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
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- Why and when
- How do I start referencing correctly?
- Quoting, paraphrasing, summarising
- Using images, tables, graphs etc.
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APA
The following types of media are available for APA
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- 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
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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- Do not include broken URLs in your paper, if the URL no longer works and you cannot locate an archived version, there is no source for the item - treat it like a Personal Communication.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. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-019-0038-z.
- 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.
- If the information is continuously updated and versions are not archived, and no date is obvious, use 'n.d.' as the date of publication and include a retrieval statement. Use n.d. in the in-text citation.
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…
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.
If multiple pages are continuous, use a hyphen or dash (pp. 25-37); if they are discontinuous, use a comma between them (pp. 57, 65).
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.
Article numbers
If the article has an article number rather than page numbers, use the word Article and then the article number (e.g. Article e0252730) where the page range would be.
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
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- 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
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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. Edition. 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. Edition. n.p.: Publisher.
Page, volume, issue
When directly quoting from a source, include the page number or page range in the in-text citation. Do the same if you are paraphrasing information and wish to direct the reader to the relevant page/s.
For continuous pages, use a hyphen or dash to indicate the page range, e.g. (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016, 12-23). If the pages are discontinuous, place a comma between them, e.g. (Eggers 2013, 57, 65).
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.
Examples
(Hsu 2017, chap. 4)
(ABS 2016, para. 12)
(Hellman 2017, under "The Battleground")
In citations of shorter electronic works, presented as a single searchable document, such locators may be unnecessary.
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.
AGLC
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- 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
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Vancouver
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- 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
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DOIs and URLs
What is a DOI?
A DOI (digital object identifier) is a unique identification code assigned to a piece of content. Unlike a URL, which may change or break, a DOI is permanent and will not change.
Whilst a DOI may be styled as a URL, the DOI itself starts with '10.'. In the link below, only the highlighted portion is the DOI.
https://doi.org/10.5204/ijcis.v12i1.1102
Where to 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 item on the CrossRef database. If a DOI exists for your item, it will be recorded in CrossRef.
How to format a DOI
DOIs in references should not be formatted as URLs but preceded by 'doi:'. There is no space between the colon and the DOI. Do not put a full-stop at the end of the DOI.
doi:10.5204/ijcis.v12i1.1102
When a DOI is provided, a URL is not needed.
How to format a URL
When providing a URL, use the URL that points directly to the item cited. Avoid URLs containing a search string.
Use this: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/all/qscript
Not this: https://find.search.qld.gov.au/s/redirect?collection=qld-gov&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qld.gov.au%2Fhealth%2Fconditions%2Fall%2Fqscript&auth=KDCkPOAGE4WJLyTYzQ4jOA&profile=qld&rank=1&query=qscript
Either 'http://' or 'https://' should appear at the beginning of a URL. Do not include a full-stop at the end of a URL.
Where URLs are very long, you may be allowed to use a link shortening service. Check with your lecturer.
Publication details
Name of Publisher
Use the name of the publisher or publisher's imprint. Abbreviate company names as for Corporate Authors (see ).
For books, if a publisher cannot be found, use 'Publisher unknown'.
You do not need to give the publisher's location.
Copyright date
The copyright date and date of publication are not always the same.
For books and reports, a copyright year can be used when a specific publication year cannot be found.
For webpages, note that a copyright date given in the footer of a website usually refers to the entire website, not the individual page you are citing, so do not give this as a date of publication.
No date of publication
For books, if a date of publication cannot be found, use 'date unknown'.
Page Volume Issue
Unusual numbering
Where page numbers are in Roman numerals, preceded by a letter, or contain multiple parts, retain this formatting. E.g. ii-ix, A247-A253, 8-1–8-16
In-text citation of source with no page numbers
AMA11 does not provide instructions for adding a 'pinpoint' location, other than for page numbers. Contact your lecturer for guidance in this situation.
Article number instead of page numbers
For journals that use article ID numbers or e-Locators instead of continuous pagination, use that identifier instead of the page range. See Notes section of Electronic article.
Page ranges
Do not omit any numbers from page ranges. So 391-397 not 391-7.
If an article appears on discontinuous pages, provide only the pages that the article appears on, separated by a comma. E.g. 57,89-92.
No journal volume or issue number
If an article does not have either a volume or issue number, omit those elements.
If an article has neither volume nor issue numbers, provide the month and year of publication, then a colon and the page range
…Abbreviated journal title. Month Year:start page-end page. …
…Ga Chron Lymphol. March 1987:53-67. …
Journal supplements
When citing an article from a journal supplement, include this information inside or in addition to the issue number. Abbreviate the word supplement to 'suppl'. For example, when you have:
Volume and supplement number: …N Z Bull Lab Educ. 2016;14(suppl 2A):S25-S27. …
Volume, issue and supplement number: …Scott J Med Philos. 2003;51(3)(suppl 10):82-88. …
Parts of an issue
When citing an article from an issue published in multiple parts, include this along with the issue number. Abbreviate the word part to 'pt'. For example:
…N J Mex Microsc. 2010;57(pt 3):1692-1705. …
Books with multiple volumes
If a single book is divided into volumes, provide this information after the book title and before the edition number:
Berman A, Kozier B, Erb GL. Kozier and Erb's Fundamentals of Nursing. Vol 2. 3rd Australian ed. Pearson Australia; 2015.
If a volume number appears in the book title, use the title as published and do not repeat the volume number after the book title.
Where a book has a volume number because it is part of a titled series of books, provide the series editor/s, series title, and volume number after the date of publication:
Moskalev A, ed. Biomarkers of Human Aging. Springer; 2019. Rattan SIS, ed. Healthy Ageing and Longevity; vol 10. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-24970-0
Build your own
QUT cite|write does not provide examples of every possible type of reference. If you cannot find a category that matches the type of work you are referencing, you may have to pick the closest types and combine elements of different examples.
For a reference in Vancouver style, the following elements are needed:
Hardcopy works: Author. Title. Date. Publisher. DOI (if provided)
Online works: Author. Title. Date. URL/DOI
Author: Who is responsible for creating the work?
- Named individual/s, pseudonym or username.
- An organisation, company or group.
Title: What is the name of the work?
- The name or title of the work. For standalone works, italicise the title.
- The name or title of another work/collection that your work is part of (e.g. chapter and book title, article and newspaper title). The title of the cited work is in normal type, and the title of the bigger work/collection is italicised.
- Any special identifying numbers or codes for the item (e.g. version or catalogue number) may be provided after the title.
- For unusual publications not otherwise described by the title, consider including some descriptive information (e.g. Package insert, Interactive feature, LISTSERV discussion).
Date: When was the work made?
- Was the work created or made public on a specific date?
- Was the word changed, revised or adjusted on a specific date?
- If the work could change after you saw it, an accessed date may be required.
Publisher or URL: Where could your reader obtain a copy of the work?
- A company responsible for distributing copies of the work (e.g. book publisher, film studio).
- A unique collection, archive or database that the work is held in.
- An online location where a reader could view the work.
- If no copy of the source exists (e.g. an unrecorded verbal conversation), this may be an unpublished source which should not be put in the reference list.
For further examples or more details consult:
- AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (11th edition)
- AMA Style Insider blog. NB all blog content published before 2020 refers to the previous 10th edition of the AMA Manual
