Cite vs. Site — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
"Cite" means to quote or reference as evidence, while "site" refers to a location or place.
Difference Between Cite and Site
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cite is a verb that involves mentioning something as proof, support, or justification. This word is used in academic, legal, and professional contexts where referencing the work or idea of someone else is necessary. To cite can also mean to commend or to summon someone to a court of law.
Site, on the other hand, is a noun that indicates a location or position where something is situated or has occurred. It can be used in the context of construction, where a building is to be erected, or in the context of archaeology, where it may refer to a place where historical artifacts are found.
When one is writing a paper and uses information from another author, they will cite that source to give proper credit. It is a critical part of creating a trustworthy academic document. Failure to properly cite sources can result in accusations of plagiarism.
In contrast, when a company plans to develop a new office building, they would be interested in the site. They might evaluate the site's accessibility, its environmental impact, and its suitability for construction. Thus, while cite is an action, site is a physical place.
Both words are homophones in English, meaning they sound the same when spoken but have different meanings and spellings. It's important not to confuse the two, especially in writing, as their meanings do not overlap and using one in place of the other can lead to misunderstanding.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Noun
Definition
To quote as evidence or authority.
Location or place.
Usage Context
Academic, legal, professional writing.
Construction, web development, archaeology.
Action vs. Object
An action of referencing.
A physical or virtual place.
Example in a Sentence
"She cited three experts in her paper."
"The new mall will be built on this site."
Compare with Definitions
Cite
Summon by legal authority.
The company was cited for a code violation.
Site
Location for construction.
They surveyed the site for the new library.
Cite
Recognize a contribution
The soldier was cited for his bravery.
Site
Place of interest.
The ruins were a popular tourist site.
Cite
Mention as evidence.
Lawyers often cite previous cases in their arguments.
Site
Position or place.
The company’s site is downtown.
Cite
Refer to (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, especially in a scholarly work
Authors who are highly regarded by their peers tend to be cited
He does not cite any source for this assertion
Site
Web address.
Check our site for more details.
Cite
Praise (someone, typically a member of the armed forces) in an official report for a courageous act
He has been cited many times for his contributions in the intelligence area
Site
An area of ground on which a town, building, or monument is constructed
The concrete is mixed on site
The proposed site of a hydroelectric dam
Cite
Summon (someone) to appear in court
The writ cited only four of the signatories of the petition
Site
A website
The site has no ads and is not being promoted with banners
Some servers use cookies to track users from site to site
Cite
A citation.
Site
Fix or build (something) in a particular place
The rectory is sited behind the church
Cite
To quote or refer to (a book or author, for example) as an authority or example in making an argument.
Site
The place where a structure or group of structures was, is, or is to be located
A good site for the school.
Cite
(Law) To refer to (a previous court decision or other legal precedent), as when arguing a case.
Site
The place or setting of something
A historic site.
A job site.
Cite
To mention or bring forward as support, illustration, or proof
Cited several instances of insubordinate behavior.
Site
A website.
Cite
To commend officially for meritorious action in military service.
Site
To situate or locate on a site
Sited the power plant by the river.
Cite
To honor formally.
Site
(obsolete) Sorrow, grief.
Cite
To issue a notice of violation to
Was cited by the police for jaywalking.
Site
The place where anything is fixed; situation; local position
The site of a city or of a house
Cite
To make reference to a previous court decision. Often used with to
The lower court cited to the Supreme Court decision issued last year.
Site
A place fitted or chosen for any certain permanent use or occupation
A site for a church
Cite
A citation or quotation.
Site
The posture or position of a thing.
Cite
To quote; to repeat, as a passage from a book, or the words of another.
Site
A computer installation, particularly one associated with an intranet or internet service or telecommunications.
Cite
To list the source(s) from which one took information, words or literary or verbal context.
Site
A website.
Cite
To summon officially or authoritatively to appear in court.
Site
(category theory) A category together with a choice of Grothendieck topology.
Cite
(informal) a citation
We used the number of cites as a rough measure of the significance of each published paper.
Site
Region of a protein, a piece of DNA or RNA where chemical reactions take place.
Cite
To call upon officially or authoritatively to appear, as before a court; to summon.
The cited dead,Of all past ages, to the general doomShall hasten.
Cited by finger of God.
Site
A part of the body which has been operated on.
Cite
To urge; to enjoin.
Site
To situate or place a building or construction project.
The U.K. government is dusting off an alternative plan to site the center at a military outfit such as Porton Down.
Cite
To quote; to repeat, as a passage from a book, or the words of another.
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
Site
The place where anything is fixed; situation; local position; as, the site of a city or of a house.
Cite
To refer to or specify, as for support, proof, illustration, or confirmation.
The imperfections which you have cited.
Site
A place fitted or chosen for any certain permanent use or occupation; as, a site for a church.
Cite
To bespeak; to indicate.
Aged honor cites a virtuous youth.
Site
The posture or position of a thing.
The semblance of a lover fixedIn melancholy site.
Cite
To notify of a proceeding in court.
Site
The piece of land on which something is located (or is to be located);
A good site for the school
Cite
Make reference to;
His name was mentioned in connection with the invention
Site
Physical position in relation to the surroundings;
The sites are determined by highly specific sequences of nucleotides
Cite
Commend;
He was cited for his outstanding achievements
Site
A computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web;
The Israeli web site was damaged by hostile hackers
Cite
Refer to;
He referenced his colleagues' work
Site
Assign a location to;
The company located some of their agents in Los Angeles
Cite
Repeat a passage from;
He quoted the Bible to her
Site
Scene of an event.
The monument marks the site of the battle.
Cite
Refer to for illustration or proof;
He said he could quote several instances of this behavior
Cite
Advance evidence for
Cite
Call in an official matter, such as to attend court
Cite
Reference a source.
The professor asked us to cite our references at the end of the essay.
Cite
Quote someone.
He cited the mayor in his article on urban policy.
Common Curiosities
Is a website a type of site?
Yes, in modern terms, a website is considered a virtual site.
What is a construction site?
A construction site is a location where a building is being constructed.
Do I always have to cite sources in an academic paper?
Yes, in academic writing, you must cite all sources you use.
Can you cite a website?
Yes, websites can be cited in the bibliography or reference list of a document.
How do you cite a book?
You cite a book by including the author's name, book title, publication year, and publisher.
Can site refer to a digital location?
Yes, in digital contexts, a site often refers to a location on the internet, like a website.
What information is needed to cite a journal article?
You'll need the author’s name, article title, journal name, volume, issue, pages, and publication year.
What does it mean to cite a source?
To cite a source means to reference it formally in a piece of writing.
Are the words "site" and "sight" related?
No, "site" refers to a place, while "sight" refers to the ability to see or a thing to be seen.
Can you provide an example of how to cite a source?
An example in APA style: Smith, J. (2020). Title of the work. Publisher.
Is "site" ever used as a verb?
Rarely, but it can be used as a verb meaning to place or locate something in a specific position.
How do I find a site for my business?
You can find a site by researching locations that suit your business needs and budget.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
