# How to: Citations

### Citing a Data Midsouth asset

When citing a DMS asset in a report, grant, or paper, use the following format:

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th valign="top"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top">[Dataset title]. [Source organization]. Retrieved from [asset URL]. Last updated: [date from metadata].</td></tr></tbody></table>

Example:

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th valign="top"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top">Eviction Court Cases – Shelby County General Sessions Court. Shelby County General Sessions Court / Data Midsouth. Retrieved from https://www.datamidsouth.org/explore/assets/eviction-court-cases-shelby-county/. Last updated: [check asset page for current date].</td></tr></tbody></table>


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.datamidsouth.org/data-midsouth-portal/support-and-administration/how-to-citations.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.