Acknowledging the sources you use offers a polite “thank you” for the work of others. In addition, the sources you acknowledge tell your reader that you have tried to gain expertise on your topic, that you are credible, and that you have been fair enough to consider several points of view. Similarly, your sources can help place your research in the context of other thinking. Most of all, you should acknowledge sources in order to help your readers follow your thoughts, understand how your ideas relate to the thoughts of others, and know where to go to find more information.

Acknowledging sources fully and generously, then, is a way to establish your trustworthiness as a researcher. Failure to credit sources can destroy both your own credibility and that of your research.