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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
it cites that
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "it cites that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when trying to indicate that a source references or mentions something. Example: "The report it cites that the new policy will improve efficiency."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Wiki
Science
Alternative expressions(20)
it mentions that
it states that
it indicates that
it points out that
it notes that
it reveals that
it reports that
it claims that
according to the source
it emphasizes that
it explains that
it identifies that
it illustrates that
it discloses that
it asserts that
it suggests that
it stipulates that
it denotes that
it advocates that
it declares that
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
4 human-written examples
In a statistics dump this morning, it cites that a SimpleReach study that says 62% of referral traffic to media sites from social networks comes from Facebook.
News & Media
For example, it cites that Rdio has seen a "30x increase in new user registrations from Facebook" In reality, the app itself now has grown by just 200 users to reach a tiny 4,000 daily Facebook-logged in users.
News & Media
In addition, it cites that Chinese female CEO's make up 19 percent of women in management jobs making it the second highest worldwide after Thailand.
Wiki
It cites that about 5% of childhood cancer; 10% of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and neurodevelopmental deficiencies; and 30% of childhood asthma are likely to be attributable to environmental exposures.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
55 human-written examples
In July, after the commission issued its National Broadband Plan, it cited that report's finding that roughly 14 million Americans do not have broadband Internet service as evidence that broadband is not being adequately deployed.
News & Media
It cited that "The Pink Panther" torrent file has been downloaded from The Pirate Bay almost 50,000 times.
News & Media
But when AI2 submitted the Skill Search engine to the Alexa platform, Amazon rejected it, citing that "We don't allow skills that recommend skills to customers at this time.
News & Media
She took the phone back to the Apple Store and the geniuses refused to repair it, citing that the phone is not designed to withstand temperatures below freezing or above 35 degrees Celsius.
News & Media
Entertainment Weekly's Margaret Lyons said that despite this episode not being "one of the show's most sophisticated [ones]" she still enjoyed it, citing that it had "some pretty fantastic lines – and some really cute moments between Liz and Jack".
Wiki
It's important to cite that NADH dehydrogenase here analyses, maybe an isoform and that this up regulation could not be related to all protein class here evaluated.
Science
Mr. Carney cited that argument on Monday.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using "it cites that" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more grammatically sound alternatives such as "it states that" or "it mentions that."
Common error
Don't directly follow 'cite' with 'that' to introduce a clause. 'Cite' typically requires an object (e.g., "it cites a study that...") or should be replaced with a more suitable verb like 'state' or 'mention'.
Source & Trust
88%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "it cites that" functions as a reporting clause, aiming to introduce information derived from a specific source. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is not considered standard English.
Frequent in
News & Media
33%
Wiki
33%
Science
33%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "it cites that" appears in various sources, including news and media, Wikipedia, and scientific publications, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to use alternatives such as "it states that" or "it mentions that". While its intent is to attribute information to a source, the incorrect grammar undermines its effectiveness, making it advisable to choose more standard and clear phrasing for academic, professional, and even neutral contexts.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
it mentions that
This alternative provides a general way to indicate that a source refers to specific information, replacing the potentially incorrect "cites" with a more acceptable verb.
it states that
Replaces "cites" with "states" to indicate a direct declaration or assertion from the source.
it indicates that
Uses "indicates" instead of "cites" to show that the source suggests something without explicitly stating it.
it points out that
Emphasizes that the source draws attention to a particular fact or observation, suggesting a more focused reference.
it notes that
Indicates that the source makes a specific observation or takes notice of a detail.
it reveals that
Suggests that the source uncovers or discloses information, implying a discovery or unveiling.
it reports that
Implies that the source is conveying information from an investigation or account, often used in journalistic contexts.
it claims that
Uses "claims" to denote that the source asserts something as true, which may be subject to verification or debate.
according to the source
This phrase emphasizes the source as the origin of the information, providing a broader introductory phrase.
the source mentions that
This alternative emphasizes that the information comes from the source by re-arranging the structure.
FAQs
What's a better way to say "it cites that"?
Instead of "it cites that", you can use phrases like "it states that", "it mentions that", or "it indicates that" to clearly show you're referring to information from a source.
Is "it cites that" grammatically correct?
No, "it cites that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives such as "it states that" or "it mentions that".
How can I use "cite" correctly in a sentence?
Use "cite" with a direct object, like "it cites a study" or "it cites several examples". Avoid directly following "cite" with "that". You can also replace it with phrases like "it mentions that" or "it states that".
What's the difference between "it cites that" and "it states that"?
"It states that" is grammatically correct and indicates a direct declaration from a source. "It cites that" is generally incorrect; instead, use "it cites [something]" or rephrase to "it states that".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
88%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested