Tips on writing a Reference

Referencing is defined as citing authorities or support for an argument, especially in a book or paper.

Top Referencing Tips You Can’t Ignore!

1. Consult Your Style Guide

A style guide is a document in which your university or faculty sets out the stylistic requirements for
your written work, including the preferred referencing system. If you’re ever confused about how to
reference your sources, the first thing to do is check your style guide.

2. Consistency and Clarity

Citing sources clearly with a consistent formatting style throughout will make your work much easier to
follow. Consistency and clarity are therefore two of the most important factors in referencing.

3. Judicious Citation

Many people worry their work doesn’t have ‘enough’ citations, but, as with many things in life, quantity
is no substitute for quality. Use citations to evidence your points or indicate that you’re drawing upon
particular thinkers, not simply so you have lots of names in your reference list.

4. List-As-You-Go

As you do your research, make sure to note down the bibliographic details of each source you consult as
you go. Then, when you compose your reference list, you’ll have all the information you need easily
accessible, saving significant time and effort.

5. Handling Unconventional Sources

Most of the sources you cite will probably be books or journal articles, but make sure you’re familiar
with how to cite less conventional sources as well. This includes things like audio-visual material and
unpublished works, but even encompasses live performances and personal correspondence.

6. Your Friendly Robot Helpers

There are various software packages available to help you manage your references, such as Endnote and
Mendeley. In addition to these, online citation generators can also be used to partially automate the
chore of referencing.
 7. Double Check Everything!

Even if you’re using reference management software, remember to double check your in-text citations
and your reference list before handing in your work, as sometimes errors will occur and require manual
amendment.