Every source of information or idea that is not your own must be acknowledged in your writing. Referencing or citing the information is a way to acknowledge the original authors of the sources you have used.
| Question | Answer | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Are you using someone else's ideas, theories, or images? | Yes | Cite it |
| Are you quoting an author's words directly? | Yes | Place double quotation marks (") around the text and cite it |
| Are you paraphrasing or putting an idea into your own words? | Yes | Cite it |
| Are you using information that is considered common knowledge? (, for example, Canberra is the capital of Australia or the sun sets in the west) | Yes | No need to cite it |
Reference management software such as Zotero, Mendeley and EndNote can generate references automatically in a chosen referencing style. To ensure that references are cited correctly it is recommended you have a good understanding of a style before using this type of software. The best way to become familiar with a style is to refer to the published style manual available in the relevant Library referencing guide.
If you are an undergraduate and have never used a reference management system, it is recommended you use Zotero or Mendeley. They are easy to learn and are perfect for assessment tasks and small research projects.
If you are a researcher or a postgraduate student working with large documents, for example, a thesis, it is recommended that you use EndNote. It is harder to learn initially and best suited to users comfortable with reference management software.
Other tools are available to generate a reference automatically. Always check the reference matches the relevant examples in the Library's Referencing guide or published style manual. Examples of tools are: