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Over the past decade I've noticed on HN the following order of frequency in choice of words, most common to least:

1. Citation

2. Source

3. Reference

Long ago in a career based on original research, I/we ONLY used "reference."

While it is definitely over a decade at this point (over two in fact), some of this likely comes from the term [citation needed], that originated on Wikipedia, as a cynical backhanded response to unsourced claims. It has become a catch-all. Language and how it evolves is a pretty interesting subject.

You're right. Has to be of Wikipedia use origin. Thanks!

OP here. You came to the right conclusion. This is inspired by Wikipedia.

Pretty sure (citation needed) predated wikipedia.

Perhaps, but I'm betting "reference" significantly antedated the Wikipedia-induced ubiquity of "citation [needed]."

I could have written more words, but they would have not conferred more meaning.

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