How to reference
How to reference
When writing a body of work (e.g. thesis, essay or assignment), every source of information or idea that is not your own must be credited twice:
- where the information is used in the work
- in a reference list at the end of the document.
The format of these citations will differ depending on the referencing style you are required to use, which is usually listed in your Subject Learning Guide (ask your tutor or lecturer if you are unsure).
The four main styles used at La Trobe University (LTU) and supported by the Library are:
Academic Referencing Tool
To help you determine the correct format for your referencing, refer to the Academic Referencing Tool provided by the Library. This tool includes examples of the most common in-text referencing, direct quotations, paraphrasing and footnoting. Bibliography/Reference list and detailed style notes are also available.
If you cannot find an example that matches your resource type in the tool, choose one or a combination of examples that are the closest match.
Help guide
For comprehensive information on when to use referencing, including an example assignment with annotations explaining the referencing principles, refer to the 'Referencing' help guide on Achieve@Uni. This guide also provides answers to some frequently asked questions about referencing.