Mecanismos de Citação no

At its core, citation is about attribution. You are linking a thought to a person. In Portuguese, we have two main paths. You can use a citação direta. This means you copy the words exactly. Or you can use a citação indireta. This is where you summarize the idea in your own words. Both require specific markers. You will use introductory phrases like segundo or conforme. You will also use reporting verbs. These verbs tell the reader the "vibe" of the source. Does the author afirmar (state) or questionar (question)? Choosing the right verb is key. It changes the tone of your whole paragraph. You also need to manage punctuation carefully. Quotes, commas, and parentheses are your tools. It is a bit like building a LEGO set. Every piece has a specific place. If you miss one, the whole structure looks a bit off.

1. 1Identify your source and the specific idea you need.
2. 2Choose between a direct or indirect citation style.
3. 3Select an introductory phrase like De acordo com or Segundo.
4. 4Pick a reporting verb that fits the context, such as ressalta or pontua.
5. 5For direct quotes under three lines, use double quotation marks " ".
6. 6For direct quotes over three lines, create a separate indented block.
7. 7Place the author's name and year in parentheses, like (Silva, 2023).
8. 8Ensure your own sentence flows grammatically into the citation.

You use these mechanisms whenever you use someone else's ideas. This is vital in university essays and research papers. It is also common in professional reports at work. If you are writing a news article, you must cite your sources. Even in a formal email to a boss, you might cite a company policy. Use it when you want to prove a point. Use it when you want to show you have done your homework. It is basically the "trust me, I'm an expert" button of writing. If you are quoting a famous philosopher or a recent data study, these rules apply. It keeps your writing grounded in reality. It also shows respect for the intellectual property of others.

Do not use these formal mechanisms in casual texts. Your friends do not need a segundo minha mãe citation in a WhatsApp message. Avoid citing "common knowledge." You do not need a source to say the sun is hot. Do not over-cite. If every single sentence is a quote, your own voice gets lost. It is like putting too much salt in a soup. You want a balance between your ideas and your sources. Avoid using direct quotes for very simple information. If you can say it better yourself, use an indirect citation. Do not use citations to hide a lack of original thought. Your professors want to hear *you*, not just a choir of other authors.

A very common mistake is the "floating quote." This is a quote that just sits there without an introduction. It feels like a stranger walking into a room without saying hello. Always introduce your quotes. Another mistake is mixing up segundo and de acordo com. While similar, segundo is often more direct. Many people forget to change the verb tense when paraphrasing. If the author *wrote* it in the past, but the idea is a timeless truth, use the present. Watch out for punctuation! In Portuguese, the period usually goes *after* the parentheses. It is a small detail, but it matters. Also, do not forget the page number for direct quotes. Without it, your citation is incomplete. It is like giving someone directions but forgetting the street name.

Citation is different from simple reported speech (discurso indireto). In daily life, you might say "Ele disse que vinha." In academic writing, you would say "O autor afirma que a tendência é crescente." The academic version is more formal and precise. It also differs from a simple mention. Mentioning a name is not a citation. A citation must link to a specific idea or text. Think of it like the difference between saying "I know a guy named Steve" and "Steve, the lead engineer, says the bridge is safe." One is a name-drop; the other is an authoritative citation. Also, do not confuse apud with a regular citation. Apud is used only when you cite a source through another source. It is the "friend of a friend" of the grammar world. Use it sparingly, as it shows you did not read the original.