Citing references

Guides to referencing styles.

The Library has produced quick guides for all the referencing styles used at CCCU. These are designed to give you guidance on referencing the commonly used resources. For more detailed guidance you are advised to use the web sites below. Please check with your tutor to ensure you are using the correct referencing style.

APA - Library Quick Guide.
American Psychological Association

Chicago - Library Quick Guide
Chicago Manual

Harvard - Library Quick Guide
See Pears, R and Shields, G. (2010) Cite them right: the essential referencing guide . Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan - available in all campus Libraries. An online version is also available via Blackboard.

MLA - Library Quick Guide
Modern Language Association

OSCOLA - Library Quick Guide
Oxford standard for Citation of Legal Authorities

Vancouver - Library Quick Guide
United States National Library of Medicine

What is referencing?

When writing a report or an essay, it is important that each time you use some one else's ideas from a book, journal article, website or any other source, you tell your readers immediately. The idea is that your reader should be able to find the originals themselves. This is called a 'reference'. By using references, you will provide evidence of your background reading. Tutors will expect you to include a 'Bibliography' in your assignment, which lists the resources you have used. This should be compiled using a recognised referencing style. By referencing material correctly, you will avoid accusations of plagiarism and you will be able to retrace items you have read.