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by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., and Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.

Inadequate Citation of Your Sources.

Supporting your thesis and arguments with sufficient research won't matter if you don't know how to cite your sources properly. English, the humanities, and literature tend to use the citation style set forth by the Modern Language Association (MLA), while business and the social sciences tend to use the style dictated by the American Psychological Association (APA). Your professor can advise you on which of these styles to use -- or whether to refer to an altogether different style manual for citing sources.

Even more important than using the correct style to cite your sources is the understanding that when you use ideas, facts, and opinions that are not yours own -- even when you don't use the author's exact words -- you must give appropriate credit to the author as you incorporate his or her ideas into your paper. If you don't do so, you're committing plagiarism, one of the most serious offenses in college. You can also footnote sources that won't fit into your paper because of space or flow.

Go to the next common college student writing flaw: Confusing Sentence Structure.

Back to the main page of The Top 15 Writing Flaws That Can Lead to Lower Grades

Looking for more writing assistance? Go to our sister site, EnhanceMyWriting.com: Indispensable Writing Resources.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key academic terms by going to our College Success Glossary.

Dr. Randall S. Hansen, CEO of EmpoweringSites.com, has been empowering people his entire adult life -- to help them better their lives. In fact, empowerment is part of his professional philosophy statement. He is also founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well as founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press as well as a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years.

Dr. Katharine Hansen, Creative Director of EmpoweringSites.com, is a former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for several of our sites, including Quintessential Careers, MyCollegeSuccessStory.com, and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. She also edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for job-seekers, career counselors, and students. She is author of Dynamic Cover Letter for New Graduates; A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market; and, with Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., Dynamic Cover Letters and Write Your Way to a Higher GPA, all published by Ten Speed Press. She can be reached by e-mail at kathy@quintcareers.com.

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