How to quote second-hand materials from other sources?

When citing secondary sources, reference the original work you consulted while clearly attributing the idea to the primary source. This practice is feasible but requires careful handling to ensure transparency and scholarly integrity. Essential principles include verifying accuracy by consulting the primary source whenever possible. Always clearly indicate both the original author and the secondary source where you encountered the information. Limit this practice primarily to instances where obtaining the primary source proves exceptionally difficult or impossible (e.g., rare historical documents). Crucially, ensure your reference list includes only the secondary source you actually read, except in cases of translations where guidelines may differ. To implement this, first locate the primary source's details within the secondary work. Then, integrate an in-text citation formatted as "Primary Author (Original Year), as cited in Secondary Author (Year)". Finally, list only the secondary source in your reference list. This method maintains attribution while accurately reflecting your research pathway, reducing the risk of propagating errors from intermediaries.