Any scientific document that relies on outside sources will require you to specifically and accurately cite those sources. Failure to accurately cite your sources could risk plagiarism and its consequences, or your readers skimming over your work and dismissing it as unoriginal. You must use a referencing format to ensure that your readers don’t stumble over your referencing practices.
A referencing format is a specific way of listing the sources you have referred to or used in an academic research paper. These formats make it easier for other researchers to find your cited information and ensure everyone knows where it came from. Several different referencing formats are available. Some are more widely used than others.
Let’s discuss some of the most commonly used ones so that you know what they entail and why they might be right for your document.
You may also be interested in How to Write a Reference List.
Harvard referencing format
The Harvard referencing format is the most widely used. It is also the most strict. The Harvard referencing format requires you to use a specific set of rules when you cite sources.
The Harvard referencing system is named after Harvard University, where it began to be used in the early 20th century. Harvard students were among the first to use a referencing method that would become standard for citations in research papers.
MLA referencing format
The MLA (Modern Language Association) referencing format is the most widely used in the English-speaking world and in many countries with English as their official language. You will find this referencing system in journals, research papers, and books published in the U.S. and Canada.
MLA also recommends this referencing system for use by writers in other English-speaking countries and other common English-speaking locations, such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
APA referencing format
The APA (American Psychological Association) referencing system is widely used in the U.S. and Canada, and increasingly in other English-speaking countries. The APA style is recommended for most academic writing.
While there are some minor deviations in the specific rules of the APA system, the majority of the guidelines are the same for all papers.
Chicago/Turabian referencing format
The Chicago/Turabian system is a hybrid referencing system that blends elements of the MLA and APA systems. In this system, you will use one set of referencing rules for your research papers and one set of rules for your citation of sources in books.
There were once many different citation styles in use. Over time, most of them have merged into only a few common formats. The Chicago/Turabian system is one of the most commonly used referencing systems.
Other formats you might see in research papers
You may also see other referencing formats besides those listed above in your research papers. These alternative formats are usually useful for only a small number of researchers. If you see one of these alternative referencing systems in your papers, make sure you have a solid reason for choosing it over one of the ones listed above.
Why is a Referencing Format Important?
A referencing system is important because it allows other researchers to find your cited information. If you do not include a reference to your sources, your readers will not know where to find the information. When you quote another author’s words in your paper, you should also include a citation for where those words came from.
There are many different ways of doing this. How you choose will depend on the specific referencing style that is most common in your field.
Tips for creating a referencing template in Word or Google Docs
Let’s say you are creating a referencing template in Microsoft Word. First, you need to decide which referencing system you want to use. Once you’ve decided, you can head to the main Word menu and choose “Preferences.”
Next, select “References” from the tab bar. This will bring you to a screen that will let you choose between the different referencing systems. Once you’ve chosen your system, you can create your referencing template.
Referencing Apps
Referencing Apps are software programs that allow you to create a reference document very simply. These apps will offer you an easy way to create your referencing template or a reference document.
Examples of referencing apps include EndNote, RefWorks, Mendeley and many others.
Conclusion
So there you have it – the basics of how to write a referencing format for your research paper using a Harvard referencing format. Everything you need to know about what a referencing format for your paper should look like is right here. Remember, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel when referencing a paper.
Follow these guidelines, and your referencing will look flawless! Knowing how to properly write a referencing format for your research papers will make it much easier for you to find the information you need. You’ll also be able to cite correctly and accurately.
