Referencing

Referencing is the process of acknowledging other people's work when you've used it in your assignment.  

It consists of two parts: 

• The citation (or in-text citation): this briefly identifies, in text, where you have used or referred to the work of others. The citation acknowledges the original source, and helps to avoid plagiarism.
• The reference list: this is a detailed list at the end of your work providing full details of the citations in your work formatted consistently to your referencing style. The reference list gives the reader of your work all the information they need should they wish to find the original source.

A reference list includes only the sources cited in your text. It differs from a bibliography, which includes all materials used in preparing your work, even if not directly cited. 

Note: OSCOLA is a legal referencing style used by Law students. This is a footnoting system with an accompanying bibliography at the end of the work.

In-text citations are short references placed within your writing that acknowledge the source of an idea, fact, or quotation. They are essential for academic integrity and are a key part of the referencing process.

You need an in-text citation whenever you:

• Paraphrase or summarise a source in your own words

• Quote directly from a source

• Refer to data, images, code, or multimedia content

How you format your citation depends on your referencing style:

• Harvard and APA use an author-date system (e.g. Smith, 2023)

• OSCOLA uses footnotes

Citations usually go at the end of the sentence, before the full stop:
Academic writing involves many skills (Cottrell, 2013).

Tip: Always ensure your in-text citation matches an entry in your reference list — and vice versa.

For help with citation formatting, see Cite Them Right Online

See also:

• Paraphrasing effectively — how to summarise ideas clearly

Referencing allows you to: 

• Avoid plagiarism: see our companion guide on how to do this here
• Show the breadth of your research: your reference list will quickly inform the reader of your work what you have read to inform your work
• Support your arguments with evidence: you will lend authority to your work if your arguments are supported with quality sources.
• Give credit to original authors: this helps to avoid plagiarism.
• Allow readers to find your sources: they may wish to consult your sources to check your understanding, or to check the reliability of the sources used.
• Demonstrate academic integrity.
• Potentially achieve a better grade: referencing your arguments with academic sources will lend authority to your work.

Common knowledge generally includes facts, dates, events, and information that are widely known within your field of study. You don't need to reference such information. For example, stating that Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland doesn't require a citation. 

However, as a student new to a subject, you may be unsure what constitutes common knowledge in your field. To help decide if something needs referencing, ask yourself: 

• Did I know this information before starting my course? 

• Did this information or idea come from my own brain? 

If you answer 'no' to either question, it's likely not common knowledge to you, and you should cite and reference the source. 

Remember, what's common knowledge can vary between disciplines. If you're unsure whether something is common knowledge or not, it's always safer to cite and reference your source. 

CTRO

Cite Them Right Online (CTRO) is a subscription-based online tool provided by Library Services.

CTRO provides comprehensive guidance on academic referencing, including how to correctly create citations and references for various information sources, understand referencing styles like CTR Harvard, APA, or OSCOLA, and learn how to avoid plagiarism.

The platform offers online videos, an interactive tutorial, and a reference generator, all based on the popular Cite Them Right textbook by Pears and Shields. 

How to use the main CTRO site

• You can search for the specific source that you would like to reference.
• Or you can browse by referencing style
• Alternatively, the navigation menu can be used to browse the categories and the 150+ source types for which guidance is provided.
• Once you’ve found the source you’re interested in, you can use the dropdown menu to view the source in your required referencing style.
• The ‘You try’ feature on the source pages enables you to easily construct your own reference by replacing the example text with information relevant to your source.
• You can either copy/paste your reference into an assignment or email it to yourself.

The ‘Basics of Referencing’ section has helpful articles that provide different entry points and advice to support you in all matters related to referencing.

CTRO Tutorial 

• Approach referencing positively: Remember that good referencing strengthens your work, demonstrates your research efforts, and contributes to academic integrity.  
• Understand your style: Familiarise yourself with the referencing style required for your course (CTR Harvard, APA, or OSCOLA). Take time to read through the basic principles of your chosen style guide.  
• Start early: Begin referencing as you research and write, rather than leaving it until the end.  
• Be consistent: Use the same referencing style throughout your entire assignment. 
• Keep detailed records: Maintain a thorough list of all sources you consult, including page numbers for direct quotes.  
• Use online formatting tools wisely: Make use of referencing tools and citation generators to help format your references, but always double-check the output against your required style guide. Remember, these tools are aids, not substitutes for understanding referencing principles. 
• Use Turnitin wisely: Submit draft work to Turnitin and use the Originality Report to improve your referencing before final submission. More information on how to do this is available here 
• Balance your sources: Aim for a mix of academic sources, including books, journal articles, and credible online resources.  
• Cite everything that is not common knowledge all non-common knowledge: When in doubt about whether something is common knowledge, cite it.  
• Master paraphrasing: Practice putting ideas into your own words while still attributing them to the original source. See our Study Skills guides on paraphrasing for help on this topic.  
• Identify source types clearly: Be aware of the different types of sources you're using (e.g., books, journal articles, websites) and know how to reference each type correctly.
• Check for matching: Ensure all in-text citations have a corresponding full reference in your reference list, and vice versa.  
  

For specific guidance on how to reference different types of sources, please refer to Cite Them Right Online. 

Various digital tools can help you format your references correctly. These range from built-in citation generators such as those found in LibrarySearch or individual journal collections, to comprehensive reference management software like RefWorks.

While these tools can save time and reduce errors, always remember to double-check the output against your required referencing style. Learn more about referencing tools and how to use them effectively.