how should you reference a graph that is classified as 'fair use'?

You should still give full credit to the original source: fair use changes permission , not referencing.

Quick Scoop: Core Idea

Under fair use, you can usually reuse a graph for purposes like comment , criticism, teaching, or research without asking the rights holder for permission , but you must:

• Clearly label that the graph is adapted or reproduced.
• Provide a full citation to the original source.
• Make sure your use fits fair use purposes (e.g., academic, non‑commercial, critical, or analytical).

In many quiz- and study-type explanations online, the “correct” answer is phrased as:

You can comment on or criticise the work and cite it for academic purposes, and you need to provide full citation information.

How to Reference the Graph (Practically)

In an academic paper, you usually do two things:

1. Caption under the graph

   • Example:
     Figure 2. Unemployment rate 2000–2020. Reproduced from Smith (2020, p. 15), under fair use.

   • Or in some styles:
     Figure 2. Unemployment rate 2000–2020. Source: Smith, J. (2020). “Title of article,” Journal Name, 12(3), 10–20.

2. Full reference in your reference list/bibliography
   • Follow the style you’re using (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.), just as if you had quoted text from the same source.

The key is: treat the graph like any other quoted or reproduced material—give a normal, complete reference.

What Fair Use Doesn’t Mean

A lot of students mix up “fair use” with “public domain.” Here’s the important distinction:

• Fair use:
  • Content is still copyrighted.
  • Limited use for education, criticism, comment, research, etc.
  • You don’t need permission if your use qualifies, but you do need to cite.
• Public domain:
  • Copyright has expired or never applied.
  • You may not be legally required to cite, but in academic work you’re still expected to credit the source.

Online quizzes about this question repeatedly mark as incorrect the options saying “you don’t need to reference this graph; it belongs to anyone” or “you can use it without citation.”

Simple One-Line Answer

If you need a short, exam-style line that matches how this question often appears in study resources:

You can use the graph for academic fair‑use purposes such as comment or criticism without asking permission , but you must provide full citation information to the original source.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.