Read: What is Common Knowledge?

Do you have to cite everything from another author? The short answer is yes, unless it is common knowledge. Common knowledge refers to information that the average reader in the field or discipline for which you are writing would accept as true or known without having to look it up.

Read the attached excerpt from MIT's Academic Integrity Handbook to understand when you can claim something is common knowledge.

Use this What is Common Knowledge? Download What is Common Knowledge? excerpt to determine what is common knowledge.