Referencing: Styles and Tools

When writing an assignment or thesis, you will need to know the basics of referencing.

The purpose of proper referencing is to:

  • acknowledge your sources
  • show that you know your subject
  • help your reader verifying the information you provide
  • avoid plagiarism

There are a number of different referencing styles. Whichever you choose, use it consistently.

APA

The referencing style of the American Psychological Association (APA) is commonly used. APA uses the author-date method.

APA 7th - Guide from The Citation Compass
APA 7th - Guide from Purdue University
APA 7th - Guide from APA Style

Harvard

Harvard is an umbrella term for referencing styles using the author-date method.

Harvard - "Quote, unquote": Guide from Leeds Metropolitan University

IEEE

IEEE (Institue of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is used in engineering and computer science.

IEEE - Guide from The Citation Compass

Vancouver/NLM

Vancouver is a numbered system, commonly used in medicine, health sciences and natural sciences.

Vancouver

Other reference styles?

More information on different referencing styles.

Reference management tools

Programs that help keeping record of your references and make citing and formatting easier: