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Citing references

Guidance on citing references for students at the University of Reading

Writing references: the principles

To produce a full reference for any kind of material in any style, you will need four pieces of information:

  • author/s and/or editor/s
     
  • date of publication
     
  • title
     
  • publication details (e.g. edition, where published, who by, web address)

Here are some examples of how those details might work for different kinds of source material.

Material

Author

Date

Title

Publication details

Book

Ashbourn, J.

2014

Biometrics in the new world: the cloud, mobile technology and pervasive identity.

2nd ed. London: Springer.

Journal article Adeyeye, S.A.O., Ashaolu, T.J. and Idowu-Adebayo, F. 2022 Mycotoxins: food safety, consumer health and Africa's food security Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds, 42(8), pp. 5779–5795.

Computer software

IBM

2025

SPSS (Version 31.0) [Computer program]

IBM. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/products/spss-statistics. (Accessed: 9 July 2025).

YouTube video

TEDx Talks

2018

The power of an entrepreneurial mindset: Bill Roche.

20 March. Available at: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihs4VFZWwn4 (Accessed: 5 July 2025).

Map

Ordnance Survey

2001

Roman Britain, 1:625 000.

Southampton: Ordnance Survey.

Work of art

Cedar, M.

1938

Mars at Night. [Sculpture]

Manor Art Gallery, Manchester.

Watch our video on Finding bibliographic details

In this short video we offer some tips for finding all the details you need for a complete reference.

If you are unable to view this video on YouTube it is also available on YuJa - view the How to Find Bibliographic Details video on YuJa (University username and password required)

Putting the reference details into the correct style

Provided you have these details and know which referencing style to use, you should be able to correctly write a citation for any source you need to use. The style of referencing you need to use will affect: how and where you place brief citations (in the body of the text, in footnotes, or replaced by a number that acts as a signpost to the reference list); the order details should be arranged in; what punctuation you use. Getting it right shows that you are being thoughtful about your studies and can work with accuracy and academic rigour.

There are many different styles of referencing, and it is important to make sure that you are using the preferred style for your School/Department. Remember that if you are taking modules in different departments, they may require a different style.
Which style should I use?

We have compiled a list of styles used in Schools and Departments across the University, but please check your Course handbook carefully for any changes.

We also have some general guidance about some some of the different styles:

Need help citing specific types of publication?

We have compiled a list of examples in the Harvard style which will help you when citing different types of publication:

Example of adapting a reference for different citation styles

A journal article in the Harvard referencing style:

Gulddal, J. (2020) 'That deep underground savage instinct: narratives of sacrifice and retribution in Agatha Christie's Appointment with Death', Textual Practice, 34(11), pp. 1803-1821.

A journal article in the Chicago referencing style:

Gulddal, Jesper. "That deep underground savage instinct: narratives of sacrifice and retribution in Agatha Christie's Appointment with Death." Textual Practice 34, no. 11 (2020): 1803-1821.