What are the best ways to cite sources in business reports?

1 Choose a citation style

The first step to cite sources in business reports is to choose a citation style that suits your report's goals and expectations. There are many citation styles available, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, and others. Each style has its own rules and conventions for formatting in-text citations, footnotes, endnotes, and reference lists. You should follow the guidelines of your organization, industry, or field when choosing a citation style, or consult with your supervisor, client, or instructor if you are unsure. You should also be consistent and apply the same style throughout your report.

2 Use a citation generator

The second step to cite sources in business reports is to use a citation generator to help you create and manage your citations. A citation generator is a software tool that automatically generates citations for various types of sources, such as books, articles, websites, reports, and more. You can input the source information manually or scan the barcode or URL of the source. The citation generator will then format the citation according to the style you selected. Some examples of citation generators are Zotero, Mendeley, EasyBib, and Cite This For Me. You should always check the accuracy and completeness of the generated citations before using them in your report.

3 Cite primary and secondary sources

The third step to cite sources in business reports is to cite both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are original and direct sources of information, such as interviews, surveys, experiments, observations, and documents. Secondary sources are sources that interpret, analyze, or summarize primary sources, such as books, articles, reviews, and reports. You should cite both types of sources to show the evidence and support for your claims, arguments, and findings. You should also distinguish between primary and secondary sources in your citations, by indicating the original source and the source where you found it.

4 Cite online and offline sources

The fourth step to cite sources in business reports is to cite both online and offline sources. Online sources are sources that are accessed through the internet, such as websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, and social media. Offline sources are sources that are not accessed through the internet, such as books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and reports. You should cite both types of sources to show the diversity and relevance of your research. You should also provide the necessary information for your readers to locate and access the sources, such as the author, title, date, publisher, URL, and access date.

5 Cite graphs, charts, and tables

The fifth step to cite sources in business reports is to cite graphs, charts, and tables that you use or create in your report. Graphs, charts, and tables are visual representations of data, information, or concepts that help you illustrate your points, compare results, or highlight trends. You should cite the sources of the data or information that you use or adapt in your graphs, charts, and tables, either in the caption, below the figure, or in the text. You should also cite the sources of the graphs, charts, and tables that you reproduce or modify from other sources, by acknowledging the original source and indicating the changes you made.

6 Cite quotations, paraphrases, and summaries

The sixth and final step to cite sources in business reports is to cite quotations, paraphrases, and summaries that you use in your report. Quotations are exact words or phrases that you copy from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. Paraphrases are restatements of a source's words or ideas in your own words, without changing the meaning. Summaries are brief overviews of a source's main points or arguments, in your own words. You should cite the source of any quotation, paraphrase, or summary that you use in your report, by providing an in-text citation that includes the author and the page number, or a footnote or endnote that provides the full citation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?