QUT cite tool
The following reference styles are in use at QUT
Referencing and using sources
The following types of media are available for Referencing and using sources
-
-
- Why and when
- How do I start referencing correctly?
- Quoting, paraphrasing, summarising
- Using images, tables, graphs etc.
-
APA
The following types of media are available for APA
-
-
- Getting started
- Book formats
- Article formats
- Internet source formats
- Creative work formats
- Government and corporate documents
- Data
- Maps/diagrams etc.
- QUT Resources and personal communications
-
DOIs and URLs
Most scholarship is available online so most reference list entries end with a DOI or URL.
What is a DOI?
A Digital Object identifier (DOI) is a unique code, that identifies content and provides a link to its location on the internet.
When do I include a DOI?
- Include the DOI if the item has one - even if you used the print version.
- If a work has both a DOI and a URL, include the DOI only.
When do I include a URL?
- The item has a URL but no DOI include a URL for a website IF it will work for the reader.
- For works from most academic databases, do not include a URL.
- If the database publishes work of limited circulation (e.g. ERIC) or material you can only get from that database, include the name of the database or archive and the URL.
- If the URL requires a login (so it will not work for the reader) include the URL of the database or archive homepage instead.
- Use the URL which links to the item you are citing - e.g. the comment you are citing, not the article the comment is about.
- Do not include broken URLs in your paper, if the URL no longer works and you cannot locate an archived version, there is no source for the item - treat it like a Personal Communication.
How do I format the DOI or URL?
- Format both DOIs and URLs as hyperlinks e.g. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000008.
- You can use either plain text or live links (usually blue with an underline).
- Links should be live if it is to be read online.
- Do not add a full stop after the DOI or URL.
- You can use a DOI or URL shortener for long DOIs and URLs. Use http://shortdoi.org to shorten DOIs and any shortened URL service is acceptable as long as you check the shortened link does go to the correct site.
How do I find the DOI?
A DOI is usually printed on the first page of an online journal article or ebook. You can also check the database record. Alternatively, you can search for your article on the CrossRef database. If a DOI exists for your article, it will be recorded in this database.
If the item does not have a DOI, omit it.
What if a source doesn't have a DOI?
If the source is:
- an electronic article, available in an academic database - omit it
- a webpage, pdf, online document - provide the URL or the URL where you accessed the online document (whichever is easier)
- only available in a database or archive - use the database URL or the name of the database and accession number, e.g. Retrieved from ERIC database (ED498566).
More information
For more information on using DOIs and URLs:
Publication details
No date of publication
Use 'n.d.' for the year in the citation and reference list.
Like this…
Resources not yet published
Substitute 'in press' for the year in the citation and reference list.
Like this…
Approximate date
Precede the year with the contraction for circa.
Like this…
Dates for webpages
- Use the copyright or "last updated" date of the page you are using.
- Do not use these from the page footer as this may apply to the whole website.
- If you cannot find a sure date of publication, treat the work as having no date.
Retrieval dates
- Most website references do not need a retrieval date as the content is relatively stable.
- Some websites are designed to change frequently. Provide a retrieval date (the date you looked at the item) when citing an unarchived work that is intended to change.
- Some sites (e.g. Wikipedia, Cochrane) archive their versions. Use these when possible and you do not need to include the retrieval date.
Dates for magazine, newspaper or blog resources
Use more specific dates for works that are published frequently.
Be as specific as needed about the publication date.
Like this…
Place of publication
For places in Australia or the United States: Follow the place of publication by the postal abbreviation for the state.
For other places: Use the name (or abbreviation) of the country.
Like this…
No place of publication
Only required for printed materials that are not journals.
If a book does not have a place of publication, use 'n.p.' to indicate no place.
Like this…
Author the same as the publisher
Omit the publisher from the source element.
Like this…
Unusual Resource
For non-routine items, include a description of the medium or format in square brackets after the title.
Like this…
Page numbers
When to cite page numbers
If you are quoting a source, include the page or other details to locate the quotation. Use the abbreviations p. and pp. for one or more pages.
It is not required to provide a page or section number for a paraphrase but you may do so if it would help the reader locate the passage (APA, 2019, p.269).
