Referencing: Welcome & Why Reference?

Citation: this is where you refer to the source in the text of your document. This is a shortened way of citing the source, with full details given in the reference list.

Reference: the full bibliographic details of the source you have cited. In the Harvard style this is given as a reference list at the end of a document.

Bibliography: this includes any sources you have read as part of your research, whether you have cited them directly or not. When a bibliography is requested, this is also a list at the end of a document.

Put your referencing skills to the test with this great short quiz from Newcastle University Library.

The Library has purchased online platform Cite Them Right:

Key features:

• Cite any information source, from ancient texts to Twitter
• Examples are given in Harvard, APA, and Vancouver referencing styles, among many others
• Simplified advice on referencing online publications
• Diverse range of sources covered, including medical images, statues, PowerPoint presentations and more
• Guidance on plagiarism and how to avoid it!

Why reference?

Accurate referencing is essential in all academic work, and it:

• allows you to acknowledge your sources
• gives academic credibility to your work
• shows you have carried out thorough research
• allows your reader to find the sources you have read
• demonstrates your knowledge of a subject area
• prevents accusations of plagiarism.
   

What is plagiarism?

What should I reference?

You should always reference a source when:

• using a direct quote
• summarising a theory
• discussing someone else's opinion
• using case studies
• quoting statistics or visual data

Use this flowchart to help you decide if you need to reference (click on the image for a larger view):