It has been emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill ( , 2015).
Information from (2015) emphasises that good referencing is an important academic skill.
You use secondary referencing when you want to refer to a source that is mentioned or quoted in the work you are reading. To do this, you add the phrase ‘quoted in’ or ‘cited in’ (depending on whether the author of the secondary source is directly quoting or summarising from the primary source) to your intext citation, along with the details of the source that you are reading.
West (2007, quoted in Birch, 2017, p. 17) state that… You would then include full references to Birch and The Open University in your reference list as these are the sources that you have read. There is no change to the structure of the full reference for these sources. |
You should include page numbers in your citation if you are quoting directly from or using ideas from a specific page or set of pages. Add the abbreviation p. (or pp. if more than one page) before the page number(s).
Harris (2015, p. 5) argues that… In the drying process "polyphenol oxidizing reactions" form new flavour compounds (Toker 2020, pp. 585–586)... |
Add a lower case letter to the date in the in-text citation and in the matching full reference to distinguish between the sources. : Snow is formed in part because the temperature drops enough that rain freezes (The Open University, 2022a), however the freezing temperature of water is often below 0°C under certain conditions (The Open University, 2022b).
The Open University (2022a) '1.2 What are clouds?'. . Available at: (Accessed: 22 November 2022). The Open University (2022b) '1.3.1 Snow and ice'. . Available at: (Accessed: 22 November 2022). Note: this only applies when you are using multiple different sources with the same author and year – if you are referring to the same source more than once then you do not need to add a letter to the date. The citation will be the same each time and you only need to include the source once in your reference list. |
(Includes written online module activities, audio-visual material such as online tutorials, recordings or videos).
When referencing material from module websites, the date of publication is the year you started studying the module.
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).
OR, if there is no named author:
The Open University (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).
Rietdorf, K. and Bootman, M. (2022) 'Topic 3: Rare diseases'. S290: Investigating human health and disease . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1967195 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).
The Open University (2022) ‘3.1 The purposes of childhood and youth research’. EK313: Issues in research with children and young people . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1949633§ion=1.3 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).
You can also use this template to reference videos and audio that are hosted on your module website:
The Open University (2022) ‘Video 2.7 An example of a Frith-Happé animation’. SK298: Brain, mind and mental health . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=2013014§ion=4.9.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).
The Open University (2022) ‘Audio 2 Interview with Richard Sorabji (Part 2)’. A113: Revolutions . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1960941§ion=5.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).
Note: if a complete journal article has been uploaded to a module website, or if you have seen an article referred to on the website and then accessed the original version, reference the original journal article, and do not mention the module materials. If only an extract from an article is included in your module materials that you want to reference, you should use secondary referencing, with the module materials as the 'cited in' source, as described above.
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of message', Title of discussion board , in Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).
Fitzpatrick, M. (2022) ‘A215 - presentation of TMAs', Tutor group discussion & Workbook activities , in A215: Creative writing . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/forumng/discuss.php?d=4209566 (Accessed: 24 January 2022).
Note: When an ebook looks like a printed book, with publication details and pagination, reference as a printed book.
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title . Edition if later than first. Place of publication: publisher. Series and volume number if relevant.
For ebooks that do not contain print publication details
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title of book . Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: date).
Example with one author:
Bell, J. (2014) Doing your research project . Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Adams, D. (1979) The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy . Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-ebooks (Accessed: 23 June 2021).
Example with two or three authors:
Goddard, J. and Barrett, S. (2015) The health needs of young people leaving care . Norwich: University of East Anglia, School of Social Work and Psychosocial Studies.
Example with four or more authors:
Young, H.D. et al. (2015) Sears and Zemansky's university physics . San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley.
Note: You can choose one or other method to reference four or more authors (unless your School requires you to name all authors in your reference list) and your approach should be consistent.
Note: Books that have an editor, or editors, where each chapter is written by a different author or authors.
Surname of chapter author, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of chapter or section', in Initial. Surname of book editor (ed.) Title of book . Place of publication: publisher, Page reference.
Franklin, A.W. (2012) 'Management of the problem', in S.M. Smith (ed.) The maltreatment of children . Lancaster: MTP, pp. 83–95.
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference.
If accessed online:
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference. Available at: DOI or URL (if required) (Accessed: date).
Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326.
Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326. Available at: https://libezproxy.open.ac.uk/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/log... (Accessed: 27 January 2023).
Barke, M. and Mowl, G. (2016) 'Málaga – a failed resort of the early twentieth century?', Journal of Tourism History , 2(3), pp. 187–212. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1755182X.2010.523145
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference.
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference if available. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
Mansell, W. and Bloom, A. (2012) ‘£10,000 carrot to tempt physics experts’, The Guardian , 20 June, p. 5.
Roberts, D. and Ackerman, S. (2013) 'US draft resolution allows Obama 90 days for military action against Syria', The Guardian , 4 September. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/04/syria-strikes-draft-resolut... (Accessed: 9 September 2015).
Surname, Initial. (Year that the site was published/last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
Organisation (Year that the page was last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
Robinson, J. (2007) Social variation across the UK . Available at: https://www.bl.uk/british-accents-and-dialects/articles/social-variation... (Accessed: 21 November 2021).
The British Psychological Society (2018) Code of Ethics and Conduct . Available at: https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-ethics-and-conduct (Accessed: 22 March 2019).
Note: Cite Them Right Online offers guidance for referencing webpages that do not include authors' names and dates. However, be extra vigilant about the suitability of such webpages.
Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of photograph . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
Kitton, J. (2013) Golden sunset . Available at: https://www.jameskittophotography.co.uk/photo_8692150.html (Accessed: 21 November 2021).
stanitsa_dance (2021) Cossack dance ensemble . Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/COI_slphWJ_/ (Accessed: 13 June 2023).
Note: If no title can be found then replace it with a short description.
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Apa formatting tips, thesis formatting, tables and figures, acknowledgements and disclaimers.
You can view the samples here:
Quick formatting notes taken from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7th edition
Use the same font throughout the text of your paper, including the title and any headings. APA lists the following options (p. 44):
(A serif font is one that has caps and tails - or "wiggly bits" - on it, like Times New Roman . The font used throughout this guide is a sans serif [without serif] font). You may want to check with your lecturer to see if they have a preference.
In addition APA suggests these fonts for the following circumstances:
Line Spacing:
"Double-space the entire paper, including the title page, abstract, text, headings, block quotations, reference list, table and figure notes, and appendices, with the following exceptions:" (p. 45)
"Use 1 in. (2.54 cm) margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right) of the page." If your subject outline or lecturer has requested specific margins (for example, 3cm on the left side), use those.
"Align the text to the left and leave the right margin uneven ('ragged'). Do not use full justification, which adjusts the spacing between words to make all lines the same length (flush with the margins). Do not manually divide words at the end of a line" (p. 45).
Do not break hyphenated words. Do not manually break long DOIs or URLs.
Indentations:
"Indent the first line of every paragraph... for consistency, use the tab key... the default settings in most word-processing programs are acceptable. The remaining lines of the paragraph should be left-aligned." (p. 45)
Exceptions to the paragraph indentation requirements are as follows:
Page numbers:
Page numbers should be flush right in the header of each page. Use the automatic page numbering function in Word to insert page numbers in the top right-hand corner. The title page is page number 1.
Reference List:
Level 1 Heading - Centered, Bold, Title Case
Text begins as a new paragraph i.e. first line indented...
Level 2 Heading - Flush Left, Bold, Title Case
Level 3 Heading - Flush Left, Bold, Italic, Title Case
Level 4 Heading Indented, Bold, Title Case Heading, Ending With a Full Stop. Text begins on the same line...
Level 5 Heading, Bold, Italic, Title Case Heading, Ending with a Full Stop. Text begins on the same line...
