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Document it 3.0.2 - Help Topics

Referencing Using Document it

Inserting a reference - which format should I use?

(Author, date) - this in-text reference insertion is used where you are not using a direct quotation but referring to someone's work. For example:

In a recent study (Smith, 2004) it stated that...

Author (date) - this in-text reference insertion is used where you intend to use, or have used, the author's actual words. For example:

Smith (2004) argues that...

Footnote - a note printed at the bottom of a page which gives extra information about something that has been written on that page. In terms of referencing, convention is that a number for the footnote is affixed to the point where this is relevant and the numbered full citation is put at the foot of the page. For example:

...to measure progress in elearning against the HEFCE strategy for e-learning¹ and the...

would appear at the foot of the page as:

¹HEFCE (2005) HEFCE strategy for e-learning. Available at:

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_12/05_12.doc (Accessed: 8 May 2005).

Use of footnotes removes the need for an end of text reference list although you should still include a bibliography for any works not cited directly.

Endnote - an alternative to the Harvard system, for example the British Standard or Numeric System which is often used in the Humanities, allocates each reference a number and this is used in preference to the author's name and date. The references then appear in numerical (rather than alphabetical) order at the end of the text.

Bibliography - a bibliography is set out in the same way as a reference list but it cites all the materials used in preparing your document whether you have actually cited them or not.

Reference List - the reference list only lists sources you have actually cited within the text of your document. The reference list appears at the end of the document.

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