2 ms·
Over the past decade I've noticed on HN the following order of frequency in choice of words, most common to least: 1. Citation 2. Source 3. Reference Long a
by bookofjoe 2mo ago
Over the past decade I've noticed on HN the following order of frequency in choice of words, most common to least:
1. Citation
2. Source
3. Reference
Long ago in a career based on original research, I/we ONLY used "reference."
- tygon 2mo agoWhile it is definitely over a decade at this point (over two in fact), some of this likely comes from the term [citation needed], that originated on Wikipedia, as a cynical backhanded response to unsourced claims. It has become a catch-all. Language and how it evolves is a pretty interesting subject.
- bookofjoe 2mo agoYou're right. Has to be of Wikipedia use origin. Thanks!
- vaylian 2mo agoI could have written more words, but they would have not conferred more meaning.