# Rantings about stupid nuclear reporting, and I want to bitchslap somebody, also other crap

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rantings-about-stupid-nuclear-reporting-and-i-want-to-bitchslap-somebody-also-other-crap/576077>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [March 26, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rantings-about-stupid-nuclear-reporting-and-i-want-to-bitchslap-somebody-also-other-crap/576077 "2011-03-26T19:11:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 703

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**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rantings-about-stupid-nuclear-reporting-and-i-want-to-bitchslap-somebody-also-other-crap/576077/703 "2011-06-15T01:46:17Z")

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> [@Still support nuke power plants?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/still-support-nuke-power-plants/574647/1439):
>
> (And yes, “cite” as commonly accepted shorthand for “citation” is fine, as is “script” for “prescription” and “quote” for “quotation”. Few ask for “citations” on message boards.)

And the voice of authority ignores that, but wants to label my thoughtful post, that included references and even links, as shit?

This is an example of what I call “internet irony”. While the delicious humor of it is to be savored, that does little to fight ignorance.

Cite is a verb.

Citation is a noun.

You can’t interchange them, no matter how much you wish bad grammar and people with no education can change the world.

OK you can, but it makes one look stupid. It’s just wrong.

[ol]  
[li]The article _citations_ several experts on the subject.[/li][li]The museum had often been _citationed_ as an example of successful fund-raising.[/li][li]He _citationed_ evidence suggesting she was in the area when the crime was committed.[/li][li]She was _citation_ for reckless driving.[/li][/ol]

It’s just totally wrong. The obverse is also wrong.

[ol]  
[li]He was issued a _cite_.[/li][li]He received a _cite_ for reckless driving.[/li][li]He gave her a _cite_ for bravery.[/li][/ol]  
Of course the words are connected, but they are not the same thing. The correct form:

The officer decided to cite him for speeding. He gave him a citation. In court the man cited a previous case in his defense. He also mentioned he had received a citation for bravery in the war. The Judge found that he had previously been cited for being a big fat liar, and lectured him about citing Wikipedia as a tactic.

Internet says the following is OK

The officer decided to citation him for speeding. He gave him a cite. In court the man citation a previous case in his defense. He also mentioned he had received a cite for bravery in the war. The Judge found that he had previously been citation for being a big fat liar, and lectured him about citationing Wikipedia as a tactic.

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