Authors often try to justify their statements by suggesting they have acquired the information from an authoritative source. If you wish to refer to a source, however, do not do so vaguely as in the following example. A straightforward statement is preferable to a vague attribution. Therefore, not

ExclamationPoint Student registrations have been observed to be increasing in some subjects that were previously determined to be unfashionable.

but

Small_OK Student registrations have been increasing in some previously unfashionable subjects.

and not

ExclamationPoint It has been shown that visiting lecturers have been using this new resource.

but

Small_OK Visiting lecturers have been using this new resource.

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