What Doesn't Count as an Academic Source?

Confused about what counts as an academic source? Learn from an expert SEO about what doesn't count as an academic source and how best to find one.

What Doesn't Count as an Academic Source?

Textbooks, encyclopedias, and books published for commercial audiences are often not considered academic. This leads many students to use non-academic sources for their essays (usually online sources) without understanding why they are doing the wrong thing or how they could improve their grades by changing the types of sources they use to research and write their essays. Unfortunately, many students are still confused about what exactly an academic source (or an academic source) is and how to find the best IELTS tutorsbest IELTS tutors. The best way to find academic sources is to physically go to the university library, if possible. Alternatively, students can access Spires online bmat tutors who can provide them with access to a wide range of academic sources. . The best way to find academic sources is to physically go to the university library, if possible. Alternatively, students can access Spires online bmat tutors who can provide them with access to a wide range of academic sources.

The most important piece of advice that academics want to give to their first-year students is usually to use the library as the only source of reference for their essays and assignments until they have a solid understanding of the types and quality of sources that are acceptable to their discipline. Academic sources must be published by a professional association such as the American Medical Association; by a university, for example, Oxford University Press; or by a recognized academic publisher. The content of academic sources has generally been peer-reviewed, meaning that it has been reviewed by experts in the field to ensure its accuracy and quality before being published. In your first year at university, your professors and tutors will likely tell you several times to make sure that you only use The most important piece of advice that academics want to give to their first-year students is usually to use the library as the only source of reference for their essays and assignments until they have a solid understanding of the types and quality of sources that are acceptable to their discipline. Academic sources must be published by a professional association such as the American Medical Association; by a university, for example, Oxford University Press; or by a recognized academic publisher. The content of academic sources has generally been peer-reviewed, meaning that it has been reviewed by experts in the field to ensure its accuracy and quality before being published. In your first year at university, your professors and tutors will likely tell you several times to make sure that you only use academic sources in your essays. Academic sources, also called academic sources, are sources that can include books, academic journal articles, and published expert reports. In journalism and media studies, of course, you may often have to consult media sources, which are certainly not academic sources.

There may be cases in which it is acceptable to use a non-academic source, but these will be special cases and are more common in some academic disciplines than in others. Once you have acquired these skills, you can safely access the Internet and ensure that you don't jeopardize your grades or the quality of your research by relying on inappropriate or inaccurate non-academic sources. This usually only happens in high-quality journals and university publishers, although many other reputable publishers that usually publish educational and academic texts also have a peer-review process. In some cases, you may find the work of an academic published on a separate website, such as his blog. The first search results also usually indicate whether they currently work or have worked as academics at a university, which, of course, is another way of knowing that their work is reputable.

Dr. Serena Aldwyn
Dr. Serena Aldwyn

Dr. Serena Aldwyn is an academic researcher and former university librarian with over seventeen years of experience helping students navigate scholarly sources, research databases, IB academic resources, and higher-education support systems. With a doctorate in Information Science and a postgraduate qualification in International Education, she has worked across UK and international universities training students, teachers, and advisors in research literacy, digital scholarship, academic integrity, and the critical evaluation of sources. Serena has contributed to curriculum design for IB programmes, collaborated on initiatives promoting intercultural understanding and global citizenship, and advised postgraduate students on advanced literature review methods for dissertations and capstone projects. Her work bridges the worlds of academic advising, information science, and digital pedagogy, making her uniquely equipped to explain what counts as an academic resource, how to find reliable sources, and how students can use research tools to think more critically and creatively. Her writing style blends warmth, clarity, and scholarly precision, helping learners at every level build confidence in their academic abilities.