What may happen if you document too little if you mistakenly think your information is common knowledge?

What may happen if you document too little if you mistakenly think your information is common knowledge?

This statement is usually common knowledge within the United States, but it may not be in other contexts. Accidentally including a statement without a citation because you think it might be common knowledge can result in unintentional plagiarism.

How do you know if something is common knowledge?

One sign that something is community knowledge is that it is stated in 5 or more sources. So, if it’s known to educated people, or can be easily looked up, or appears in many sources, it is likely to be “common knowledge” and so does not need to be cited.

What should you do if you are not sure whether a piece of information is considered common knowledge or not?

A good rule of thumb is to acknowledge ideas which are not common knowledge among your peers such as the other students in the course for which you are writing the paper. How do you know if it is a general reference source? Reference sources collect together facts for easy look-up.

Can common knowledge be used as evidence?

Premises that rely on common knowledge can also play a significant role in fact-finding through judicial notice of adjudicative facts at trial. Lawyers can use judicial notice to prove facts that they can not easily prove through testimony of a witness (Park Leonard and Goldberg (1998, p. 45).

What is common knowledge in relation to referencing your research?

The term “common knowledge” refers to facts and information that are so well-known and clearly established that a writer can use them in their work without citing a specific source.

When do you cite common knowledge?

Common knowledge technically does not need to be cited. However, you should be extra careful that this knowledge is, in fact, considered common. Common knowledge encompasses information that the average educated reader would accept as true without needing the extra validation of a source or citation.

What is an example of common knowledge?

What is common knowledge? Many examples of common knowledge include information that appears across many sources without a clear origin — for example, famous historical dates. It also includes long-established facts or theories that are considered foundational to a field — for example, fundamental equations in physics.

What’s an example of common knowledge?

You don’t have to cite some things because they’re common knowledge and are not considered the work of any particular person. Examples of common knowledge are: There are four seasons in the year. There 365 days in a year.

Can you plagiarize common knowledge?

Do you have to cite common knowledge? Common knowledge does not need to be cited in your paper. However, to avoid plagiarism, you should be absolutely certain a piece of information is considered common knowledge before you omit the reference.

Do you need to reference common knowledge?

Common knowledge does not need to be cited. Common knowledge includes facts that are known by a lot of people and can be found in many sources. For example, you do not need to cite the following: Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.

What’s another word for common knowledge?

What is another word for common knowledge?

Do you have to source common knowledge?

Do I have to cite my source if it is “common knowledge”?

You may have heard people say that you do not have to cite your source when the information you include is “common knowledge.” But what is common knowledge? Broadly speaking, common knowledge refers to information that the average, educated reader would accept as reliable without having to look it up.

What is the definition of common knowledge?

Broadly speaking, common knowledge refers to information that the average, educated reader would accept as reliable without having to look it up. This includes: Information that most people know, such as that water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or that Barack Obama was the first American…

How do you know if a statement is not common knowledge?

If your reader might be surprised by your statement, question its accuracy, or contest it with other data, it is not common knowledge and you should provide a citation. If it is a foundational fact that everyone in the field agrees on, it is probably common knowledge. Can my reader easily verify this statement across multiple sources?

How do you know if something is common knowledge or plagiarism?

Common Knowledge & Plagiarism. If the information is found in general references and if most people know it, it may be considered common knowledge. However, what is commonly known in one field may not be known by the general public. NOTE: If you aren’t sure if something can be considered common knowledge, it is always safer to cite it.