It is best to check with your lecturer as to their preferences in this matter.
No page numbers
To quote a written work that does not have page numbers, provide another way of locating the source.
This could be a section name, paragraph numbers or a combination of these.
Some works have numbered sections and lines (e.g. the Bible, classical works). Use these.
For plays, cite the act, scene, and lines.
Like this…
(Smith & Wesson, 2000, para. 4)
(Warr & Ellison, 2000, The consequences of fear, para. 4)
(King James Bible, 1769/2017, Ecclesiastes 10:19)
(Beckett, 1955/2019, 2.35-38)
Audio-visual works
To directly quote an audio-visual work such as a movie, TV show or recording, provide a timestamp for the beginning of the quotation.
Like this…
(Crabb & Sales, 2018, 15:22)
(CSIRO, 2009, 3:22)
Build your own
QUT cite|write does not provide examples of every possible type of reference - sometimes you need to create your own.
For an APA reference, there are four basic elements to a reference, and they are separated by a full stop.
Who. (When). What. Where.
OR
Author. (Date). Title. Source.
Who is responsible for creating the work?
- author(s)
- organisations
- directors
- artists
When was the work created?
- year
- in press
- year, month date (if continually updated)
What is the work called?
- title
- journal title
- book and chapter title
- website title
Where can you find the work?
- Who it was published by more accurate?
- journal volume, issues, and pages
- DOI
- website of report or journal
If you need style information for something we don't cover refer to:
- Publication manual of the American Psychological Association
- The APA site on Citations and References the Elements of a Reference.
Harvard
-
-
- Getting started
- Book formats
- Article formats
- Internet source formats
- Creative work formats
- Government and corporate document formats
- Data formats
- Maps/
diagrams etc. formats - QUT resources and personal communications formats
-
DOIs
DOIs provide publication details for electronic resources.
What is a DOI?
A Digital Object identifier (DOI) is a unique code, which provides a permanent link to an online resource. The most common resources to include a DOI are electronic journal articles.
How do I find a DOI for my reference list?
A DOI is usually printed on the first page of an online journal article or e-book. You can also check the database record. Alternatively, you can search for your article on the CrossRef database (http://www.crossref.org). If a DOI exists for your article, it will be recorded in this database.
What if a resource doesn't have a DOI?
If it is a webpage, pdf, online document: provide the URL or the URL where you accessed the online document (whichever is easier). Refer to the example in electronic journal articles.
Publication details
No date of publication
Substitute (n.d.) for the year in the citation and reference list.
Like this…
Author n.d. Title. Place of publication: Publisher.
Resources not yet published
Substitute (in press) for the year in the citation and reference list.
Approximate date
Precede the year with the contraction for circa. (ca. 1986)
No place of publication
This information is only required for printed materials that are not journals.
e.g. If a book does not have a city of publication, use n.p. to indicate no place in the reference list.
Like this…
Author Year. Title. n.p.: Publisher.
Page, volume, issue
In text citations should include the number of the page where you found the information.
For works without pagination, include a chapter or paragraph number (if available), a section heading, or a descriptive phrase that follows the divisions of the work.
In citations of shorter electronic works, presented as a single searchable document, such locators may be unnecessary.
Summaries of information/sources do not require page numbers for the in-text citation if the information comes from many pages.
Build your own
QUT cite|write is not comprehensive. Sometimes building your own is needed.
Steps to build a reference
A reference list entry consists of:
- Elements: the elements of information required to identify a source without confusion
- Order: the placement of the elements in a consistent conventional order
- Formatting: the separating punctuation, quotation marks, parentheses, italics, and spaces.
Steps to build a reference, or to proof your drafted references:
- Glean, collect and save all the information needed / Check that all required elements are there.
- Place them in the appropriate order, or check that they are.
- Apply / check the appropriate formatting and spacing.
Generally, the elements consist of information as it is copied from the source used, or the location of that source. However, the information when placed in a reference, should then be formatted according to Harvard style, rather than the style found in the source. This ensures consistency for the reader.
