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Guide to APA Style of Referencing
Introduction	How to reference using APA style
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Introduction

Why reference?

When you use the ideas of another person in your work, you must acknowledge this. Referencing allows the reader to find the same sources of information that you did, to enable them to read more on the topic or to check your interpretation. It is also important to give credit where it is due. Referencing makes it clear when you are drawing your own conclusions from the evidence presented, or where you are quoting or paraphrasing from another person's work. Most importantly, by referencing you avoid plagiarism.

Plagiarism is to pretend that ideas or language of other people are your own. In your assignments, you imply that all of the ideas and language are your own, unless you explicitly indicate otherwise. If you fail to make clear that sections of your work are not your own, then you are guilty of plagiarism. Plagiarism is stealing, and is a very serious offence.

When to reference

You must reference when:

quoting the exact words of another writer
paraphrasing - putting the work of another writer into your own words
summarising - using ideas or material directly based on the work of another writer

For more information on plagiarism - see InfoSkills Module 4

Where to reference

Referencing involves:

citing references (i.e., identifying and acknowledging your sources) within your essay
producing a Reference List or Bibliography at the end of your assignment

Referencing styles

There are many different reference styles. Some of the more common styles are the APA (American Psychological Association), Harvard, numbered footnote, and numbered endnote styles. Each discipline or faculty requires that you use a particular style when you are presenting your essays for marking. It is important that you use the style which your department or faculty specifies. These notes are based on the APA style of referencing

For more information regarding APA style, see: American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, DC: Author.

Guide to APA style of referencing

Guide to APA Style of Referencing

Introduction

Other referencing links