RefWorks Citation Manager (RCM) is a Word add-in that links your Word document to your RefWorks account allowing you to insert citations as you write, creating a dynamic reference list.
Watch this short video from RefWorks introducing RCM.
Using RCM with Word
To add RCM to your Word ribbon:
- Open Word
- On the Home tab select Add-ins
- Search for 'RefWorks'
- Look for the option ‘RefWorks Citation Manager’ - the correct add-in has a blue background with white RW initials. Select Add.
- You should now see the ‘RCM’ tab in your Word ribbon.
- RCM will open in a window to the right of your document - log in with your RefWorks email address and password
RCM has recently been upgraded. If you were using the older version, you might already have a tab in your Word Ribbon called RefWorks - RCM. This will need to be upgraded by 31st August 2025.
Don't worry if you have missed this date, simply add the new version, delete the old one, and continue with your work. More information on the RCM upgrade is available from RefWorks.
If you're using Google Docs, see this RefWorks video Writing with RCM for Google Docs.
Inserting a citation:
RCM allows you to insert in-text citations anywhere in your document to references saved in your RefWorks account. These can be added, deleted or edited at any point during the writing process.
In your Word document, with RCM open:
- Place your cursor where you would like to insert your citation
- Select or search for your chosen reference
- Select the 'Cite' icon indicated by a double quotation
- Check it's correct, then Insert Citation
- Your in-text citation will now be added to your text formatted to the referencing style chosen
Editing citations
You can edit citations at point of entry, or edit later in the writing process. For example, you may need to remove the author's name from the citation, add page numbers for direct quotations, or add multiple sources to the same citation.
At point of entry:
- follow the instructions above to add your citation
- instead of clicking on the 'Cite' icon, click on the 'Edit' icon next to it, indicated by a pencil
- add or remove information as required.
- Insert Citation.
Editing later:
- hover over the citation in your text you wish to edit - you'll see a light grey box appear - and click
- the citation panel appears allowing you to delete or add content as required
- Update Citation
- you'll also see the option to Delete Citation, if required.
Changing your referencing style
You can change the referencing style at any point. Selecting it at the start though gives you the advantage of checking your citations as you write.
The style currently set is clearly indicated at the top of the RCM panel.
- Click on the chevron to Change Citation Style
- Select from Recent Styles, or search for the style of your choice
- Update
Inserting a bibliography:
In RCM, the Bibliography function, by default, is switched off. This can be switched on and off again at any point in the writing process.
For very lengthy documents, to save processing time, it might be advisable to leave the bibliography function switched off until nearer completion. Otherwise, it can be useful to see your Bibliography grow as you write, and easier to spot any edits required in RefWorks.
Inserting your bibliography:
- In your Word document, place your cursor where you would like to insert your bibliography
- from the RCM hamburger menu (three horizonal lines) select Bibliography - you can toggle here, between Off and On
- as new citations are added, the bibliography automatically updates, reordering entries into alphabetical order.
- Deleted citations - if citations are deleted using the RCM panel, your bibliography will update automatically
- Deleted citations - if citations are deleted manually ie by Delete or backspace, go to the RCM hamburger menu and select 'Refresh and update'
Remember - no referencing software will ever be 100% accurate. Always check and edit your referencing before submission.
Last modified by Student and Academic Services