Citations & Referencing
What Are Citations and References?
When you write an essay, report, or research paper, you often use ideas, facts, or quotes from other people's work. Citations acknowledge those sources, and references (or a bibliography) list all the sources you consulted. Proper referencing is an academic skill and an ethical requirement — it prevents plagiarism and lets readers verify your sources.
Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Citation | A brief note within your text pointing to a source |
| Reference / Bibliography | A full list of all sources at the end of your work |
| Plagiarism | Using someone else's work without giving credit |
| In-text citation | A short citation placed inside the body of your essay |
| Works Cited | The MLA term for the reference list at the end |
| Paraphrase | Restating a source's idea in your own words |
| Direct quotation | Copying the exact words from a source |
Why Referencing Matters
- Gives credit to the original authors.
- Prevents plagiarism — a serious academic offence.
- Supports your argument by showing you have evidence.
- Lets readers find and read your sources themselves.
- Shows academic integrity and rigorous research.
When to Cite
You must cite whenever you:
- Use a direct quotation (exact words from a source)
- Paraphrase someone else's idea in your own words
- Use a statistic, fact, or figure that is not common knowledge
- Reference a specific theory, study, or claim
You do not need to cite:
- Your own original ideas
- Common knowledge ("Water boils at 100°C")
MLA Format (Most Common in Schools)
In-Text Citations
Place a brief citation in parentheses at the end of the sentence, before the full stop.
Format: (Author Last Name Page Number)
Examples:
- "Courage is not the absence of fear" (Mandela 42).
- According to Smith, reading improves vocabulary (Smith 17).
- If the author is named in the sentence: As Jones argues, the policy failed (78).
Works Cited Entry — Book
Format: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example: Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Bloomsbury, 1997.
Works Cited Entry — Website
Format: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Page." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example: BBC News. "Climate change: Global temperatures rise." BBC, 12 Jan. 2024, www.bbc.co.uk/news.
Works Cited Entry — Journal Article
Format: Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. number, no. number, Year, pp. pages.
APA Format (Used in Science and Social Science)
In-text: (Author, Year) or (Author, Year, p. page)
Reference list entry (book): Last Name, Initial. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
Worked Example: Building a Citation
Source: A book called The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1925, page 180.
Direct quote in text: "So we beat on, boats against the current" (Fitzgerald 180).
Works Cited entry: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.
Common Mistakes
- No citation after a paraphrase — you still need to cite even if you use your own words.
- Copying and only changing a few words — this is still plagiarism.
- Wrong order in Works Cited — MLA entries must be in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
- Missing page numbers for in-text citations.
- Inconsistent format — choose one citation style and stick to it throughout.
Tips and Tricks
- Use a citation manager or tool (like EasyBib or Cite This For Me) to help format references automatically.
- Keep a running list of sources as you research — do not wait until the end.
- When in doubt, cite it — it is better to over-cite than to plagiarise.
- Always check which citation style your teacher or institution requires.
- Read the Works Cited entries of academic papers you use — they often lead you to more great sources.