Please note : Any formatting requirements specified in the subject outline or any other document or web page supplied to the students by the lecturers should be followed instead of these guidelines.
Appendices contain matter that belongs with your paper, rather than in it.
For example, an appendix might contain
You may be asked to include certain details or documents in appendices, or you may chose to use an appendix to illustrate details that would be inappropriate or distracting in the body of your text, but are still worth presenting to the readers of your paper.
Each topic should have its own appendix. For example, if you have a survey that you gave to participants and an assessment tool which was used to analyse the results of that survey, they should be in different appendices. However, if you are including a number of responses to that survey, do not put each response in a separate appendix, but group them together in one appendix as they belong together.
Appendices go at the very end of your paper , after your reference list. (If you are using footnotes, tables or figures, then the end of your paper will follow this pattern: reference list, footnotes, tables, figures, appendices).
Each appendix starts on a separate page. If you have only one appendix, it is simply labelled "Appendix". If you have more than one, they are given letters: "Appendix A", "Appendix B", "Appendix C", etc.
The label for your appendix (which is just "Appendix" or "Appendix A" - do not put anything else with it), like your refrerence list, is placed at the top of the page, centered and in bold , beginning with a capital letter.
You then give a title for your appendix, centered and in bold , on the next line.
Use title case for the appendix label and title.
The first paragraph of your appendix is not indented (it is flush with the left margin), but all other paragraphs follow the normal pattern of indenting the first line. Use double line spacing, just like you would for the body of your paper.
In your paper, when you mention information that will be included or expanded upon in your appendices, you refer to the appendix by its label and capitalise the letters that are capitalised in the label:
Questions in the survey were designed to illicit reflective responses (see Appendix A).
As the consent form in Appendix B illustrates...
Appendices are considered to be part of your paper for the purpose of referencing. Any in-text citations used in your appendix should be formatted exactly the same way you would format it in the body of your paper, and the references cited in your appendices will go in your reference list (they do not go in a special section of your reference list, but are treated like normal references).
If you have included reproduced matter in your appendices, treat them like an image or a table that has been copied or adapted. Place the information for the source in the notes under the reproduced matter (a full copyright acknowledgement for theses or works being published, or the shorter version used at JCU for assignments), and put the reference in the reference list.
If you are required to include an acknowledgement or disclaimer (for example, a statement of whether any part of your assignment was generated by AI, or if any part of your assignment was re-used, with permission, from a previous assignment), this should go in an author note .
The author note is placed on the bottom half of the title page, so if you are using an author note, you will need to use a title page. Place the section title Author Note in centre and in bold. Align the paragraph text as per a normal paragraph, beginning with an indent. See the second image on this page for an example of where to place the author note: Title Page Setup .
The APA Publication Manual lists several paragraphs that could be included in an author note, and specifies the order in which they should appear. For a student assignment, you will probably only require a paragraph or sentence on disclosures and acknowledgements.
An example author note for a student paper could be:
Author Note
This paper was prepared using Bing Copilot to assist with research and ChatGPT to assist with formatting the reference list. No generative AI software was used to create any part of the submitted text.
No generative AI software was used to create any part of this assignment.
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, automatically generate references for free.
Referencing means acknowledging the sources you have used in your writing. Including references helps you support your claims and ensures that you avoid plagiarism .
There are many referencing styles, but they usually consist of two things:
The most common method of referencing in UK universities is Harvard style , which uses author-date citations in the text. Our free Harvard Reference Generator automatically creates accurate references in this style.
(Smith, 2013) | |
Smith, J. (2013) . 2nd ed. London: Penguin. |
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Referencing styles, citing your sources with in-text citations, creating your reference list or bibliography, harvard referencing examples, frequently asked questions about referencing.
Each referencing style has different rules for presenting source information. For in-text citations, some use footnotes or endnotes , while others include the author’s surname and date of publication in brackets in the text.
The reference list or bibliography is presented differently in each style, with different rules for things like capitalisation, italics, and quotation marks in references.
Your university will usually tell you which referencing style to use; they may even have their own unique style. Always follow your university’s guidelines, and ask your tutor if you are unsure. The most common styles are summarised below.
Harvard referencing, the most commonly used style at UK universities, uses author–date in-text citations corresponding to an alphabetical bibliography or reference list at the end.
In-text citation | Sources should always be cited properly (Pears and Shields, 2019). |
---|---|
Reference list | Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2019) . 11th edn. London: MacMillan. |
Harvard Referencing Guide
Vancouver referencing, used in biomedicine and other sciences, uses reference numbers in the text corresponding to a numbered reference list at the end.
In-text citation | Sources should always be cited properly (1). |
---|---|
Reference list | 1. Pears R, Shields G. Cite them right: The essential referencing guide. 11th ed. London: MacMillan; 2019. |
Vancouver Referencing Guide
APA referencing, used in the social and behavioural sciences, uses author–date in-text citations corresponding to an alphabetical reference list at the end.
In-text citation | Sources should always be cited properly (Pears & Shields, 2019). |
---|---|
Reference list | Pears, R., & Shields, G. (2019). (11th ed.). London, England: MacMillan. |
APA Referencing Guide APA Reference Generator
MHRA referencing, used in the humanities, uses footnotes in the text with source information, in addition to an alphabetised bibliography at the end.
In-text citation | Sources should always be cited properly. |
---|---|
Footnote | 1. Richard Pears and Graham Shields, , 11th edn (London: MacMillan, 2019). |
Bibliography | Pears, Richard and Graham Shields, , 11th edn (London: MacMillan, 2019). |
MHRA Referencing Guide
OSCOLA referencing, used in law, uses footnotes in the text with source information, and an alphabetical bibliography at the end in longer texts.
In-text citation | Sources should always be cited properly. |
---|---|
Footnote | 1. Richard Pears and Graham Shields, (11th edn, MacMillan 2019). |
Bibliography | Pears R and Shields G, (11th edn, MacMillan 2019). |
OSCOLA Referencing Guide
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In-text citations should be used whenever you quote, paraphrase, or refer to information from a source (e.g. a book, article, image, website, or video).
Quoting is when you directly copy some text from a source and enclose it in quotation marks to indicate that it is not your own writing.
Paraphrasing is when you rephrase the original source into your own words. In this case, you don’t use quotation marks, but you still need to include a citation.
In most referencing styles, page numbers are included when you’re quoting or paraphrasing a particular passage. If you are referring to the text as a whole, no page number is needed.
In-text citations are quick references to your sources. In Harvard referencing, you use the author’s surname and the date of publication in brackets.
Up to three authors are included in a Harvard in-text citation. If the source has more than three authors, include the first author followed by ‘ et al. ‘
Number of authors | Harvard in-text citation example |
---|---|
1 author | (Jones, 2017) |
2 authors | (Jones and Singh, 2017) |
3 authors | (Jones, Singh and Smith, 2017) |
4+ authors | (Jones et al., 2017) |
The point of these citations is to direct your reader to the alphabetised reference list, where you give full information about each source. For example, to find the source cited above, the reader would look under ‘J’ in your reference list to find the title and publication details of the source.
In-text citations should be placed directly after the quotation or information they refer to, usually before a comma or full stop. If a sentence is supported by multiple sources, you can combine them in one set of brackets, separated by a semicolon.
If you mention the author’s name in the text already, you don’t include it in the citation, and you can place the citation immediately after the name.
The terms ‘bibliography’ and ‘reference list’ are sometimes used interchangeably. Both refer to a list that contains full information on all the sources cited in your text. Sometimes ‘bibliography’ is used to mean a more extensive list, also containing sources that you consulted but did not cite in the text.
A reference list or bibliography is usually mandatory, since in-text citations typically don’t provide full source information. For styles that already include full source information in footnotes (e.g. OSCOLA and Chicago Style ), the bibliography is optional, although your university may still require you to include one.
