HOW TO INSERT A CITATION INTO AN ESSAY FULL

It’s easy to get caught up in the act of writing your essay, but it’s imperative that you include full footnotes and proper referencing whenever possible, as that is what separates academic writing from opinion. Author’s first name and last name, title in italics, city of publication, publisher and year, page number if relevant.Guidelines to help you avoid mistakes with footnotes include: always include a full citation the first time you reference a source cite author’s names as they appear with texts don’t replace names with initials and if no author is listed, organise the entry by title.Ī Chicago style footnote citation will take the following form: The Chicago citation style, established by the University of Chicago Press, is probably the most commonly used footnote format. Author’s initials and surname, title of the article, book or journal, editor (if applicable), publisher name, location and year published.When you reference a source in a footnote for the first time using the Oxford system, you must provide full bibliographic information, which includes: However, it’s well worth checking with your tutor beforehand. If you write full bibliographic information in the footnote, you may not have to include a bibliography. Using the Oxford system, citations in the text usually consist of a superscript number which relates to a footnote at the bottom of the page.

The rest of the information, such as the title and publication details, should be included in the bibliography. Citations within the text should include the name of the author, the date of the source, and, if necessary, the page numbers you used. Using the Harvard system, which is the predominant form of referencing at universities in the UK, sources are cited in short, parenthetical notes within the text. Typically, British universities prefer the use of in-text citations.įootnotes and different referencing styles Doing so will prove you’ve done your research too.ĭouble-check footnotes can be used – Different universities and referencing styles all have their own take on footnotes, so before you start listing footnote citations, check they are actually allowed. Remember that your bibliography should include all of your reading, and everything that has informed your essay, even if they are not directly referenced. You still need a bibliography – With the occasional exception found in the Oxford referencing system, the use of footnotes does not replace the need for a bibliography at the end of your essay, despite the fact that extensive footnotes can make them seem superfluous. Place a short reminder in the form of a comment or even a brief footnote to prompt you to fill these in later. Whatever content you choose to include, it’s usually best to leave your footnotes until the essay is finished and your bibliography is complete. Write your footnotes last – A footnote is commonly, but not always, a shortened version of a citation contained in your bibliography. A footnote might only include the title of the source. The information contained within a bibliography will provide the reader with full details of the work, including when and where the source was published. The bibliography page is the last section of your essay or dissertation and includes the full citation information for any source cited or referenced through the course of your work. The footnote is found at the bottom of the page, and is referenced through a superscript number within the main body of your copy.

As a general rule, if you’re not 100 percent sure how a footnote should be used, it’s best not to use one at all.įootnotes should be included to provide the reader with additional information about the content. Some students choose to use footnotes without having a firm grasp of how they should be used, or what they should be used for. The difference between a footnote and a bibliography The rules you must follow can be tricky to grasp initially, but if you do ever need a quick recap then Oxbridge Essays are always happy to help and give your work a going over to pick up any tiny errors. In university, your ability to reference sources correctly will have a considerable impact on the mark you receive.

How to insert a citation into an essay