Whether you're working on an essay, report, or dissertation, proper referencing is a crucial part of academic writing. It not only acknowledges the original authors of the ideas you're citing but also enhances the credibility of your work. In this guide, we’ll walk through the essentials of referencing and provide practical tips to ensure you get it right every time.
To start, here's a helpful video highlighting what referencing is and why it's so important.
Why Referencing Matters
Every claim made in your writing needs to be backed up by a citation, whether you're crafting a report or an essay. A citation serves as a reference to previous work, showing what others have said about the topic you're discussing.
At the end of your piece, you’ll need a reference list on a separate page. This includes the details of all the sources you've cited in your work. Your reference list should contain only primary and secondary sources, and there are a few formatting rules to follow:
- List your references alphabetically by the authors' surnames.
- Use a hanging indent for each entry.
- Italicize the titles of books, journals, newspapers, etc.
Know Your Style
Different courses may require different referencing styles, so it’s always a good idea to confirm with your lecturers which style to use. Below are some of the most common referencing styles:
- APA (American Psychological Association)
- Used in social sciences, psychology, and education.
- Emphasizes the date of publication, which is key in fields where research is constantly evolving.
- In-text citation example: (Smith, 2021)
- Reference list example: Smith, J. (2021). The psychology of learning. Academic Press.
- MLA (Modern Language Association)
- Common in humanities disciplines such as literature and philosophy.
- Prioritizes the author and page number in citations.
- In-text citation example: (Smith 45)
- Works Cited example: Smith, John. The Art of Interpretation. Oxford University Press, 2021.
- Harvard Referencing
- Widely used across various disciplines.
- Similar to APA, with slight differences in punctuation and formatting.
- In-text citation example: (Smith, 2021)
- Reference list example: Smith, J., 2021. Theories of Social Interaction. Cambridge University Press.
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Popular in history, business, and the arts.
- Offers two systems: Notes and Bibliography, or Author-Date.
- In-text citation example (Author-Date): (Smith 2021, 45)
- In-text citation example (Notes and Bibliography): John Smith, The Economics of Markets (New York: Basic Books, 2021), 45.
- Vancouver
- Used predominantly in medical and scientific disciplines.
- Citations are numbered sequentially in the order they appear in the text.
- In-text citation example: (1)
- Reference list example: Smith J. Medical Research Methods. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2021.
Resources and Support
Take a look at this Reference Right page for tips, common mistakes to avoid and general guidance about referencing.
For additional support, our Student Hub provides excellent resources on all things Academic. The Advice Service offers free, confidential consultations to help you with referencing and other academic concerns, including academic misconduct.
Similarly, the University library has an in-depth guide on citing and referencing, making it a useful resource if you need further clarification or examples.
Proper referencing is vital for academic integrity and strengthens the credibility of your work. Mastering the right referencing style will ensure accuracy in your essays, reports, or dissertations. Make use of resources like the Reference Right and the Library to refine this essential skill and boost your academic success.