2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/131302Statistical analysis of repeat misprints in scientific citations leads to the conclusion that about 80% of scientific citations are copied from the lists of references used in othe papers. Based on this finding a mathematical theory of citing is constructed. It leads to the conclusion that a large number of citations does not have to be a result of paper's extraordinary qualities, but can be explained by the ordinary law of chances.Statistics TheoryPhysics and Societytext