Referencing is acknowledging the sources of information you have referred to in your work. It’s important to properly record the information you have used – this way whoever is marking your work can find the original source. Be consistent in your style of referencing and use the same style throughout your work (for example, Harvard, which is the style we use on this website!).
Referencing also allows you to:
- Distinguish your original ideas and thoughts from others’
- Support an argument or point of view
- Demonstrate breadth of reading
- Acknowledge the contribution of others
- Keep track of information
- Avoid accusations of plagiarism
