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Referencing

Welcome to the Referencing guide

This guide provides links to websites and electronic resources that help you learn how to reference your assignments correctly.

Different referencing styles cater for the specific requirements of different disciplines.This guide includes the styles most commonly used at Macquarie University.

Use the tabs along the left to navigate to the page that covers the referencing style you require and scroll down each page to get the full content.

Referencing generative artificial intelligence (e.g. ChatGPT)

For each unit you are studying, check whether you are allowed to use generative artificial intelligence tools to complete your assessments.

You should acknowledge (reference) your use of these tools if and when you do so.

You will find referencing strategies under each style in this Referencing Guide. We recommend checking back regularly for updates.

Last updated 27 Feb 2023

Information ethics

Using the works or ideas of another person, whether intentionally or not, and presenting them as your own without clear acknowledgement of the source is called Plagiarism.

Macquarie University promotes awareness of information ethics. To enable a consistent, equitable and transparent approach to Academic Integrity amongst staff and students, MQ has compiled the Academic Integrity Policy.

The University tackles the issue of Academic honesty through use of an online Anti-plagiarism Software (Turnitin).

Penalties will apply if work is proven to have breached the Academic Integrity Policy.

Build your referencing skills

Learn the why, what and how of referencing in StudyWISE.

The Writing Centre and Library also offer Referencing workshops for all students to enhance their academic skills and performance. 

Referencing Management Software

Bibliographic management software can be useful in referencing assignments, particularly long assignments such as theses.  

Most bibliographic management software allows you to:

  • Create bibliographic records for your citations, either by manual entry or electronically, mainly from databases and library catalogues.
  • Manage this data by allowing the addition of personal notes, attachments and sorting of records.
  • Link to word processing documents to insert in-text or footnote citations and construct bibliographies.
  • Access a range of citation styles.
  • Access a range of format types (book, journal article, book chapter).

Visit our Bibliographic Management guide to learn more: