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Getting started with referencing 

Referencing is a core part of university level study. Referencing enables you to acknowledge the work of others, building your own analysis on existing knowledge. It also enables you to attribute sources by creating citations and generating accurate bibliographies.

These skills will help you to manage information and avoid plagiarism. Developing your understanding of referencing will contribute to your understanding of the legal and ethical context of information. 

Why reference? 

Watch the video below to find out more about why referencing is important and how to get started. 

Referencing: the essentials 

Referencing is an essential component of academic writing and research. It enables you to acknowledge the work of others when developing your own perspective.

The tutorial below will give you an understanding of referencing and how you should use it in your academic work.

Understanding plagiarism

Understand plagiarism, the difference between collaboration and collusion, and identify ways to avoid plagiarism through appropriate note taking, reference management, and time management.

Referencing and preventing plagiarism workshop

You can book onto a workshop run by the Library which introduces the purpose of referencing, the concept of plagiarism and how it can be avoided, and gives you an opportunity to practice referencing in your departmental style.

Book a writing advisory service appointment to receive advice and feedback on your paraphrasing, summarising, synthesis of sources and referencing within your academic work. 

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Further support for referencing and attribution

Plagiarism and referencing quiz 

Test your knowledge and understanding of plagiarism and the importance of referencing with a self help quiz.

Using other people’s images in your work

Learn how to attribute images used in your work to give fair credit to those whose work you use, and how this differs in digital and print forms.

Using reference management software

Reference management software can be useful for keeping track of your references if you are dealing with a large number of sources, for example when writing a dissertation or final year project. The Library runs a workshop where you can learn how to use reference management software to manage and edit your references to avoid plagiarism and reference correctly. You can also find out  more about reference management software on the Library’s . 

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Referencing style guides

Different academic disciplines use different styles of referencing and the University Library maintains guides to all the referencing styles in use at the University of ºù«Ӱҵ. 

The style guides below adhere to the appropriate published standard, with interpretations of rules where required (such as an item type where no published guidance exists) made in a standard University style.

If you want to check the style used by your subject check the departmental referencing styles.

Depending on your course or assignment, you may be asked to use different styles to those listed. If in doubt, check with your tutors.

Harvard

This guide is based on the advice given in the Cite Them Right (2016) 10th rev. and expanded edition, with interpretations of rules where required made in a standard University style.

View our for a shortened, easy to print version of the most frequently referenced items in the style guide.

AIP

This guide is based on guidance from the American Institute of Physics, with interpretations of rules where required made in a standard University style.

View our  for a shortened, easy to print version of the most frequently referenced items in the style guide.

APA 

This guide adheres to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7th edition, with interpretations of rules where required made in a standard University style.

View our for a shortened, easy to print version of the most frequently referenced items in the style guide.

IEEE

This guide adheres to the Publication Manual of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, with interpretations of rules where required made in a standard University style.

View ouR  for a shortened, easy to print version of the most frequently referenced items in the style guide.

MHRA Author-Date

This guide adheres to the Modern Humanities Research Association Style Guide: Third edition, with interpretations of rules where required made in a standard University style.

View our for a shortened, easy to print version of the most frequently referenced items in the style guide.

MHRA Footnotes

This guide adheres to the Modern Humanities Research Association Style Guide: Third edition, with interpretations of rules where required made in a standard University style.

View our   for a shortened, easy to print version of the most frequently referenced items in the style guide.

OSCOLA 

The Oxford University System for the Citation of Legal Authorities or OSCOLA referencing style is designed by Oxford University to accurately reference authorities, legislation, and a variety of legal materials.

It is widely used by Law Schools and legal researchers in the UK. This resource is from Cardiff University.

Vancouver

This guide adheres to the National Library of Medicine's Citing Medicine Style Guide, with interpretations of rules where required made in a standard University style.

View our  for a shortened, easy to print version of the most frequently referenced items in the style guide.

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Next steps 

• Academic integrity
• How to make notes
• How to format your work

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Further Resources

• Unfair means, cheating and plagiarism