Reference lists are usually alphabetised by authors’ last names. Each entry in the list appears on a new line, and a hanging indent is applied if an entry extends onto multiple lines.
Different source information is included for different source types. Each style provides detailed guidelines for exactly what information should be included and how it should be presented.
Below are some examples of reference list entries for common source types in Harvard style.
Format | Author surname, initial. (Year) . City: Publisher. |
Example | Saunders, G. (2017) . New York: Random House. |
Format | Author surname, initial. (Year) ‘Chapter title’, in Editor name (ed(s).) . City: Publisher, page range. |
Example | Berman, R. A. (2004) ‘Modernism and the bildungsroman: Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain’, in Bartram, G. (ed.) . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 77–92. |
Format | Author surname, initial. (Year) ‘Article title’, , Volume(Issue), page range. |
Example | Adair, W. (1989) ‘ and : Hemingway’s debt to Thomas Mann’, , 35(4), pp. 429–444. |
Format | Author surname, initial. (Year) . Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year). |
Example | Google (2019) . Available at: https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en-US (Accessed: 2 April 2020). |
Your university should tell you which referencing style to follow. If you’re unsure, check with a supervisor. Commonly used styles include:
Your university may have its own referencing style guide.
If you are allowed to choose which style to follow, we recommend Harvard referencing, as it is a straightforward and widely used style.
References should be included in your text whenever you use words, ideas, or information from a source. A source can be anything from a book or journal article to a website or YouTube video.
If you don’t acknowledge your sources, you can get in trouble for plagiarism .
To avoid plagiarism , always include a reference when you use words, ideas or information from a source. This shows that you are not trying to pass the work of others off as your own.
You must also properly quote or paraphrase the source. If you’re not sure whether you’ve done this correctly, you can use the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker to find and correct any mistakes.
Harvard referencing uses an author–date system. Sources are cited by the author’s last name and the publication year in brackets. Each Harvard in-text citation corresponds to an entry in the alphabetised reference list at the end of the paper.
Vancouver referencing uses a numerical system. Sources are cited by a number in parentheses or superscript. Each number corresponds to a full reference at the end of the paper.
Harvard style | Vancouver style | |
---|---|---|
In-text citation | Each referencing style has different rules (Pears and Shields, 2019). | Each referencing style has different rules (1). |
Reference list | Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2019). . 11th edn. London: MacMillan. | 1. Pears R, Shields G. Cite them right: The essential referencing guide. 11th ed. London: MacMillan; 2019. |
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What is citing, citing page numbers in text - some rules, using direct quotations, how to cite in the body of your text, secondary referencing, using charts, images, figures in the body of your text.
The Harvard referencing style (also known as ‘author-date’) is commonly used at TUS Midwest. There are two elements to the Harvard referencing style. This means when you reference using the Harvard system, you have to do two things:
In summary, when you are writing up your college projects, you must remember to acknowledge the other authors you are using in two places:
If you have used the author’s exact words (direct quotation) or the author’s ideas (paraphrasing) from a book, journal article, etc. you must acknowledge this in your text. This is referred to as in-text citing:
In-text citations give the brief (abbreviated) details of the work that you are quoting from, or to which you are referring in your text. These citations will then link to the full reference in the reference list at the end of your work, which is arranged in alphabetical order by author (Pears and Shields, 2019, p.7).
Author prominent citing This citation method gives prominence to the author’s surname (family name) as part of your sentence with the date and page number in parentheses (round brackets). Note : The page number is necessary if you are quoting directly.
According to Davidson (2019, p. 370) ‘interest in designing greener meetings and events has been growing among business events professionals’. |
Information prominent citing This citation method gives prominence to the information with the required referencing details in parentheses at the end of the citation.
Results revealed ‘interviewees placed a strong focus on the need for better education and promotion of electric vehicles in the Irish context’ (O’Neill et al., 2019, p. 123). |
Author(s) name
‘Ireland has contributed to, and being affected by, global warming’ (Robbins, 2020, p. 3). ‘It has implemented a carbon tax and encouraged renewable energy development’ (Robbins, 2020, pp. 3-4). |
According to Williams (2020, p. 12) ‘among the treasures to be collected from the woods are pine cones’. |
Williams (2020) inspires readers to experience the natural world for themselves. |
Quotations should be used sparingly, selected carefully, used in context, integrated into your text, and reproduced exactly (including the words, spelling, punctuation, capitalisation and paraphrasing of the original writer). Short quotations Short quotations (fewer than 30 words) should:
According to Barr (2016, p. 22) ‘sustainability must be analysed on a number of different levels, from principles to concepts and then to application’. |
Long quotations Long quotations (more than 30 words) should:
Separate the quotation from the lead-in statement with one blank line. The lead-in statement ends with a colon(:). Separate the quotation from the text that follows it with one blank line.
The decline of nature and people is no coincidence, although as farming and fishing incomes have declined, tourism has taken up some of the slack. Achill is a popular spot in summer and it is particularly geared towards water-based activities. It lies along the Wild Atlantic Way, billed as the world’s longest scenic drive (Fogarty, 2017, p. 292). Green tourism is a relatively new phenomenon that is thriving in Ireland, particularly along scenic stretches of the Western seaboard. This type of tourism makes for a more sustainable way of living. It takes an environmentally friendly approach. |
Quotation marks
The decline of nature and people is no coincidence, although as farming and fishing incomes have declined, tourism has taken up some of the slack. Achill is a popular spot in summer and it is particularly geared towards water-based activities. It lies along the Wild Atlantic Way, billed as the world’s longest scenic drive (Fogarty, 2017, p. 292). |
Words omitted from quotations
‘Achill is a popular spot in summer … It lies along the Wild Atlantic Way’ (Fogarty, 2017, p. 292). |
‘… tourism has taken up some of the slack’ (Fogarty, 2017, p. 292). |
When you cite someone else’s work, you must state the author/editor and the date of publication. If the work has two authors/editors, you must cite both names. Don't forget to include page numbers for direct quotations. There is no need to include the title, place of publication etc. These details are listed in the reference list at the end of your essay .
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For a work that has three or more authors/editors, the abbreviation, et al . is used after the first author’s name.
According to Woodruff . (2016, p. 50) ‘the produced electricity from solar power plants is very low’. |
For a work that has the same author/editor, and was written in the same year as an earlier citation, you must use a lower case letter after the date to differentiate between the two.
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Citing from books with chapters written by different authors Some books may contain chapters written by several different authors. In this case the author who wrote the chapter should be cited not the editor of the book.
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If you are reading a source by one author, for example, Garvey (2019) and he cites or quotes the work of another author, for example, Taylor (1996) you may cite or quote the original work, Taylor (1996) as a secondary reference. Note: It is always best practice to try and locate the original reference and secondary references should only be used if it is difficult to access the original work
Example In-text citation: Taylor’s observations (1996, cited in Garvey, 2019) are based on a genuine respect for nature. OR ‘Every living thing has a good of its own’ (Taylor, 1996, quoted in Garvey, 2019, p. 53).
Reference List: Garvey, J. (2019) The ethics of climate change: right and wrong in a warming world . London: Continuum.
Charts, images, figures etc. should be treated as direct quotations in that the author/editor, year and page number should be acknowledged in-text, and the full reference to the item should be listed in the reference list.
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The Library, Technological University of the Shannon: Midwest
Published on November 4, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on January 17, 2024.
On the APA reference page, you list all the sources that you’ve cited in your paper. The list starts on a new page right after the body text.
Follow these instructions to set up your APA reference page:
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Setting up the apa reference page, apa alphabetization guidelines, which sources to include on the reference page, annotated bibliography, creating apa references.
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References are ordered alphabetically by the first author’s last name. If the author is unknown, order the reference entry by the first meaningful word of the title (ignoring articles: “the”, “a”, or “an”).
