When you reference a source you have referred to in your essay there are two parts to the referencing process. The first part (a citation) is an abbreviated indication of the source in text. The second part (the full reference) is shown at the end of your essay in a list of references. The way you cite in text and list the full references at the end of your essay depends on the referencing system you use.

There are three main referencing systems, click on the links to see examples

Harvard (author-date)

Vancouver (Numbering)

Footnotes

Consult Cite Them Right Online, developed from the long-standing work Cite Them Right (Pears and Shields, 2022), now in a 12th edition.

This excellent resource has extensive material on referencing and academic practice, including online tutorials
There are many individual examples in a wide range of referencing styles
Login as 'University of Birmingham' if prompted

Check out the University's I-Cite Guide.

These web pages give detailed guidance on referencing
You can quickly look up how to reference a source, such as a blog, journal article or book chapter

Image

From iStockPhotos, purchased for use at the University of Birmingham.