Reasons for referencing

Referencing correctly

Learning how to reference correctly is a very important skill.  When writing an essay or thesis, referring to the sources you have used is an academic requirement.  There are three main reasons why it is essential to reference the sources you have used:

• Acknowledgement
  • To acknowledge an intellectual debt to another author and to avoid plagiarism
• Support

• • To give supporting evidence to specific facts or claims you make in the text
• Referral
  • To enable a reader to find the sources that have been quoted.  This is why it is important that your bibliography/reference list is laid out in a uniform way

Different Referencing Systems

There are many different ways to reference and different disciplines use different referencing systems.  Examples of referencing styles include: the Harvard system (also known as author-date system) and its many variations, as well as the Vancouver system (also known as the Numbering system).  Some systems also use Footnotes such as MHRA and OSCOLA.  You should always check with your School or tutor(s) to find out which style you are expected to use for your assignments.

For help and examples of how to use the different referencing systems go to the section on 'How to Reference'.

 

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