Word processors like Word or Google Docs and citation generators can usually order the reference list automatically. However, ordering becomes challenging when citing multiple works by the same author or works by authors with the same last name.
Our in-depth article on ordering references in APA Style explains what to do in these situations.
Only include references for sources cited in the body text (with an APA in-text citation ). Don’t include references for:
For some student papers, it’s common to describe or evaluate the source in an annotation . These annotations are placed on a new line below the corresponding reference entry. The entire annotation is indented 0.5 inches.
If an annotation consists of multiple paragraphs, the first line of the second and any subsequent paragraphs is indented an additional 0.5 inches.
The format of an APA reference differs depending on the source type. Play around with the options in the Scribbr Example Generator to get familiar with APA Style.
With Scribbr’s free APA citation generator you can easily cite your sources according to the new 7th edition guidelines. It’s accurate, fast, and easy to use. Give it a try!
APA Citation Generator
Check out Scribbr’s citation examples to learn more about citing each type of source, ranging from books and journals to podcasts and tweets !
Periodicals
Reports and gray literature
Books and reference works
Audiovisual works
Online media
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Streefkerk, R. (2024, January 17). Setting Up the APA Reference Page | Formatting & References (Examples). Scribbr. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/apa-reference-page/
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References: common reference list examples, article (with doi).
Alvarez. E., & Tippins, S. (2019). Socialization agents that Puerto Rican college students use to make financial decisions. Journal of Social Change , 11 (1), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.5590/JOSC.2019.11.1.07
Laplante, J. P., & Nolin, C. (2014). Consultas and socially responsible investing in Guatemala: A case study examining Maya perspectives on the Indigenous right to free, prior, and informed consent. Society & Natural Resources , 27 , 231–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2013.861554
Provide a DOI number if there is one. DOI stands for "digital object identifier," a number specific to the article that can help others locate the source. Use CrossRef.org to locate DOI information. This rule applies regardless of how the source was accessed (e.g., online, paper, etc.; see APA 7, Section 9.34).
In APA 7, format the DOI as a web address. Active hyperlinks for DOIs and URLs should be used for documents meant for screen reading. Present these hyperlinks in blue and underlined text (the default formatting in Microsoft Word), although plain black text is also acceptable. Be consistent in the formatting choice for DOIs and URLs throughout the reference list. (Note that this guidance has changed from APA 6 where all hyperlink formatting was removed and no active links were included. In APA 6, the URLs appeared in plain, black type and did not link out from the document.)
Also see our Quick Answer FAQ, "Can I use the DOI format provided by library databases?"
Jerrentrup, A., Mueller, T., Glowalla, U., Herder, M., Henrichs, N., Neubauer, A., & Schaefer, J. R. (2018). Teaching medicine with the help of “Dr. House.” PLoS ONE , 13 (3), Article e0193972. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193972
For journal articles that are assigned article numbers rather than page ranges, include the article number in place of the page range.
For more on citing electronic resources, see Electronic Sources References .
Found in a common academic research database or in print.
Casler , T. (2020). Improving the graduate nursing experience through support on a social media platform. MEDSURG Nursing , 29 (2), 83–87.
If an article does not have a DOI and you retrieved it from a common academic research database through the university library, there is no need to include any additional electronic retrieval information. The reference list entry looks like the entry for a print copy of the article. (This format differs from APA 6 guidelines that recommended including the URL of a journal's homepage when the DOI was not available.)
Note that APA 7 has additional guidance on reference list entries for articles found only in specific databases or archives such as Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, UpToDate, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and university archives. See APA 7, Section 9.30 for more information.
Eaton, T. V., & Akers, M. D. (2007). Whistleblowing and good governance. CPA Journal , 77 (6), 66–71. http://archives.cpajournal.com/2007/607/essentials/p58.htm
Provide the direct web address/URL to a journal article found on the open web, often on an open access journal's website.
In APA 7, active hyperlinks for DOIs and URLs should be used for documents meant for screen reading. Present these hyperlinks in blue and underlined text (the default formatting in Microsoft Word), although plain black text is also acceptable. Be consistent in your formatting choice for DOIs and URLs throughout your reference list. (Note that this guidance has changed from APA 6 where all hyperlink formatting was removed and no active links were included. In APA 6, the URLs appeared in plain, black type and did not link out from the document.)
Weinstein, J. A. (2010). Social change (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.
If the book has an edition number, include it in parentheses after the title of the book. If the book does not list any edition information, do not include an edition number. The edition number is not italicized. (Note: In APA 6, the location of the publisher was included. This is no longer the case in APA 7; only the publisher name is provided.) Regarding publisher name, when a publisher is named after a person (as is the case with Lawrence Erlbaum or John Wiley), list only the surname (Erlbaum or Wiley). In addition, exclude “Publishers,” “Inc.,” and “Co.” from publisher names in reference entries.
American Nurses Association. (2010). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.).
In APA 7, if the author and publisher are the same, only include the author in its regular place and omit the publisher. (Note that this is a change from APA 6, where the term “Author” was used for the publisher instead of repeating the name.)
Lencioni, P. (2012). The advantage: Why organizational health trumps everything else in business . Jossey-Bass. https://amzn.to/343XPSJ
As a change from APA 6 to APA 7, it is no longer necessary to include the ebook format in the title. However, if you listened to an audiobook and the content differs from the text version (e.g., abridged content) or your discussion highlights elements of the audiobook (e.g., narrator's performance), then note that it is an audiobook in the title element in brackets. For ebooks and online audiobooks, also include the DOI number (if available) or nondatabase URL but leave out the electronic retrieval element if the ebook was found in a common academic research database, as with journal articles. APA 7 allows for the shortening of long DOIs and URLs, as shown in this example. See APA 7, Section 9.36 for more information.
Poe, M. (2017). Reframing race in teaching writing across the curriculum. In F. Condon & V. A. Young (Eds.), Performing antiracist pedagogy in rhetoric, writing, and communication (pp. 87–105). University Press of Colorado.
Include the page numbers of the chapter in parentheses after the book title. The page range should not be italicized.
Christensen, L. (2001). For my people: Celebrating community through poetry. In B. Bigelow, B. Harvey, S. Karp, & L. Miller (Eds.), Rethinking our classrooms: Teaching for equity and justice (Vol. 2, pp. 16–17). Rethinking Schools.
Also include volume number and edition numbers in the parenthetical information after the book title where relevant.
Freud, S. (1961). The ego and the id. In J. Strachey (Ed.), The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 19, pp. 3-66). Hogarth Press. (Original work published 1923)
When a text has been republished as part of an anthology collection, after the author’s name include the date of the version that was read. At the end of the entry, place the date of the original publication inside parenthesis along with the note “original work published.” For in-text citations of republished work, use both dates in the parenthetical citation, original date first with a slash separating the years, as in this example: Freud (1923/1961). For more information on reprinted or republished works, see APA 7, Sections 9.40-9.41.
Retrieved from a database
Nalumango, K. (2019). Perceptions about the asylum-seeking process in the United States after 9/11 (Publication No. 13879844) [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.
Retrieved From an Institutional or Personal Website
Evener. J. (2018). Organizational learning in libraries at for-profit colleges and universities [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University]. ScholarWorks. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6606&context=dissertations
Unpublished Dissertation or Thesis
Kirwan, J. G. (2005). An experimental study of the effects of small-group, face-to-face facilitated dialogues on the development of self-actualization levels: A movement towards fully functional persons [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center.
For further examples and information, see APA 7, Section 10.6.
For legal references, APA follows the recommendations of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation , so if you have any questions beyond the examples provided in APA, seek out that resource as well.
Court Decisions
Reference format:
Name v. Name, Volume Reporter Page (Court Date). URL
Sample reference entry:
Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/347us483
Sample citation:
In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.
