Principles of Scholarly Writing: Citing Sources
In scholarly writing, it is essential to cite sources. A publication should include both in-text citations and a reference list.
- In-text citations point to the reference list at the end of the publication, which contains detailed information about the sources used.
- Citation styles vary by discipline and publication (e.g., APA, Harvard).
Why Cite Sources?
Include in your reference list all sources you have cited in your work to:
- Provide readers with enough information to identify and locate the referenced publication.
- Distinguish your own ideas from those of others.
- Avoid plagiarism.
Use Original Sources
- Always use the original source where the information was first reported.
- A secondary source is acceptable only if the original is inaccessible or written in a language you do not understand.
- Only list sources you have actually read in the reference list.
- In the in-text citation, mention the original source as well.
Practical Tips
- Record source details immediately when you use them (e.g., in LUC-Finna, check “Reference Information”).
- Use a reference management tool to:
- Save citation details from different databases in one place.
- Organize references by topic or purpose into folders or groups.
- Automatically insert in-text citations into your document.
- Generate a reference list in various citation styles (e.g., APA 7, Harvard).
