Library Assist: Answers

Half of the battle with referencing can be working out what type of document you are using. Once you know what your source is, it then becomes simpler to find the appropriate template to follow when putting your reference together. 

Look closely at the item for any helpful information, and think about the following points:

• For online sources, is the information actually on the webpage itself or have you had to download a separate document?
• What kind of structure does your source have? Is it broken down into clearly defined sections, or is it a more continuous piece of writing?
• Are there any clues in the title(s) that can tell you what type of source it is?

Source-specific pointers

A good quality academic journal article should have two separate titles: an article title (the name of the piece you are reading), and the journal title (the name of the journal that the article was published in). Many will also have volume and issue numbers, and often a doi (digitial object identifier).

A report will include an overall report title, possibly with multiple subtitles, and identifiable authors whether these be named individuals, an organisation or a government department. Reports often have to be downloaded as separate files, and can be structured in formal sections with numbered subheadings and a contents page.

Online newspaper articles typically include a headline and the name of the person who wrote the article. The overall title of the newspaper should also be apparent, perhaps from having the newspaper's logo on the screen.

General webpages tend to have a less formal structure and can be read as one scrollable source. Ideally the author's details should be apparent (either as a named person/people or an organisation) and there should be a date. If you can't clearly find an author and/or a date, treat the source with caution.

More categories, and the information they typically include can be found at Cite Them Right, the University's official referencing guide.

If you are still unsure which type of source you have, use the Cite Them Right website to compare the referencing format of the types of source you suspect you may have. You may find they are the same.

This video on the Cite Them Right site may also be helpful.