Note: Italicize the case name when it appears in the text of your paper rather than citing it—for example, “Cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle illustrate ...”
Name of Act, Title Source § Section Number (Year). URL
Sample reference entry for a federal statute:
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (2004). https://www.congress.gov/108/plaws/publ446/PLAW-108publ446.pdf
Sample reference entry for a state statute:
Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, Minn. Stat. §§ 148.171 et seq. (2019). https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.171
Sample citation: Minnesota nurses must maintain current registration in order to practice (Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, 2010).
Note: The § symbol stands for "section." Use §§ for sections (plural). To find this symbol in Microsoft Word, go to "Insert" and click on Symbol." Look in the Latin 1-Supplement subset.
Note: U.S.C. stands for "United States Code."
Note: The Latin abbreviation " et seq. " means "and what follows" and is used when the act includes the cited section and ones that follow.
Note: List the chapter first followed by the section or range of sections.
Unenacted Bills and Resolutions
(Those that did not pass and become law)
Title [if there is one], bill or resolution number, xxx Cong. (year). URL
Sample reference entry for Senate bill:
Anti-Phishing Act, S. 472, 109th Cong. (2005). https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/472
Sample reference entry for House of Representatives resolution:
Anti-Phishing Act, H.R. 1099, 109th Cong. (2005). https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/1099
The Anti-Phishing Act (2005) proposed up to 5 years prison time for people running Internet scams.
These are the three legal areas you may be most apt to cite in your scholarly work. For more examples and explanation, see APA 7, Chapter 11.
Clay, R. (2008, June). Science vs. ideology: Psychologists fight back about the misuse of research. Monitor on Psychology , 39 (6). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/06/ideology
Note that for citations, include only the year: Clay (2008). For magazine articles retrieved from a common academic research database, leave out the URL. For magazine articles from an online news website that is not an online version of a print magazine, follow the format for a webpage reference list entry.
Baker, A. (2014, May 7). Connecticut students show gains in national tests. New York Times . http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/nyregion/national-assessment-of-educational-progress-results-in-Connecticut-and-New-Jersey.html
Include the full date in the format Year, Month Day. Do not include a retrieval date for periodical sources found on websites. Note that for citations, include only the year: Baker (2014). For newspaper articles retrieved from a common academic research database, leave out the URL. For newspaper articles from an online news website that is not an online version of a print newspaper, follow the format for a webpage reference list entry.
The general structure for a technical or research report is as follows:
Author, A. A. (Publication Year). Title of work . Publisher Name. DOI or URL
Edwards, C. (2015). Lighting levels for isolated intersections: Leading to safety improvements (Report No. MnDOT 2015-05). Center for Transportation Studies. http://www.cts.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchReports/reportdetail.html?id=2402
Technical and research reports by governmental agencies and other research institutions usually follow a different publication process than scholarly, peer-reviewed journals. However, they present original research and are often useful for research papers. Sometimes, researchers refer to these types of reports as gray literature , and white papers are a type of this literature. See APA 7, Section 10.4 for more information.
American Federation of Teachers. (n.d.). Community schools . http://www.aft.org/issues/schoolreform/commschools/index.cfm
If there is no specified author, then use the organization’s name as the author. In such a case, there is no need to repeat the organization's name after the title.
Vartan, S. (2018, January 30). Why vacations matter for your health . CNN. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/why-vacations-matter/index.html
For webpages from news websites, include the site name after the title and before the URL. If the source is an online newspaper or magazine, follow the models in the previous sections of this page. In APA 7, active hyperlinks for DOIs and URLs should be used for documents meant for screen reading. Present these hyperlinks in blue and underlined text (the default formatting in Microsoft Word), although plain black text is also acceptable. Be consistent in your formatting choice for DOIs and URLs throughout your reference list. (Note that this guidance has changed from APA 6 where all hyperlink formatting was removed, and no active links were included. In APA 6, the URLs appeared in plain, black type and did not link out from the document.)
Departments.
Walden University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com Walden University is certified to operate by SCHEV © 2024 Walden University LLC. All rights reserved.
Referencing guide: in-text citations.
Use the first element from the entry in the Works Cited list - usually the author’s surname - and page number/s in parenthesis. There is no punctuation between the name and the page number, e.g. (Smith 173). If the author’s name appears in the body of your essay itself, use just the relevant page number/s in the parenthesis, e.g. Smith claims that...applies (173).
More complex citations, such as the ones below, are punctuated for clarity:
multiple sources in a single citation are separated by semicolons, e.g. (Smith 178; Brown 65)
different locations in a single work are separated by commas, e.g. (Smith 11, 17-18, 95)
to identify a location by a paragraph number or another similar method, use a comma to separate the author's name and the paragraph number; use an abbreviation to identify the numbering method, e.g. (Smith, par. 41), (Smith, ch. 7).
The following examples apply to any type of source, in any format.
Single author
Direct quotes
The question of how narrative works “can be answered through analysis of the forms of narrative and the pieces that make up an individual narrative” (Utell 7-8).
Block quotes
If a quotation is a long one - usually more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse - place it in a free-standing block of text (hence called block quotation ), and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented from the left margin. E.g.
Various opinions have been offered about what makes a narrative. In order to answer this question
we have to look at characters and how they act and feel. We have to look at how events unfold over time, and how those events play out as important. …. We have to look at how people (or animals, or things) are thinking. And we have to look at how all of this information is being communicated to us. (Utell 7-8)
Paraphrasing
To answer the question of how narrative works, Utell suggests that one first needs to examine all the elements which make up a given narrative (15).
To answer the question of how narrative works, one first needs to examine all the elements which make up a given narrative (Utell 15).
Multiple works by the same author
Add a short form of the title after a comma, e.g. (Utell, “Engagements” 15).
Works by multiple authors with the same surname
Add the author’s first initial or, if necessary, the full first name, e.g. (J. Utell 15).
Two authors
Use both authors’ last names connected by and , e.g. (Hill and Gibson 35-36).
Three or more authors
Use the first author’s name followed by et al. , e.g. (Royle et al. 7)
Corporate author
If the author is an organisation, list all the administrative units identified in the Works Cited entry for the source. The units are separated by commas. The commonly abbreviated words, such as Department, should be abbreviated.
The Tasmanian Government recognised the value of enhancing student experience in its recently released Global Education Strategy (State of Tasmania, Dept. of State Growth 14).
When the author of the work is the organisation that also published it , use the title (in italics, abbreviated if necessary) and page number/s in the parenthesis, e.g.
Google has made finding obscure facts easy. Dusty old volumes, such as Who wrote the movie and what else did he write? have largely been consigned to library storage facilities only to emerge on rare occasions when Google proves no help at all in determining the authorship of this obscure screenplay (78).
Google has made finding obscure facts easy. Dusty old volumes containing such facts as the authorship of this obscure screenplay ( Who 78) have largely been consigned to library storage facilities only to emerge on rare occasions when Google proves no help at all.
Pseudonyms, online usernames, etc
Pseudonyms, e.g. George Eliot would be (Eliot 89-90), online usernames, e.g. (@realDonaldTrump), etc, are treated like standard names.
If the work is published without the author's name use the title (in italics, abbreviated if necessary) and page number/s in the parenthesis, e.g. ( Beowulf 17) ; or use just the page number/s if the title appears in the body of your essay. D o not list the author as "anonymous."
Indirect sources
Whenever you cite material taken from a secondary source, not the original work, add the abbreviation of the phrase "quoted in" (qtd. in) to the citation, e.g.
Jim Collins (qtd. in Driscoll 9) places the phenomenon of "high-pop" in reference to "middlebrow" culture.
Original sources should be used whenever possible.
No page numbers; and other location numbering schemes
When the work has no page numbers or any other location numbering, such as a website might, use just the author's surname (or title if no author) in the parenthesis, e.g.
