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Referencing & Plagiarism: Referencing Styles

Text-Based Referencing Styles

Citethemrightonline.com is your best tool for getting referencing right. The Harvard conventions can be observed in this sample text and referencing list. There are slight differences in various versions of Harvard, so make sure that you sign into citethemrightonline.com ‘through your institution’ to follow the guidance for Harvard referencing. 

  • You need to include page numbers in a citation when making a direct quotation or when paraphrasing, but not when summarising. Check the Academic Writing area of the Academic Skills Hub for more information on how and when to use these here.
  • Use et al. when there are 4 or more authors for your in-text citations and reference list. For example: 
    • In-text citation: Smith et al. (2012, p. 88) or (Smith et al., 2012, p. 88) 
    • In reference list: Smith, M. et al. (2012) 
  • When using et al., make sure that it’s in italics and that you have a full-stop after al. to indicate that it’s an abbreviation. 

APA provides guidelines on writing style as well as referencing for academic writing. Their conventions can be found on citethemrightonline.com, and their guidelines can be found on the APA website and in a style manual.  

Each reference has two parts: a short ‘in-text’ citation; and a more detailed reference, included at the end in a ‘reference list’. The reference list only includes sources that have been cited in the essay. 

  • You need to include page numbers only when making a direct quotation, not when paraphrasing or summarising. 
  • Use et al. when there are 3 or more authors for your in-text citations. For example: 
    • In-text citation: Smith et al. (2012, p. 88) or (Smith et al., 2012, p. 88) 
  • Do not use ‘et al.’ in the reference list - instead provide surnames and initials for up to and including 20 authors. When there are more than 20 authors, include the first 19 authors’ names, insert an ellipses, and then add the final author’s name. 
  • When using et al., make sure that you have a full-stop after al. to indicate that it’s an abbreviation. 

Numeric Referencing Styles

MHRA conventions can be found on citethemrightonline.com, with examples, and on the MHRA style guide online. If you use Microsoft Word to write your MHRA style assignment, these directions from Microsoft on how to insert footnotes and endnotes may be useful.  

Each reference has two parts: a footnote or endnote indicated by a superscript number in the text; and a more detailed reference, included at the end in a bibliography. The bibliography includes all sources that have been read, even if they are not cited in the essay.  

  • In the footnotes, author names should be forename followed by surname – for example, Francis Wheen.  
  • In the bibliography, author names should be surname followed by forename – for example, Wheen, Francis. 
  • The first time you cite a source, you should give full details in the footnote or endnote. Subsequent entries to the same source can be abbreviated to the author's surname and the first few words of the title, plus a page number if you are citing a specific part of the text. 
  • If there are four or more authors, give the name of the first author, followed by ‘and others’.
  • If two (or more) consecutive references are from the same source, then the second (or others) is cited ibid. Capitalise ibid. if used at the beginning of a note. 

OSCOLA stands for 'Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities'. OSCOLA is used by universities and publishers worldwide. It is the referencing style used by the BSc (Hons) Law route at the University of Suffolk. OSCOLA conventions, with examples, can be found on citethemrightonline.com, and their guidelines are explained in the OSCOLA Quick Referencing Guide. 

The Vancouver conventions, with examples, can be found on citethemrightonline.com.

The MLA conventions, with examples, can be found on citethemrightonline.com The MLA Style Centre provides updates on citations for sources.  

Further Reading