Citing is the practice of giving credit to the original sources of information, ideas, or quotes used in a piece of writing. This is important in academic and professional contexts to acknowledge the work of others and to avoid plagiarism. Citing allows readers to trace the origins of the information and verify its accuracy. There are various citation styles, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago, each with specific rules for formatting references. Proper citation includes details like the author's name, publication date, title, and source, ensuring that the original creators receive recognition for their contributions.