"Allegory...is thought to clear the reader’s lungs of the transient and fill them with a deep breath of transcendence." (Gordimer). In her review of Coetzee's novel The Life and Times of Michael K, she makes a distinction of allegory...
Paragraph numbers; chapter numbers, etc
Use the author's surname, followed by a comma, and the paragraph number/s (abbreviated to par. or pars. ) in the parenthesis, e.g.
Australian laws (Halsbury's, par. 160-920) define the function of a university as follows:
The objects or functions of a university are to provide facilities for teaching and research in such branches of learning as the relevant establishing legislation may determine, to confer degrees and generally to promote university education an d the advancement of knowledge.
Use this method only for works with numbered paragraphs; do not count them yourself.
Time-based media (audio/video recordings)
Give the relevant time or range of times in hours, minutes and seconds, separated by colons - as displayed by the media player, e.g.
Melvyn Bragg calls the eighteenth century "the paradise for the terrible twins - class and snobbery" (Bragg 00:17:07).
Multiple sources in a single citation
List all the sources in the parenthesis, separated by semicolons, e.g. (Smith 178; Brown 65).
If you cannot find an example for what you are looking for here, consult the MLA website , or the MLA Handbook (below)
Ask a librarian
Visit our webpage
Sample assignment
The text to the right shows how citations and the reference list are typically written in the Harvard referencing style.
Note: the text itself is not designed to be a proper example of academic writing and does not use information from the sources cited; it is for illustrative purposes only.
The purpose of this assignment is to show common elements of the Harvard style of referencing in Dundalk Institute of Technology. It is not intended to be an example of good quality academic writing, and indeed may not make sense in general, but it should show you how citations and a reference list are formed in the Harvard style of referencing (Cameron 2021). If you include a “direct quotation from a book you have read” (Giddens and Sutton 2021, p.117) you should include the relevant page number.
You don’t always have to write the author and year in brackets. Cameron (2021) explains that if the author’s name occurs naturally in the text then the year follows it in brackets. If there are two authors you should include both of them in the citation (Levine and Munsch 2021). If there are three or more authors you don’t have to list all of the names in the citation but you should include them all in the reference list (Robbins et al. 2020). The reference list should appear at the end of your assignment and be in alphabetical order based on the first author’s surname (Bruen 2022) rather than the order in which they appear in your assignment ( Papagiannis 2022). If you are using a citation for a second time you do not need to include it twice in the reference list (Cameron 2021).
Referencing an academic journal that you find online requires more information in the reference list but uses the same format for citing as other sources (Tesseur 2022). If referencing a source from a library database you say from which database you found it (Mayombe 2021).
Don’t forget that websites need to be cited too (Dundalk Institute of Technology 2022). We recommend you look at the full version of DkIT’s Harvard referencing guidelines, and contact the Library if you have any questions. Good luck.
Reference list
Bruen, M. (2020). River flows. In: Kelly-Quinn, M. and Reynolds, J., eds. Ireland’s rivers . Dublin: University College Dublin Press, pp.39-59.
Cameron, S. (2021). The business student's handbook: skills for study and employment . 7th ed. Harlow: Pearson.
Dundalk Institute of Technology. (2022). Research support [online]. Available from: https://www.dkit.ie/research/research-support.html [accessed 25 March 2022].
Giddens, A. and Sutton, P.W. (2021). Sociology . 9th ed. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Levine, L.E. and Munsch, J. (2021). Child development: an active learning approach [online]. 4th ed. London: SAGE Publications. Available from: https://books.google.ie/books?id=zlrZzQEACAAJ&dq [accessed 25 March 2022].
Mayombe, C. (2021). Partnership with stakeholders as innovative model of work-integrated learning for unemployed youths. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning [online], 12(2), pp.309-327. Available from: Emerald Insight [accessed 25 March 2022].
Papagiannis, N. (2020). Effective SEO and content marketing: the ultimate guide for maximizing free web traffic [online]. Indianapolis: Wiley. Available from: EBSCOhost eBook Collection [accessed 25 March 2022].
Robbins, S.P., Coulter, M.A. and De Cenzo, D.A. (2020). Fundamentals of management . 11th ed. Harlow: Pearson.
Tesseur, W. (2022). Translation as inclusion? An analysis of international NGOs’ translation policy documents. Language Problems and Language Planning [online], 45(3), pp. 261-283. Available from: https://doras.dcu.ie/26151 [accessed 25 March 2022].
Saul Mcleod, PhD
Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Learn about our Editorial Process
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
Associate Editor for Simply Psychology
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
The APA reference page (also called the reference list) is the final page of your paper where all sources you cited in the main text are listed.
It should include the full details of all sources you cited in the main text, arranged A-Z alphabetically by author’s surname.
Everything cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and everything on your reference page must be something you have referred to in the text. Make sure you don”t have anything in one place that isn’t in the other.
A reference list includes all works that have been cited in the assignment. A bibliography is a detailed list of references cited in your work, plus the background readings or other material you may have read, but not cited.
Note : This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019.
List references on a new page. Type “References” as page heading, written in boldface, at the top center of the page. Use double spacing. Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work. For multiple articles by the same author, list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to most recent. Indent second and subsequent lines of each entry using a hanging indent of 5-7 spaces (by pressing Ctrl + T on a PC, or Command (⌘) + T on a Mac). All references in APA end with a full stop except when the reference ends with a URL or a DOI.
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number (issue number), page numbers. doi: or URL of the journal’s home page
Matsunaga, M. (2011). Underlying circuits of social support for bullied victims: An appraisalbased perspective on supportive communication and postbullying adjustment. Human Communication Research, 37 (2), 174-206. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2958.2010.01398.x
Author, A. A., Author, A. A., Author, A. A., Author, A. A., & Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number (issue number), page numbers. doi: or URL of the journal’s home page
Williams, S. L., & Mickelson, K. D. (2008). A paradox of support seeking and rejection among the stigmatized. Personal Relationships, 15 (4), 493-509. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2008.00212.x
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the work . Publisher.
Fletcher, D. P. (2018). Disrupters: Success strategies for women who break the mold . Entrepreneur Press.
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the work (edition). Publisher.
Moran, A., & Toner, J. (2017). A critical introduction to sport psychology (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title of the book (pages of chapter). Publisher.
Haybron, M. D. (2008). Philosophy and the science of the subjective well-being. In M. Eid & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The science of subjective well-being (pp. 17-43). Guilford Press.
McLeod, S. A. (2019, September 29). APA reference page formatting and example . Simply Psychology. www.www.www.www.www.www.simplypsychology.org/apa-reference-page.html
Why and when to reference.
Referencing is an important part of academic work. It puts your work in context, demonstrates the breadth and depth of your research, and acknowledges other people’s work. You should reference whenever you use someone else’s idea.
View video using Microsoft Stream (link opens in a new window, available for University members only)
These webpages explain what referencing is, why it is important and give an overview of the main elements of how to reference. Our Referencing made simple tutorial opens in a new window and covers how to identify your source and create a reference with interactive examples.
Referencing correctly:
Whenever you use an idea from someone else's work, for example from a journal article, textbook or website, you should cite the original author to make it clear where that idea came from. This is the case regardless of whether you have paraphrased, summarised or directly quoted their work. This is a key part of good practice in academic writing.
Read more on:
The University referencing policy (PDF) sets out the referencing requirements that all taught students and tutors are expected to follow.
Each school in the University requires students to use a specific style of referencing. Check the referencing style used in your school before you begin.
All your citations and references should match the style you are using exactly, including any punctuation, capitalisation, italics and bold, and you should use the same referencing style throughout your assignment.
Monday, 05 August
20 Sep 2018
For most university courses, you'll write countless essays and assignments. While referencing may not be everyone's cup of tea (and you'll eventually realise just how much of a pain it can be), it is compulsory after all, so it's best to master it from the very beginning.
