.
🔧 Quick Fix:
When discussing one source for multiple sentences, cite at the beginning with a signal phrase and again at the end.
Quote + Citation But No Integration
Writing Quality
The Problem
Students drop quotes into text without introducing them or explaining their relevance.
❌ WRONG:
"Climate change is accelerating" (Johnson, 2022). This affects many people.
✅ CORRECT:
Johnson (2022) warns that "climate change is accelerating," which has significant implications for vulnerable populations worldwide.
💡 Why This Matters:
Quotes shouldn't stand alone. Integrate them into your sentences and explain why they matter.
🔧 Quick Fix:
Use signal phrases (According to, X argues that, As X notes) and follow quotes with your own analysis.
Citing Wikipedia as a Final Source
Source Quality
The Problem
Students cite Wikipedia directly instead of using it to find original sources.
❌ WRONG:
According to Wikipedia (2023), photosynthesis converts light to energy.
✅ CORRECT:
According to Campbell et al. (2020), photosynthesis converts light to energy.
💡 Why This Matters:
Wikipedia is a starting point, not a citable source for academic work. Find and cite the original scholarly sources.
🔧 Quick Fix:
Use Wikipedia's references section to find the original sources, then cite those directly.
Forgetting to Cite Statistics and Data
Citation Omission
The Problem
Numbers, percentages, and statistics almost always need citations, but students often forget.
❌ WRONG:
67% of students struggle with citations.
✅ CORRECT:
According to Smith (2023), 67% of students struggle with citations.
💡 Why This Matters:
Data and statistics come from research. Not citing them is plagiarism.
🔧 Quick Fix:
Any specific number, percentage, or statistic needs a citation unless it's your own research.
Using "Et al." in First Citation (APA)
Format-Specific Error
The Problem
In APA, "et al." should only be used after the first citation when there are 3+ authors.
❌ WRONG:
First mention: Smith et al. (2023) found...
✅ CORRECT:
First mention: Smith, Jones, and Williams (2023) found... Second mention: Smith et al. (2023) also noted...
💡 Why This Matters:
APA has specific rules for when to use "et al." Using it incorrectly looks careless.
🔧 Quick Fix:
For 3+ authors in APA: spell out all names the first time, then use "et al." for subsequent citations.