What term is used to refer to evidence or justification of an argument, especially in scholarly work?

The term "cite" is commonly used in scholarly work to refer to the process of providing evidence or justification for an argument. Citing sources is an essential practice in academic writing, as it lends credibility to the claims being made and allows readers to verify the information through the original sources. By citing, writers acknowledge the contributions of other scholars and provide a pathway for others to explore the topic further. This practice not only reinforces the author's argument but also upholds the ethical standards of research by avoiding plagiarism and giving proper credit.

In contrast, quoting involves directly repeating a portion of text from another source, which is a specific method of citation but does not encompass the broader concept of providing evidence. Referring suggests mentioning sources without the formal aspect of citation, while asserting simply means stating a claim or opinion without necessary evidence. Therefore, "cite" is the most accurate and comprehensive term for the provided definition.