It's important to ALWAYS reference your sources, and remember that plagiarism is a SERIOUS OFFENCE that could get you academically excluded, so stay far away from it.
An in-text citation is the reference that is used when you quote something or someone in the body of work such as an essay. The reference list or bibliography is the full citation with all the source's details that goes at the end of the body of work.
Here are some of the main referencing styles used in universities and their in-text and reference list citation formats of books, websites and journals:
For websites:
In-text citation:
(The author(s) and date created)
Reference list:
Author(s) surname, initial. (Date of publication). Website Title. Available at: http:// link (Access date: date accessed).
For journals:
(The author(s) and date published)
Author(s), initials. (Year of publication). 'Article title' Journal title Volume of journal, issue number of journal. Page range of article.
American Psychological Association (APA).
For websites:
(Author surname, year, p.)
p= page number
Author(s) surnames, initials. (Year Month Date published). Article Title . Retrieved from URL.
For journals:
Reference List
Author(s), year of publication, Article Title, Journal Name , volume number , issue number, page number range of the article.
Modern Language Association (MLA)
("Title of page" Year published)
Reference List:
Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of the Article or Page.” Title of the Website, Name of the Publisher, Date of Publication in DD/MM/YYYY format, URL.
(Author surname and page range)
Authors Last name, first name. "Article Title." Journal Title Series Volume. Issue (Year Published): Page(s). Print.
In-text citations:
(Author surname and Year Published)
Author surname, first name. Year. "Page Title" Website Name . URL
(Author surname and year published)
Author surname, first name. Year. "Article Title". Journal Name volume (issue no.): pages used.
American Medical Association (AMA)
(Author surname and date)
Author surname First name initial. Page Title. Website Name. URL. Published Year. Accessed date.
Author surname First name initial. Journal name . Year of publication: volume number, issue number, page numbers.
Is there any kind of referencing style used at university that you feel should be included? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected] .
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Apa (american psychological association), mla (modern language association), chicago (chicago manual of style), in-text citations vs. bibliographies: let’s understand the difference, in-text citations, bibliographies, how to write references in assignment, apa style examples, mla style examples, chicago style examples, how to cite an assignment with quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, how to cite sources in the assignment: special cases, multiple authors, personal communications, secondary sources, referencing tools and software, avoiding plagiarism: the importance of accurate referencing, let’s make conclusions.
Referencing can be a difficult task, but do not worry! Our detailed guide will explain the steps to follow.
In academic writing, referencing is essential. It acknowledges the work of others and strengthens and clarifies your views. You must cite your sources properly to avoid plagiarism and show that you have read the pertinent literature. We will thoroughly explain how to cite sources in the assignment in this post, guaranteeing that you follow the rules of academic integrity. This article can be usefull for nursing assignments , nursing, economics etc.
There are numerous reference formats, each with its own set of rules and instructions for citing sources. The topic of study or the precise criteria of the assignment frequently influence the choice of referencing style. This overview looks at several of the most used citation formats for academic writing, including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard.
The social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, and education, frequently employ the APA style. It provides guidelines for structuring reference lists, in-text citations, and general document design. In-text citations in APA format for assignments include the author’s last name and the publication year (e.g., Smith, 2019).
The humanities, language studies, and other academic fields use MLA style often. It focuses on brief in-text citations and a thorough “Works Cited” page at the end of the paper. In-text citations in MLA format often include the page number and the author’s last name (e.g., Smith 45). Every source cited in the study is fully described on the “Works Cited” page.
Chicago style provides two citation formats: notes and bibliography and author-date. The notes and bibliography method employs a separate bibliography at the end. The author-date system uses in-text citations with the author’s last name and publication year (e.g., Smith 2019).
The social sciences, business, and other disciplines frequently choose the Harvard referencing style. It focuses on author-date citations, which include the author’s last name and the year of publication (e.g., Smith, 2019) within the text. A complete reference list with full publishing details for each mentioned source is provided at the end of the document.
These are only a few examples of referencing styles. There are many more, including IEEE (used in engineering and computer science) and Vancouver (present in the medical and scientific areas). These styles may vary or have requirements depending on the institution or professor. To guarantee accurate reference, it is essential to refer to the relevant style manual or any other instructions provided for your work.
By knowing the difference between in-text citations and bibliographies, you may successfully and correctly cite sources in text and improve the credibility of your writing. So, let’s start comparing!
To begin with, both of them serve the purpose of acknowledging the sources used — it’s their common feature. However, they differ in where they are located in the text and how much information is given.
Within the content of your assignment, in-text citations are brief references. They direct readers to the complete source material in your bibliography or reference list. They are used to credit information, concepts, or quotations to their sources.
Depending on the chosen citation style, in-text citations are frequently placed inside parentheses or as superscript numbers. They give major details, including the author’s name, the year of publication, and the page number. For illustration, an in-text citation in APA style would appear as follows: (Author, year). In MLA style, it would be: (Author page number). In-text citations are placed immediately after the information or quote is referenced.
Writers can show that they participate in intellectual discussions by incorporating in-text citations. Also, It enables readers to check the integrity of the presented data.
On the other hand, reference lists or bibliographies are thorough lists of all the sources used in a project. Usually, authors add them at the end of the assignment. It gives readers all the information necessary to discover and access the sources. Each entry in the bibliography contains comprehensive information, including the author’s name, the book’s title, the year of publication, and some other information.
The bibliography for assignment must be arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name or, if none is given, by title. The bibliography’s format and presentation must adhere to its rules. No matter what citation style is used — APA, MLA, Chicago, or another.
Now, let’s look at clear referencing examples using popular citation styles and various source types.
In-text citation:
One author: (Smith, 2022);
Two authors: (Smith & Johnson, 2022);
Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2022).
“Et al.” is an abbreviation derived from the Latin phrase “et alia,” which translates to “and others” in English. It is commonly used when citing sources with multiple authors.
Bibliographic reference:
Book: Smith, J. (2022). Title of Book. Publisher.
Journal article: Smith, J., & Johnson, A. (2022). Title of Article. Journal Name, volume(issue), page range.
Website: Smith, J. (2022). Title of Webpage. Retrieved from URL.
One author: (Smith 32); Two authors: (Smith and Johnson 45); Three or more authors: (Smith et al. 56)
Book: Smith, John. Title of Book. Publisher, year. Journal article: Smith, John, and Anne Johnson. “Title of Article.” Journal Name, vol. 10, no. 2, 2022, pp. 45-60. Website: Smith, John. “Title of Webpage.” Website Name, Publisher/Website, URL.
One author: (Smith 2022); Two authors: (Smith and Johnson 2022); Three or more authors: (Smith et al. 2022).
Book: Smith, John. Title of Book. Publisher, year. Journal article: Smith, John, and Anne Johnson. “Title of Article.” Journal Name volume number (year): page range. Website: Smith, John. “Title of Webpage.” Website Name. URL (accessed Month Day, Year).
When you include information from other sources in your assignments, it’s essential to quote, paraphrase, and summarize correctly. These methods allow you to use someone else’s ideas while giving them credit. Let’s explore each way and discover how to cite an assignment properly.
Quoting means using the exact words from a source. Use quotation marks around the borrowed text and mention the author’s name, the year of publication, and the page number. For example, “According to Smith (2022), ‘quote goes here’ (p. 45)”. | Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. It shows that you understand the material without copying it. Instead of using quotation marks, you must mention the author’s name and the year. For instance, According to Smith (2022), “paraphrased idea goes here.” | Summarizing involves giving a short overview of a larger piece of information. You present the main points without including all the details. Mention the author’s name and the year. For example, Smith (2022) summarizes that “summarized content goes here.” |
To cite correctly, provide a complete reference for each source in your bibliography or reference list. Follow the rules of the citation style you’re using (like APA, MLA, or Chicago) for books, articles, websites, etc.
