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University of Southern Maine
Libraries & Learning

Nursing

A general guide to research and resources for students in the Nursing program

Should I Cite?

Flow Chart. Purdue University, "Should I Cite This?", A visual guide from the Purdue OWL. Text-only description below.

Should I Cite This? (Purdue OWL)

Flow Chart. Top level: Purdue University, "Should I Cite This?", A visual guide from the Purdue OWL. 

Step 1: Is the information, data, or opinion your idea?
- If yes, proceed to step 2.
- If no, proceed to step 3.

Step 2: Have you published the info before?
- If yes, proceed to step 3.
- If no, proceed to step 4.

Step 3: Is the info common knowledge (ie. do at least 5 credible sources have the info without citation)?
- If yes, proceed to step 5.
- If no, proceed to step 6.

Step 4: Don't need to cite!

Step 5: Don't need to cite!

Step 6: Are you copying the source exactly, putting it in your own words sentence by sentence, or reporting a lot of info in a few lines?
- Copying exactly: Cite as a quotation! See our citation guides for more info on how to do this.
- Your own words, line by line: Cite as a paraphrase! See our citation guides for more info on how to do this.
- Your own words, reporting a lot of info in a few lines: Cite as a summary! See our citation guides for more info on how to do this.

For more information about this and other important citation resources, visit Purdue OWL's citation style guides.

Citing & Emailing from a Databse

Many of our databases provide help with formatting citations in APA, MLA, or other citation styles. 

For example, in the EBSCOhost databases (Academic Search Complete, CINHAL, PsycInfo, etc.), when printing, emailing, or saving citations, you can select the citation style. Always check to ensure the citation is correct.

  • Click on the article title
  • Click on Email
  • Type in your email, select PDF, select citation style

Fixing the URL at the end of a reference (from the CITE feature)

If the CITE feature in CINAHL gives you a URL like this one

https://doi-org.wv-o-ursus-proxy01.ursus.maine.edu/10.1186/s13018-021-02256-1

  1. Take everything after the ".edu"
  2. Add "https://doi.org/" in front of it.

Then your DOI should look like this

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-021-02256-1

Add it to the end of your APA reference.  This sample APA reference should look like this

Espejo-Reina, A., Carrascal-Morillo, M. T., & Delgado-Martínez, A. D. (2021).

Comparison of two different ways to apply a circular plaster cast for distal radius fractures: Biomechanical study. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Research, 16(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-021-02256-1