Introduction
It’s important to develop an understanding of how referencing works, and the specific system(s) used in your discipline, and in your early days at university a manual approach to referencing may be the best option.
As you begin to tackle more substantial assignments such as longer essays or dissertations, and find yourself handling a greater volume of sources, it makes sense to explore referencing management tools.
These can automate a lot of your citation and referencing for you, although they must be used with care and you must still perform manual checks to ensure accuracy and adherence to the relevant referencing style.
Endnote
The University supports a system called Endnote. As a matriculated student, you can access this software free both on University computers and on your own device. Endnote is easy to use and is fully compatible with the library’s search function, meaning you can quickly import the details of sources you’ve found as part of your literature search. It’s also compatible with MS Word, meaning you can insert correctly formed citations and references into your work in just a few clicks.
You can find guidance and resources on how to use Endnote, including details of training sessions run by the Library and Learning Centre on the library’s dedicated Endnote page.
Other electronic systems
Other popular systems include Mendeley and Zotero. There’s nothing wrong with exploring these options too and choosing the one you find most useful, but bear in mind that you won’t find the same level of support in place in the University for these alternative systems.
