LibGuides: Referencing and Citation: Home

Why reference?

When you reference you use the standardized style to acknowledge the source of information used in your assignment.

It is important (morally & legally) to acknowledge someone else’s ideas or words you have used. Academic writing encourages paraphrasing information you have researched and read.
Paraphrasing means re-wording something you have read in to your own words. If you use someone else’s words or work and fail to acknowledge them – you may be accused of plagiarism and infringing copyright.
Referencing correctly enables the marker or reader of your assignment to locate the source of the information. They can verify the information or read further on the topic.
Referencing also allows for you to retrace your steps and locate information you have used for assignments and discover further views or ideas discussed by the author.By referencing clearly and correctly, it demonstrates you have undertaken research on the assignment topic and located relevant information.

To inform the reader of the source of tables, statistics, diagrams, photographs and other illustrations.
When describing or discussing a theory, model, practice or example associated with a particular writer.
To give weight and credibility to an argument
When giving emphasis to a particular theory, model or practice that has found a measure of agreement and support among researchers.
When paraphrasing another person's work.

Examples of Common knowledge