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
NB! If you already use APA 6th in your text, you can continue using it:
APA 6th - Guide from The Citation Compass
APA 6th - Guide from Purdue University
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.
Vancouver/NLM
Vancouver is a numbered system, commonly used in medicine, health sciences and natural sciences.
Other reference styles?
More information on different referencing styles.