Word Choice Cite vs. Site

Word Choice Cite vs. Site Word Choice: Cite vs. Site It can be difficult to pick the right words all the time, especially since terms like cite and site sound very similar. However, using correct terminology can gain you valuable marks on your papers, so it is worth learning about easily confused words. Cite (Quote or Reference) The term cite is very important in academic circles, as it means reference: Citing sources clearly is a fundamental part of academic writing. When you quote another authors work, or even paraphrase their ideas, you will need to cite the work you are referring to. Less formally, cite can simply mean to mention in support of something. For instance: Hamish argued that the Scottish are clearly smarter than the English, citing several examples of prominent Scottish inventors. Site (A Place or Position) The term site is mostly used to refer to locations, meaning place or position. As such, you may talk about the site of a house or hospital. You can also use it as a verb, such as if you are discussing where to site a building. Of course, these days site can also be short for website. This is similar to the original meaning of site given above, but refers to the location of a page on the internet, rather than a physical location. Cite or Site? Since cite and site have such different meanings, the main trick is remembering how each one is spelled: Cite (with a c) = Quote or reference something Site (with an s) = The location or position of something Proofreading It can be difficult to spot mistakes like those above, especially when you have been working on a piece of writing for a long time. So why not send it to the professionals at Proofed? We will check your paper for errors and send back a copy showing the changes made, along with helpful comments to help you improve your work.