Abstract:
Accurate citation practices are important, from both an ethical and a scientific point of view. Using an easily
reproducible, previously published method, we assess citation accuracy in 120 articles published in the first
half of 2011 and listed under ‘Physical Geography’ in Thomson Reuters’ ISI Web of Knowledge Science
Citation Index. Our results indicate that at least 19% of citations in physical geography do not provide clear
support for the statements they are meant to support. These results are in line with previously published
findings for ‘field-orientated’ sciences. We propose that both authors and editors help remedy this problem,
by employing more rigorous writing and editing practices.
