When are citations necessary in academic writing?

Citations are necessary in academic writing to acknowledge the contributions of other authors and to give credit for ideas, methodologies, or data that are not your own. This practice is essential for several reasons. First, it helps to avoid plagiarism by clearly delineating which ideas belong to you and which are derived from others. Second, it enhances the credibility of your work by demonstrating that your arguments are based on established research and that you have engaged with the existing literature on your topic. Finally, proper citation allows readers to trace the sources of your information, enabling them to explore the original works for further detail or context.

While quoting directly from a source does require citation, and unpublished work should also be acknowledged, the requirement for citation extends beyond these scenarios. Common knowledge—information that is widely known and undisputed—does not typically require citation, which is a nuanced understanding that differs from the core principle of giving credit for all sourced material. Thus, option C comprehensively includes all the necessary circumstances for proper citation in academic writing.