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LRSN : APA Referencing: When to Reference

When to Reference?

 

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Generally, you would reference/cite whenever you include any of the following within your report / essay:

  • another person's ideas or opinions
  • statistical material, tables and figures
  • direct quotations and indirect quotations.

 

A direct quotation is when you are quoting directly from another source word for word.

Quotations are usually used for definitions and shouldn't be used too often.

  • Quotations of less than 40 words are set out within the body of the text and enclosed with double quotation marks "  ".

For example:

... children are very adaptable. However, "it is no surprise that we are much better at recognising negative signals than positive ones" (Smith, 2011, p.36).

  • Quotations of more than 40 words should be set out in a block, commencing on a new line and indented from the left hand margin (half an inch or 5 spaces). Quotation marks are not used. Double space the entire quotation.

 

For example:

Governments have occasionally produced reports on:

The merits of privatization, incorporating 'expert' assessments of

likely sale and retention values. This is progress, of a kind. It does,

after all, provide the community with opportunities to scrunitize major

proposals for assets sales - opportunities long available in the

private sector. (Walker, 2010, p.140)

An indirect quotation is when you are summarising or paraphrasing information from another source.

  • Paraphrasing is used more often in assignments because lecturers want to see that you understand what you are writing about.
  • Page numbers do not need to be included when you summarise someone's work. (usually when referring to a whole book or a whole article)

 

Find out more about proper use of quotes, paraphrases and summaries in Direct and Indirect Quotations located under the 'More' tab.

Clip Art sourced from Microsoft.

When do you NOT need to reference?

When compiling assignments, it is likely that students will obtain information from a variety of information sources. While students need to reference any ideas or opinions that are not their own in their written work, the exception is the use of common knowledge or information of a general nature. Common knowledge includes facts that are well known within the community in which they are used; they do not need to be cited. 

The concept of common knowledge can be confusing for some students. So when in doubt, it is better to cite/reference it.

Examples of common knowledge include:
             
          The Modern Olympic Games were first held in Athens.
          The sky is blue.
          World War 1 began in 1914.

In addition, you do not have to cite/reference when what you have written is in your own words.

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