Further information
Chicago has two style options, the 'Notes and bibliography' style is described in chapter 14, and the 'Author-date' style is in chapter 15. Harvard at QUT uses the author-date style. However, chapter 15 outlines only what is different from chapter 14, so chapter 14 is still a source to be referred to.
Harvard is based on The Chicago Manual of Style
AGLC
-
-
- Getting started with AGLC
- Book formats
- Journal article formats
- Legislative material formats
- Case formats
- Report formats
- Looseleaf service/
Commentary formats - Legal dictionary formats
- Legal encyclopedia formats
- Newspaper article formats
- Internet source formats
-
Vancouver
-
-
- Getting started
- Book formats
- Article formats
- Internet source formats
- Creative works formats
- Government and corporate document formats
- Data formats
- Maps/diagrams etc. formats
- QUT Resources and personal communication formats
-
Publication details
No place of publication
Substitute [place unknown]
How do I format the place of publication?
When referencing Australian cities, follow the place of publication with the three-letter Australian state code, e.g. Melbourne (VIC).
When referencing cities in the United States or Canada, follow the place of publication with the postal abbreviation for the state.
For other places, follow the place of publication with the name (or abbreviation) of the country.
No publisher
Substitute [publisher unknown]
No date of publication, but a copyright date?
If a copyright date (identified by the symbol ©) exists, use this date preceded by the letter 'c'. e.g. c2010.
No date of publication or copyright date
If neither a date of publication nor a date of copyright can be found, use the date cited, e.g. [cited 2016 Oct 27].
Resources not yet published
Substitute 'Forthcoming xxxx' for the year of publication, e.g. Forthcoming 2018.
Author the same as the Publisher
Repeat the name of the author as the publisher.
Unusual Resource
For non-routine items such as brochures and pamphlets, indicate the type of resource in square brackets after the title, e.g. Expo '88 [brochure].
Publisher abbreviations
Abbreviate commonly used words in publisher names, if preferred. E.g. Ltd. For Limited/ Univ. for University.
Follow all abbreviated words with a full stop.
See the NLM Style Guide for more examples of commonly abbreviated English words.
DOIs
What is a DOI?
DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) are provided for electronic resources.
A DOI is a unique code which provides a permanent link to an online resource and looks similar to this - 10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.209. The most common types of resources to include a DOI are electronic journal articles and ebooks.
The DOIs for more recent electronic journal articles will be displayed as permanent URLs which will look similar to this - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-016-0004. Both formats are acceptable - use the format as it appears in your source.
DOIs should be provided in your reference when available, along with the URL.
How do I find a DOI?
A DOI is usually printed on the first page of an electronic journal article or ebook. You can also check the database record. Alternatively, you can search for your article on the CrossRef database (www.crossref.org). If a DOI exists for your article, it will be recorded in this database.
What if a resource does not have a DOI?
Provide the URL located at the top of the screen in the address box.
Some URLs are very long, be sure to provide the full URL by using the copy and paste function. You can break a URL at a slash if necessary.
Page numbers
What if there are no page numbers?
This will usually relate to electronic sources.
For individual documents (e.g. PDF documents) count the approximate number of pages, precede this count total with “about” and place in square brackets. e.g. [about 35 p.].
If your source is in an unpaginated format such as HTML or XML, count the approximate number of screens, paragraphs or lines, whichever is most practical. Precede with 'about' and place it in square brackets, e.g. [about 8 paragraphs].
Build your own
QUT cite|write does not provide examples of every possible type of reference - sometimes you need to create your own.
For a reference in Vancouver style, the following elements are needed:
Who. What. When; Where.
Who is responsible for creating the work?
- author(s)
- organisations
What is the work called?
- title
- journal title
- book and chapter title
- website title
When was the work created?
- year
- in press
- year, month date (if continually updated)
Where can you find the work?
- where it was published
- journal volume, issues, and pages
- DOI
- website of report or journal
The Vancouver style in QUT cite|write is based upon the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s style guide for citing medicine. If you are building your own references or seeking example and fuller explanations of resources not covered in QUT cite|write, consult the following resources:
- Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers
- ICMJE Recommendations: Sample References
It is from these that we have developed the templates and examples in QUT cite|write.