How to cite

Scientific writing requires evidence. You cannot just make it up! References to other (scientific and reliable) publications show that you are aware of the background of your topic, of current research, and of relevant official data. They also show that you know how to use all that information to support your findings.

Cite, paraphrase or summarize?

There are three ways in which you can include information from sources in your own text: citing, paraphrasing, or summarizing.

Citing

If the exact words of the original document are important, you should cite the text. This is for example the case when it matters which formulation the author used. Put the citation between double quotation marks to indicate that the words are not your own and add a reference.

Be aware: long quotations with 40 words or more are considered as block quotations and are formatted in an isolated block without quotation marks.

When you cite, bear in mind that:

• Too many citations make your text difficult to read.
• Citations must not be too long. Your text should mostly be your own, not a copy of someone else’s.

Some examples of direct quotations:

An example of a block quotation:

Source: Sigler, M. (2014). The effects of plastic pollution on aquatic wildlife: current situations and future solutions

Paraphrasing

In many cases, you want to put the idea(s) from another’s work into your own text and therefore you will paraphrase it. Paraphrasing rather than using direct quotations gives you the opportunity to show that you understand the idea(s) being discussed. A paraphrase is approximately the same length as the original text.
Paraphrase a text by describing the original idea(s) in your own words and adding a reference.

When you paraphrase:

• Use your own words. It is not enough to replace one or two words with a synonym!
• Make sure your readers are absolutely clear about which parts of your text are paraphrases, and which parts are your own ideas.

View this video about paraphrasing:

Summarizing

Summarizing means that you describe a significant part of someone else’s work in a few sentences. In this way you are able to include a complete overview of the ideas of someone else’s work into your own.
The rules for summarizing are the same as for paraphrasing: you should use your own words and add a reference.

View this video about how to write a summary:

When should you use references?

• When giving an overview of the research carried out previously: your starting point.
• When you use factual (e.g. statistical) data which you did not collect yourself.
• To support a statement: to indicate that it is based on research, and not something you just made up.
• Sometimes, but not too often, simply to illustrate a point you are making.

When information is considered as “common knowledge”, you don’t need to add a reference. “Common knowledge” is something which anyone familiar with a field of research is expected to know. In case of doubt, it is better to add an unnecessary reference than leave one out which is required.

When you publish a text, you want other people to credit you when they use your work. The same applies to the authors whose work you use! Using someone else’s work or findings without indicating that you have done so is plagiarism.

• Always cite or paraphrase correctly.
• Better be safe than sorry; it is better to add an unnecessary reference than forget a necessary one.

For more information about the TU Delft policy

Formatting your references

There are certain rules for the order of the references in your reference list as well as for the formatting of the references themselves. These rules are determined by the citation style you choose. A reference must contain enough elements to be traceable. There are many different citation styles available.
Usually, you will be told to use a specific reference style, so you can simply look up the style on the internet or in a book and make sure you follow its rules. If you can choose your own style, it is a matter of personal taste. Just make sure you consistently use a single reference style.

Formatting image references 

All reproduced images, photographs, tables and figures in your paper must be cited three times: in the text, in the caption beneath the image (including a copyright statement) and in the reference list. A copyright statement is not necessary if you have bought a stock photo or if the image is your own work. In that case use the words “own work” in the caption or add a note in your text stating that photo’s or drawings without reference are your own.

Reference management software

When formatting references, using reference management software is a real help. Check the TUlib module about Reference management to learn more.

If you don’t want to use reference management software (yet), you can use one of the free online tools to format the references for your paper; for example:

If you use these tools don’t forget to check your references!

Reference styles

Reference styles can be divided into two main groups: author-date styles and numbered styles. Author-date styles are sometimes also called parenthesized styles.

For examples in APA style look at the APA 6th Citation Examples.

Reference list vs. Bibliography

Sometimes these terms are mixed up, but formally a reference list is a list of all publications an author refers to (either cites or paraphrases) in a document.

A bibliography is more extensive: it also includes works the author read in preparation to writing a document, but did not actually refer to. A bibliography is usually only included in a longer publication, such as a book or a PhD-thesis, while a reference list is customary in all academic writing.

References

BibMe. (2017). BibMe. Retrieved from http://www.bibme.org/

Cite This For Me. (2017). Harvard Citation Generator. Retrieved from http://www.citethisforme.com/citation-generator/harvard

Frick, T. (2005). What is plagiarism at Indiana University? Retrieved from Indiana University website: https://www.indiana.edu/~tedfrick/plagiarism/item1.html

Lee, C. (2016. January 26). Navigation copyright for reproduced images: Part 4. Writing the copyright statement [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2016/01/navigating-copyright-part-4.html

McAdoo, T. (2010, March 25). How to cite direct quotations [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2010/03/how-to-cite-direct-quotations.html

Sigler, M. (2014). The effects of plastic pollution on aquatic wildlife: current situations and future solutions. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 225(2184). doi: 10.1007/s11270-014-2184-6

TU Delft. (2017). Fraud & Plagiarism. Retrieved May 22, 2017, from https://www.tudelft.nl/en/student/legal-position/fraud-plagiarism/