Attribution (TASL): Giving Proper Credit
What is TASL?
When using Creative Commons–licensed materials, proper attribution is required. TASL is a simple framework that helps you give credit correctly and consistently. It stands for:
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Title (T) → The name of the work
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Author (A) → The creator of the work
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Source (S) → A link to where the work is located
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License (L) → The Creative Commons license applied to the work
Examples of Proper Attribution
Example Attribution
“Introduction to Biology” by Jane Smith is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Expanded Version (with links)
“Introduction to Biology” by Jane Smith, available at [link], is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Whenever possible, include links to both the original source and the license.
Attribution for Adapted Works
If You Modified the Work
“Adapted from ‘Introduction to Biology’ by Jane Smith, licensed under CC BY 4.0.”
You should clearly indicate if changes were made.
Best Practices for Attribution
- Place attribution near the content when possible
- Keep formatting consistent across materials
- Include hyperlinks when sharing digitally
- Do not remove existing attribution information
- Clearly label any modifications or adaptations
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing one or more TASL elements
- Not including the license type
- Forgetting to link to the source
- Failing to note changes made to the work
- Assuming attribution is optional
Quick Attribution Template
Use This Template
“[Title]” by [Author] is licensed under [License].
For Adaptations
“Adapted from [Title] by [Author], licensed under [License].”
You can copy and adapt this template for your own materials.
Need Help Creating an Attribution?
Follow Creative Commons best practices for creating clear, complete attributions using the TASL method.
“Creative Commons License Materials” by Creative Commons is licensed under CC BY 4.0 and available from CreativeCommons.org .
Text and instructional content on this page are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license .
Images and third-party materials are used under license and may not be reused without
permission.
