What Is Academic
Referencing?
In academic writing, authors need to cite their sources. So, if you’re a student or a researcher, you need to show when you’ve used someone else’s words or ideas. This allows you to do a few things, including:
- Demonstrate your understanding of the subject area
- Show that you have done your research
- Back up your arguments with existing theories or studies
- Credit the work of other writers and researchers
- Prevent any accusations of plagiarism
Academic referencing usually involves two things:
- In-text citations (or footnotes) in the main body of your writing
- A reference list or bibliography at the end of your document
How this works will depend on the system you are using. Our expert academic proofreaders can help you ensure that your referencing is always correct.
Referencing Styles
And Systems
Our expert editors can work with a range of referencing
styles, including:
We can work with other referencing styles on request, too. Just let us know which system you’re using when you upload your work, and we’ll tailor our service accordingly. For more information on legal referencing styles, such as OSCOLA and AGLC, see our dedicated legal referencing page.
What We Do With References And Citations
When we proofread your document, we will:
- Check that citations and references are formatted correctly
- Ensure that quotations are clearly marked
- Look for missing citations or missing information in citations
- Find and highlight inconsistencies
- Make sure your bibliography or reference list is complete
If we spot an issue with referencing, we will usually leave a comment and suggest a correction rather than make an edit. This is to ensure we follow academic plagiarism guidelines.