Referencing sources is usually straightforward. However, some exceptional cases require additional attention.
When a source has multiple authors, include all the authors’ names in the reference. Use the word “and” before the last author’s name. For in-text citations, use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”
For example, (Smith et al., 2022) or Smith et al. (2022).
If a source does not have an author, use the work’s title in the in-text citation and bibliography. Enclose the title in quotation marks or use italics if it is a longer work like a book or a journal.
For example, (“Title of the Article,” 2022) or Title of the Book (2022).
If a source does not have a publication date, use “n.d.” (which stands for “no date”) in both the in-text citation and the reference list.
For example, (Smith, n.d.) or Smith (n.d.).
If you want to reference interviews, emails, or conversations, provide the individual’s name and specify the type of communication. In the in-text citation, include the person’s name and the date of the contact.
For example, (J. Smith, personal communication, May 1, 2022).
Sometimes, you may need to cite a source you have not directly accessed but found through another author’s work. It is called citing a secondary source. In the in-text citation, include the original author’s name and the author of the work you have read, followed by “as cited in.” Provide the complete reference for the work you have read in the reference list.
For example, (Smith, as cited in Johnson, 2022) or Johnson (2022) cited Smith.
As you see, creating accurate references can be time-consuming and challenging. Thankfully, there are referencing tools and software available to simplify this task.
One such tool is the APA Citation Generator . It is designed specifically for APA style, allowing users to effortlessly generate citations for various sources. Input the necessary information, and the generator will create the citation in the correct format.
Similarly, the MLA Reference Generator is a valuable tool for generating citations in MLA style. It streamlines the process by providing a user-friendly interface to enter the required details, resulting in accurate and properly formatted citations.
These tools will save you time and reduce the chances of errors.
In academic writing, plagiarism is a severe infraction with adverse effects. Accurate reference is crucial to avoiding this unethical and intellectual disaster. You credit the original authors and demonstrate integrity by properly citing your sources.
Failure to do so may result in academic sanctions, reputational harm, and legal implications. Plagiarism weakens the standards of intellectual integrity and originality and diminishes the value of your work. You may promote academic integrity, honor the scholarly contributions of others, and protect your academic and professional future by adopting appropriate referencing procedures.
To sum up, mastering the art of referencing is a fundamental skill for every student and researcher. Throughout this practical guide, we have explored the critical referencing elements, including in-text citations, bibliographies, and reference lists. We have discussed the importance of accurately citing sources and avoiding plagiarism, ensuring academic integrity, and upholding the ethical standards of scholarship.
Embrace the habit of acknowledging your sources to give credit where it is due and strengthen the credibility and reliability of your assignments. As you continue your academic journey, make accurate referencing an integral part of your writing process. It will elevate the quality of your work and showcase your commitment to academic excellence. Happy referencing!
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Referencing in your assignments. In academic work of any kind, effective referencing of your sources will ensure that you: show that you are writing from a position of understanding of your topic. demonstrate that you have read widely and deeply. enable the reader to locate the source of each quote, idea or work/evidence (that was not your own).
copying out part(s) of any document without acknowledging the source. using another person's concepts, results, processes or conclusions,and presenting them. as your own. paraphrasing and/or summarising another's work without acknowledging the source. buying or acquiring an assignment written by someone else on your behalf.
For example, you are citing study notes titled "Health Effects of Exposure to Forest Fires," but you do not know the author's name, your reference entry will look like this: Health effects of exposure to forest fires [Lecture notes]. (2005). Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com.
The citations will allow the person reading your assignment to locate the full details of the source you have used in the reference list located at the end of your work. Example: Reference list (Harvard Style) Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2013) Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. London: Palgrave. Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2013).
There are different versions of the Harvard referencing style. This guide is a quick introduction to the commonly-used Cite Them Right version. You will find further guidance available through the OU Library on the Cite Them Right Database. For help and support with referencing and the full Cite Them Right guide, have a look at the Library's ...
Double-space all references. Use a hanging indent on all references (first line is flush left, the second and any subsequent lines are indented 1.27 cm (0.5 in). To apply a hanging indent in Word, highlight all of your references and press Ctrl + T on a PC, or Command (⌘) + T on a Mac. Headings: Level 1 Heading - Centered, Bold, Title Case
To quote a source, copy a short piece of text word for word and put it inside quotation marks. To paraphrase a source, put the text into your own words. It's important that the paraphrase is not too close to the original wording. You can use the paraphrasing tool if you don't want to do this manually.
When you cite a source with up to three authors, cite all authors' names. For four or more authors, list only the first name, followed by ' et al. ': Number of authors. In-text citation example. 1 author. (Davis, 2019) 2 authors. (Davis and Barrett, 2019) 3 authors.
In-text citations are quick references to your sources. In Harvard referencing, you use the author's surname and the date of publication in brackets. Up to three authors are included in a Harvard in-text citation. If the source has more than three authors, include the first author followed by ' et al. '.
In-text citations give the brief (abbreviated) details of the work that you are quoting from, or to which you are referring in your text. These citations will then link to the full reference in the reference list at the end of your work, which is arranged in alphabetical order by author (Pears and Shields, 2019, p.7). Author prominent citing
On the APA reference page, you list all the sources that you've cited in your paper. The list starts on a new page right after the body text. Follow these instructions to set up your APA reference page: Place the section label "References" in bold at the top of the page (centered). Order the references alphabetically. Double-space all text.
There must be a corresponding Reference List entry for every in-text citation (except for a few exceptions, such as personal communications). To cite a source in the text of your written assignment, indicate the last name of the author(s), or if there is no author, the first few words of the document title (in quotation marks), then the page ...
1. Harvard Referencing Basics: Reference List. A reference list is a complete list of all the sources used when creating a piece of work. This list includes information about the sources like the author, date of publication, title of the source and more. A Harvard reference list must: Be on a separate sheet at the end of the document
More than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the seventh edition Publication Manual.Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual.. To find the reference example you need, first select a category (e.g., periodicals) and then choose the appropriate type of ...
At the end of the entry, place the date of the original publication inside parenthesis along with the note "original work published.". For in-text citations of republished work, use both dates in the parenthetical citation, original date first with a slash separating the years, as in this example: Freud (1923/1961).
In-text citations. Use the first element from the entry in the Works Cited list - usually the author's surname - and page number/s in parenthesis. There is no punctuation between the name and the page number, e.g. (Smith 173). If the author's name appears in the body of your essay itself, use just the relevant page number/s in the ...
Sample assignment. The purpose of this assignment is to show common elements of the Harvard style of referencing in Dundalk Institute of Technology. It is not intended to be an example of good quality academic writing, and indeed may not make sense in general, but it should show you how citations and a reference list are formed in the Harvard ...
Type "References" as page heading, written in boldface, at the top center of the page. Use double spacing. Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work. For multiple articles by the same author, list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to most recent.
This third and final video in the 'How to write an assignment' series explains how to reference an assignment using the American Psychological Association (A...
Referencing correctly: helps you to avoid plagiarism by making it clear which ideas are your own and which are someone else's. shows your understanding of the topic. gives supporting evidence for your ideas, arguments and opinions. allows others to identify the sources you have used.
The reference list or bibliography is the full citation with all the source's details that goes at the end of the body of work. Here are some of the main referencing styles used in universities and their in-text and reference list citation formats of books, websites and journals: 1. The Harvard method. For books:
When a source has multiple authors, include all the authors' names in the reference. Use the word "and" before the last author's name. For in-text citations, use the first author's last name followed by "et al.". For example, (Smith et al., 2022) or Smith et al. (2022).
When doing continuous assessment tests (CATs) or preparing any type of academic work, it is important that you indicate where you are getting your informatio...