ESEN
Which one to use?Intermediateverbnoun
CitevsSite
'Cite' means to quote or reference a source; 'site' is a physical location or a website.
Side-by-side comparison
Cite
verb"Cite" is the verb to quote or reference a source, a rule, or an example. Also in the legal sense of summoning someone before a court.
Always cite your sources at the end of the report.
The professor cited three studies that contradicted the hypothesis.
The driver was cited for speeding in a school zone.
Site
noun"Site" is a location or place: where something is or where something happens. A construction site, an archaeological site, or a website.
The construction site will be active for the next eighteen months.
This is the original site of the ancient Roman forum.
Their e-commerce site receives over a million visits per month.
Common mistake
- •"Please site your references" in an academic paper is wrong: to credit a source is "cite".
- •"Site" is a physical or digital location (website, construction site).
- •English also has "sight" (vision), and all three are perfect homophones.
Trick to remember it
- •"Cite" starts with C for "credit", you cite a source to give it credit.
- •"Site" starts with S for "spot" or "space", it is a location.
Quick rule
- •"Cite" = reference or quote a source.
- •"Site" = location or address (website, construction site, place).
Did you know?
Cite, site, and sight are perfect homophones in English, all three sound exactly the same (/saɪt/). English has many annoying homophones like this trio. The good news: in formal academic writing, "cite" is by far the most used, so one simple rule helps: if you are in a research context, it is almost always "cite". The "cite/site" error is so common in university essays that many professors make it an automatic review point.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
You must _____ your sources at the end of the essay. Your teacher needs to check them.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
They are building a new hospital on the _____ next to the park.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
AcceptvsExcept
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
AdvicevsAdvise
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
AffectvsEffect
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy