We previously wrote about how research and factual evidence play a crucial role in nonfiction writing and citing reputable sources. Whether you are a seasoned writer or a new author looking to publish reference material, accurate citations and references are crucial to writing nonfiction.
Precise references lend credibility to your work and demonstrate your attention to detail and respect for intellectual property rights. However, mastering the art of citations can be a daunting task.
From APA to Chicago-style, each citation format has rules and guidelines that must be followed precisely. You can learn how to conquer citations with precision and accuracy every time.
Let’s discover the unique formatting requirements and finer points of distinct citation styles.
Well, it depends! Yes, yes, we can hear the cackles of laughter! Australia typically tends to follow British English conventions rather than “American” English conventions. US, or “American”, English tends to prefer double quotes over single, whereas British English prefers singles.
Dean Koorey, a manager at the Australian Writers’ Centre, mentioned that ‘…with newspapers and magazines usually preferring doubles (although singles in headlines), while novels and government publications often opt for singles’ when answering some questions about anomalies with the ‘English’ language’.1Dean Koorey, ‘Q&A: Quotes and Punctuation – Evil or Not?’, Australian Writers’ Centre, Australian Writers’ Centre Blog, 2 October 2015, https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/qa-quotes-and-punctuation-evil-or-not/.
Q: First, should I use ‘single’ or “double” quotes?A: It kind of depends. Americans typically prefer doubles for everything. Here in Australia, it’s more of a 50/50 thing – with newspapers and magazines usually preferring doubles (although singles in headlines), while novels and government publications often opt for singles. Just whichever one you choose, be consistent and stick with it!Dean Koorey, Australian Writers’ Centre
However, there are times when the style used depends on location and type of publication. If the location of a book we’re publishing is in the US, we’d follow the US English conventions. Otherwise, we’d follow the British English style conventions.
For British English style conventions, we’d tend to follow the style developed by Oxford University Press (OUP), currently published as the New Oxford Style Manual.2Oxford University Press, ed., New Oxford Style Manual, Third ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016), https://global.oup.com/academic/product/new-oxford-style-manual-9780198767251?q=New%20Oxford%20Style%20Manual&cc=gb&lang=en#. The current guide combined a version of an Oxford Dictionary and ‘Hart’s Rules’, which developed over several iterations.
The OUP rules date back to 1893, when Horace Hart was the controller of the press, and were first published as a book in 1904, Rules for Compositors and Readers at the University Press, Oxford.3Hart, Horace, Rules for Compositors and Readers at the University Press, Oxford, Seventeenth ed. (Oxford: H F Frowde, 1904) Oxford Academic, the academic arm of OUP, provides its current guidelines for referencing styles on its website.4Oxford University Press, ‘Preparing Your Manuscript: Referencing Styles’, Oxford Academic, 2024, https://academic.oup.com/pages/authoring/books/preparing-your-manuscript/referencing-styles. The guidelines also offer comparisons between British and US styles.
For US English style conventions, we’d tend to follow The Chicago Manual of Style (currently in its 18th edition).5The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, The Chicago Manual of Style, Eighteenth ed. (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2024), https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo213648716.html. The Manual’s origins date back to the establishment of the University of Chicago Press in 1891.6The University of Chicago, ‘About The Chicago Manual of Style’, The Chicago Manual of Style Online, 2006-2024, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/help-tools/about.
It’s a comprehensive style guide widely recognised in the publishing industry and academia for its meticulous attention to detail and adherence to clear and consistent formatting rules.
We’re using Oxford-style notes and bibliography references in this guide.
Different style guides cover more than just citation formats. They cover various aspects of writing and formatting, providing guidelines for consistency and clarity in written communication.
From proper citation formats to correct punctuation usage and everything in between, style guides provide clear guidelines for all aspects of writing, including:
Citing and referencing sources correctly is crucial to any nonfiction writing, whether for academic research, professional publishing, or simply creating cohesive, well-informed content. They are vital for crediting the sources you have used in your research and allowing readers to locate the sources quickly.
While there are many styles for citations, the most commonly known formats are from the American Psychological Association (APA),7American Psychological Association, ed., Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2019), https://apastyle.apa.org/products/publication-manual-7th-edition-spiral. the Modern Language Association (MLA),8Modern Language Association of America, ed., MLA Handbook, Ninth ed. (New York, NY: The Modern Language Association of America, 2021), https://www.mla.org/Publications/Bookstore/Nonseries/MLA-Handbook-Ninth-Edition. and the University of Chicago Press’s Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago-style, or sometimes CMOS).9The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, The Chicago Manual of Style The styles are often referred to by the acronyms of their origins.
A citation typically includes key elements such as the author’s name, the title of the work, the publication date, and information about the source, such as the publisher or journal name.
The basic elements of the citation can vary depending on your chosen citation style, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. However, common elements include the author’s name, the title of the work, the publication date, and the source (such as a book or journal).
Footnotes and in-text citations are essential to academic writing but serve slightly different purposes.
Notes are typically used to provide additional information or to cite sources, either at the bottom of the page where the information appears in the text (a footnote) or at the end of the section where the information appears (an endnote).
They help expand on a particular point or provide readers with supplementary details without interrupting the flow of the main text.
In-text citations, on the other hand, indicate the source of a specific piece of information within the body of the text. They give credit to the original source of information and allow readers to quickly locate the full citation in the bibliography or reference list.
In-text citations come in two forms: author-date style and author-page style. Author-date citations include the author’s last name and the publication year of the source, commonly within parentheses, for example (Smith, 2019). On the other hand, author-page in-text citations include the author’s last name and the page number where the information is located within parentheses, for example (Smith, 45).
The critical difference between the two citation styles lies in how the information is presented within the parentheses – one includes the publication year, and the other consists of the page number.
Yes. There are many different ways of citing resources from your research. The citation style used10 University of Melbourne, ‘Which Citation Style?’, University of Melbourne Library, 2024, https://library.unimelb.edu.au/recite/reference-management-software/options-for-managing-references/which-citation-style. sometimes depends on the academic discipline11Seton Hall University, ‘Citation Styles per Discipline’, University Libraries: Seton Hall University, 2024, https://library.shu.edu/citation/styles-per-discipline. involved. For example:
Each style guide has its rules and conventions, so it’s essential to consult the appropriate guide for your specific writing needs to ensure consistency and accuracy in your work.
Following the specific guidelines for your chosen citation style is essential to ensure accuracy and consistency. By including all the necessary elements in your citations, you credit the original source and provide your readers with the information they need to locate the source themselves.
When writing on the law, citations generally follow the specific guidelines for your chosen citation style when writing about subjects other than law. However, complexity and specificity are required in citing case law and legislation, and it varies by jurisdiction and case law reports and legislation being cited.
It’s essential to follow the specific citation guidelines outlined by the jurisdiction or publication which you are citing. Familiarise yourself with the correct citation format and ensure your citations are accurate. Failure to provide accurate citations can result in confusion, misunderstandings, and potential challenges to the credibility of your argument.
While legal citations in legal documents are essential, we won’t delve into the intricate details of citing case law and legislation here due to the complexity and specificity required. If you need guidance on properly citing legal sources, we recommend consulting a legal citation guide or seeking assistance from a legal writing professional.
Understanding the ins and outs of citation styles can enhance your work’s credibility and help you adhere to ethical standards in publishing. You can choose from various methods when citing and referencing sources in your work. Two common ways to cite sources in your work are in-text citations and notes.
In-text citations are used within your writing to direct the reader to the complete reference in the bibliography or reference list. On the other hand, notes are typically placed at the end of certain text areas that provide additional commentary or information on the source cited. Footnotes are placed at the bottom of the page, whereas endnotes are at the paper’s end.
The citations (and sometimes footnotes) are then compiled into a reference list to provide complete bibliographic information about the sources you cited in your work, allowing readers to locate and verify your sources. There are different names for the list depending on the citation style you are using. For example, APA-style calls it the ‘References’ list, MLA-style refers to it as the ‘Works Cited’ list, and Chicago calls it a ‘Bibliography’.
Let’s discover the unique formatting requirements and finer points of distinct styles.
Mastering the Chicago-style nuances, often used in humanities, is essential for accurately citing diverse sources like books, journals, and websites. We walk you through the intricacies of creating Chicago-style footnotes, formatting bibliography entries, and navigating the author-date system.
By understanding Chicago guidelines, which are available online,20The University of Chicago, The Chicago Manual of Style Online, The University of Chicago, 2006-2024, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html. you can elevate the credibility and professionalism of your academic writing. (Access to some sections of the online version – the table of contents, Citation Quick Guide, Chicago Style Q&A, and Help & Tools – are free, whilst access to the complete contents requires a subscription. A 30-day free trial is offered.)
Two main styles of preferred Chicago-style citations are notes and bibliography and author-date style in-text citations.21The University of Chicago, ‘Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide’, The Chicago Manual of Style Online, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Both styles have specific guidelines for formatting and citing sources; it is essential to carefully follow the guidelines for Chicago-style citations used in their field or required by their publisher.
Chapter 13 (available online, accessible with a subscription) provides an overview of source citations,22‘Source Citations: Overview’, Chapter 13 in The Chicago Manual of Style, by The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, accessed from The Chicago Manual of Style Online, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed18/part3/ch13/toc.html. while Chapter 14 (also available online) provides more detailed examples.23‘Source Citations: Examples’, Chapter 14 in The Chicago Manual of Style, by The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, accessed from The Chicago Manual of Style Online, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed18/part3/ch14/toc.html. The Chicago Manual of Style Online24The University of Chicago, The Chicago Manual of Style Online also provides a Quick Guide25The University of Chicago, ‘Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide’, The Chicago Manual of Style Online and sample notes and citations from a collection of sources (e.g. books, book chapters, translated books, book electronic formats, journals, etc, as listed on the side note).
The Chicago-style ‘notes and bibliography’ method uses footnotes or endnotes to cite sources within the text, with a corresponding bibliography at the end of the document. An illustration of Chicago-style Notes and Bibliography referencing style for a book is below.26The University of Chicago, ‘Notes and Bibliography: Sample Citations’, The University of Chicago, The Chicago Manual of Style Online, 2006-2024, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html.
The Chicago-style ‘author-date’ method uses parenthetical in-text citations with the author’s last name and the publication year, along with a corresponding reference list at the end of the document. An illustration of a Chicago author-date citation referencing style for a book is below. (Although the ‘author-date’ style in-text citation is preferred, the example below also illustrates an ‘author-page’ style in-text citation.)27The University of Chicago, ‘Author-Date: Sample Citations’, The University of Chicago, The Chicago Manual of Style Online, 2006-2024, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html.
When it comes to formatting illustrations and tables in Chicago-style, there are several fundamental guidelines that you should follow to ensure a professional and cohesive look.
Chapter 3 (available online) provides extensive guidelines for formatting illustrations and tables to ensure consistency and readability.28‘Illustrations and Tables’, Chapter 3 in The Chicago Manual of Style, by The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, accessed from The Chicago Manual of Style Online, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed18/part1/ch03/toc.html. Here are some key points to remember when arranging tables and integrating illustrations in Chicago-style.
Illustrations and figures should be numbered sequentially throughout your document, and each figure should also include a descriptive caption below the figure that provides context and information about the figure. Illustrations should be placed as close as possible to where they are mentioned in the text.
An illustration of the Chicago-style illustration with a caption is below.29‘Line Art’, in Section 3.4 of Chapter 3, The Chicago Manual of Style, by The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, accessed from The Chicago Manual of Style Online, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed18/part1/ch03/psec004.html.
The table should have a title at the top and column and row headings. It should also have a label, an Arabic number, and a title, along with the relevant data. Use bold or italic formatting for the titles to distinguish them from the rest of the content.
The source of the table and any notes needed are captioned below the table. Also, reference any sources or additional information related to the data presented in the table in the caption.
An illustration of the basic Chicago-style table components is below.30‘Table Structure and Use’, in Section 3.53 of Chapter 3, The Chicago Manual of Style, by The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff, accessed from The Chicago Manual of Style Online, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed18/part1/ch03/psec053.html.
When it comes to academic writing, mastering the APA-style is essential. The APA style and grammar guidelines outlined in the Publication Manual31American Psychological Association, Publication Manual and Concise Guide,32American Psychological Association, Concise Guide. also available online,33American Psychological Association, ‘Style and Grammar Guidelines’, APA Style, 2024, https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines. are widely used in the social sciences.
APA-style is known for its specific guidelines on citing sources and for labelling components for tables and figures. From formatting in-text citations and identifying data components and images to creating a reference list, understanding the intricacies of APA can make a significant difference in the credibility and professionalism of your work.
APA-style employs an author-date in-text citation style and a reference list to acknowledge the works consulted. The information required is the author, the date of publication, the publication’s title, and the publication’s source.
As mentioned earlier, in-text citations (either parenthetical or narrative) acknowledge and cite the works you have consulted, and references provide the information needed to identify and locate the work cited. Citations and references are then compiled into a reference list rather than a bibliography.
An illustration of an APA-style referencing style is below.34American Psychological Association, ‘Author–Date Citation System’, APA Style: Style and Grammar Guidelines, 2024, https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/basic-principles/author-date.
These details are covered further in the following sections of the Publication Manual (and Concise Guide):
The APA provides more detailed samples for citations for journal articles, books, and edited book chapters, which are available as a download35American Psychological Association, ‘APA Style Reference Guide for Journal Articles, Books, and Edited Book Chapters’, APA Style: APA Style and Grammar Guidelines, 2020, https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf. from its website. More detailed reference samples are available in a separate download36American Psychological Association, ‘APA Style Common Reference Examples Guide’, APA Style: APA Style and Grammar Guidelines, June 2024, https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-examples.pdf. from its website.
A table is an arrangement of information or data, typically in rows and columns or possibly in a more complex structure. The basic APA-style table components include a table number, a title, headings, the body (i.e. the data), and any notes needed to describe the contents. An illustration of the basic table components of the APA-style is below.37American Psychological Association, ‘Table Setup’, APA Style: Style and Grammar Guidelines, 2024, https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures/tables.
Tables are covered in sections 7.8 to 7.21 of both the Publication Manual and the Concise Guide.
Common types of figures include charts, graphs, photographs, drawings, plots, infographics, or any other illustration that is not a table. The basic APA-style figure components include figure number, title, image, legend, and any notes needed to describe the contents of the figure. This diagram is an illustration of the basic figure components.38American Psychological Association, ‘Figure Setup’, APA Style: Style and Grammar Guidelines, 2024, https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures/figures.
Figures are covered in sections 7.22 to 7.36 of the Publication Manual and sections 7.22 to 7.32 of the Concise Guide.
The reference list is a crucial element of APA-style, containing detailed information about all the sources cited in your work. It provides readers with a reliable way to locate and verify the sources you used in your research.
Reference list entries include the four elements of the in-text citation (author, date, title, and source). Citations are included in reference lists rather than bibliographies. If a work is cited in the text, it must appear in the reference list. If it appears in the reference list, a work must be mentioned in the text.
The APA provides a more detailed outline for creating an APA-style reference list in a download39American Psychological Association, ‘Creating an APA Style Reference List Guide’,” American Psychological Association, February 2022, https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/creating-reference-list.pdf. from its website. The APA Style online guide40American Psychological Association, ‘Reference Examples’, APA Style: Style and Grammar Guidelines, 2024, https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples. also provides detailed reference examples for text-based works (e.g. books, periodicals and reports), data, audiovisual media and online media.
It’s crucial to grasp the unique conventions of the MLA-style, commonly used in humanities disciplines. From citing poetry and literary works to structuring ‘Works Cited’ pages, familiarity with MLA guidelines, also available online,41Modern Language Association of America, ‘MLA Style Center’, MLA Style Center, 2024, https://style.mla.org/ is fundamental for academic success.
The MLA Handbook is also available online,42Modern Language Association of America, ed., MLA Handbook Plus, (online version of MLA Handbook, Ninth edition) (New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 2022) https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/MLA-Handbook. and some chapters are available free.
Understanding the key components of the MLA -style citations and references is crucial, as they are unique. MLA-style also has specific guidelines for citing sources and labelling tables and figures components. From in-text citations to containers and works cited lists, let’s unpack the intricacies of MLA formatting.
The format used in MLA-style is similar to APA-style, which employs an in-text citation (parenthetical or narrative). However, MLA-style in-text citations handle the information provided in the citation differently. The preferred style is the author-page style mentioned earlier.
Let’s delve into the intricacies.
When citing sources in academic writing, the MLA-style in-text citation system stands out for its unique characteristics that distinguish it from other citation styles. One of the most distinct features of MLA in-text citations is the author-page format: the author’s last name and location (i.e. the page number of) the cited source.
MLA-style in-text citations (parenthetical or narrative) are formatted similarly to author-date in-text citations. The Chicago-style author-page in-text citations illustrated in Figure 1 above represent how MLA in-text citations (where the page number substituted for the year) are formatted.
Chapter 5 of the MLA Handbook43‘The List of Works Cited’, Chapter 5 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus, https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter-abstract/57152/The-List-of-Works-Cited?redirectedFrom=fulltext. deals with the List of Works Cited and the core elements of citations. Chapter 6 of the MLA Handbook44‘Citing Sources in the Text’, Chapter 6 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus, https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter-abstract/57888/In-Text-Citations-Overview?redirectedFrom=fulltext. deals with citing sources and precise details are covered further in the following sections:
The remaining core elements of an MLA-style citation, which form the reference for the List of Works Cited, are then placed into a container, as shown below, forming the basis for the list of works cited.
Details of the source mentioned in the in-text citation are then placed into a container. The Container is the larger work in which the source is found. The details included in the Container, or the core elements of MLA-style,45‘Introduction to the MLA Core Elements’, Sections 5.1–5.2 of Chapter 5 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus, https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter-abstract/57154/Introduction-to-the-MLA-Core-Elements?redirectedFrom=fulltext. are:
An illustration of the MLA-style basic container components is below.46Modern Language Association of America, ‘Works Cited: A Quick Guide (Works-Cited-List Entries)’, MLA Style Center, 2024, https://style.mla.org/works-cited/works-cited-a-quick-guide/.
An illustration of a completed MLA-style container is below.47Modern Language Association of America, ‘A Work in One Container: An Article from a Print Journal (Works Cited: A Quick Guide, Works-Cited-List Entries)’, MLA Style Center (Works Cited: A Quick Guide), 2024, https://style.mla.org/works-cited/works-cited-a-quick-guide/article/.
The details in each Container are then used in the works cited list. The MLA Style Center has an ‘Interactive Practice Template’ tool for teaching MLA-style citations on its website. The details in the Container then form the basis of the list of works cited.
When it comes to formatting tables and incorporating illustrations, MLA-style has specific guidelines to ensure your document is consistent and easy to read. These guidelines are dealt with in the context of formatting your research project.
Section 1.7 of Chapter 1 of the MLA Handbook48‘Tables and Illustrations’, Section 1.7 of Chapter 1 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus, https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter/56275/Tables-and-Illustrations. deals with formatting tables and illustrations. Here are some key points to remember when arranging tables and integrating illustrations in MLA-style.
The basic MLA-style table components include a label, an Arabic number, and a title, along with the relevant data. The source of the table and any notes needed are captioned below the table. An illustration of the MLA-style basic table components is below.49Figure 1.5, from ‘Tables and Illustrations’, Section 1.7 of Chapter 1 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter/56275/Tables-and-Illustrations.
According to the MLA Handbook, illustrative visual materials other than tables (including photographs, charts, graphs, and tables) should be labelled as figures, assigned an Arabic numeral, and captioned below the image.
Citations are not required in the text if the caption of the table or illustration provides the complete source information, and the citation in the caption does not need to be included in the works cited list. An illustration of the MLA-style illustration with complete bibliographic data in the caption is below.50Figure 1.6, from ‘Tables and Illustrations’, Section 1.7 of Chapter 1 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter/56275/Tables-and-Illustrations.
Citations and an entry for the works cited list are required if the caption of the table or illustration doesn’t supply the complete source information. An illustration of the MLA-style illustration without complete bibliographic data in the caption is below.51Figure 1.7, from ‘Tables and Illustrations’, Section 1.7 of Chapter 1 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter/56275/Tables-and-Illustrations.
A ‘works cited’ list is critical to any research paper or academic work. It provides a comprehensive list of all the sources cited in the paper, allowing readers to quickly locate and verify the information used.
When creating a works cited list in MLA-style, including all the necessary components to properly cite your sources is crucial. The components of a ‘works cited’ list in MLA-style come from the Container mentioned above. The Works Cited list should be placed at the end of the paper.
By including all these components in your Works Cited list in MLA-style, you will ensure that your sources are appropriately credited and that your research is well-documented.
Chapter 552‘The List of Works Cited’, Chapter 5 in MLA Handbook accessed from MLA Handbook Plus. covers in depth what goes into the list of works cited (i.e. the components), while Chapter 153‘Placement of the List of Works Cited’, Section 1.6 of Chapter 1 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus, https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter/56272/Placement-of-the-List-of-Works-Cited. deals with the formatting and placement of the list of Works Cited. Below is an example of an MLA-style list of Works Cited.54Figure 1.4, from ‘Placement of the List of Works Cited’, Section 1.6 of Chapter 1 in MLA Handbook, by Modern Language Association of America, accessed from MLA Handbook Plus https://mlahandbookplus.org/books/book/5/chapter/56272/Placement-of-the-List-of-Works-Cited.
One key aspect of mastering citations is embracing citation management tools. These tools can streamline the citation process, ensuring accuracy and consistency in your references.
Citation management tools offer a variety of benefits that can significantly boost the efficiency and accuracy of your research and writing process. Popular citation management tools (like Zotero, EndNote, and Mendeley) are external to word processing programmes to centralise citation management.
These tools help streamline organising and managing references in a centralised location, saving valuable time and ensuring citation accuracy. They also automatically generate citations, references, bibliographies, tables of contents, and figures in different formats while adhering to the chosen style.
Some citation management tools also offer advanced features such as the ability to collaborate with others on projects, import references from databases and websites, and create custom bibliographies. Furthermore, some enable easy sharing and syncing of references.
By automating the citation process, you can significantly reduce the time spent on formatting references, allowing you to focus more on the content of your work. Additionally, these tools help to eliminate the risk of human error in citing sources, ensuring that your work is accurate and properly credited.
Word processing programs like Microsoft Word (Word) and Google Docs have a built-in basic referencing system that is available to help manage and format citations efficiently. Word’s referencing system is available via the ‘References’ tab on the ribbon.
We use Word for day-to-day writing and use WordPress for our blogging software. We’ve previously explored why we use WordPress rather than HTML for blogging. While you can write posts directly on the WordPress platform, we typically write them in Word first and then upload them to WordPress.
We find this more manageable for editing and formatting before posting, allowing us to save a copy offline. It’s part of our security measures (which we also previously explored) if we need a copy to repost. We’ve used Word’s built-in referencing system to insert notes to cite the references within our post and generate a reference list and table of figures to assist in compiling notes and references.
However, you need to be careful when using any citation management system to ensure that it’s current with the current format of your chosen referencing system. For example, Word’s inbuilt referencing system as the style-based referencing system is not (currently) based on the latest edition of the organisational style guide.
The current organisational style guide editions used in Word are the 6th edition of the APA-style guide, the 7th edition of the MLA-style guide, and the 16th edition of the Chicago-style guide.
Word incorporates the citation-based reference system under the ‘Citations & Bibliography’ section of the Reference tab as a reference list at the end of the document. Still, it cannot incorporate the references in ‘Footnotes’, where the references must be manually inserted. So, we used Zotero to insert the references as a footnote in the appropriate place.
Similarly, citation management tools external to Word must also be reviewed to ensure their accuracy and consistency and meet the current guidelines of the style you’re using. We’ve needed to review and manually correct (some of) the citations and the complete references to ensure consistency and that they meet the Oxford-style formatting guidelines. The notes generated by Zotero follow “American” English rather than ‘English’ English, which has variations in styling and punctuation. Below is a comparison of the “before” (US English) and ‘after’ (British English) stylistic variations.
Mastering citations is not just about ticking off a checklist; it gives credit to the original authors and adds credibility and authority to your work. Citations provide readers with a roadmap to your consulted sources, allowing them to verify your information, strengthen their understanding, and build upon your research.
Consistently accurate and properly formatted citations and references are essential in maintaining reliability. Also, using a consistent style specific to the discipline you’re writing for can help maintain uniformity throughout your writing. Be sure to double-check all references for accuracy, including page numbers, publication dates, and author information.
Additionally, consider using citation management tools to streamline the citation process and ensure all sources are correctly formatted. By taking the time to meticulously cite your sources, you can lift the quality of your nonfiction writing and present a more polished and professional piece of work.
Remember that precision and attention to detail are essential in nonfiction writing. Your ability to cite sources accurately acknowledges the contributions of others and strengthens the foundation of your own arguments.
Keep striving for excellence in your citation practices, and you will undoubtedly elevate the quality of your nonfiction work. Cheers to your continued success in mastering citations with finesse and precision!
So, which referencing style system do you use? Do you use your word processor inbuilt tools? Or a separate citation management system? Let us know in the comments! We appreciate your engagement!
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