Referencing@Portsmouth

An Interactive Referencing Guide

Harvard APA

Most departments in the University use Harvard APA referencing. We are currently using the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) for our style guides.

There are two editions in use, the 5th and 6th editions. Most of the styles remain unchanged. Where there are differences between the editions these are clearly shown on the following pages.

If you are starting a new course during the 2011-12 academic year,

you should use the 6th edition.

If you are a continuing or direct entry student, you should use the 5th edition.

In all cases you should follow the requirements of your department.

Vancouver COMING SOON!!!
Vancouver style is used within School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences - are you sure this is the system your tutor wants you to use?
Oscola
Oscola style is used if you are asked to use footnotes and are writing about Law and if you are writing for a qualifying Law degree.
Confused?

Some University departments use other referencing systems. Please check with your unit handbook or course tutor if you are not sure.

  • History (referencing for History units taught by staff in the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies)

There are three important principles for good referenceing:

1) Reference what you have seen, and only that.

2) Make sure your source is as easily traceable as possible.

3) Be consistent in how you reference; that's why you are asked to follow a particular style.

! Within this site referencing means when you list all the sources used at the end of a piece of work and citation is what you write in the actual body of your work when you want to indicate the sources used !