This document provides an introduction to referencing and outlines the key components of referencing, including what referencing is, why it is important, and the two-stage process of in-text citations and reference lists. It discusses referencing style, how to cite sources in-text using direct quotations and paraphrasing, and the details that should be included for in-text citations. Examples are provided to illustrate in-text citations and reference list entries for different source types, including books, journal articles from databases or with DOIs/URLs, websites, and more.

1. Introduction to Referencing

2. Agenda
● What is referencing
● How to cite in-text
● The reference list

3. What is referencing?
A standardized way of acknowledging sources of
information and ideas that you have used in your
assignment

4. Why reference?
Good referencing will improve the overall quality of your essay in
several ways:
● arguments clearly supported by evidence
● work will be more convincing
● marker can see how widely you read and if you fully understand the work
● readers can find your sources
● work will reflect the academic values and good academic practice
expected at University.
● avoid plagiarism

5. Referencing style
• UCT Author-date
– Based on Harvard referencing style
• UCT Author-date reference guide

6. Two stages of referencing
• In-text citation
– Put brief details in round brackets () within the body of an essay to
indicate every instance that you have borrowed words or ideas
• Reference list
– Put the full details of all sources used in your work at the end of your
paper

7. How to cite sources
• Direct quotation – use someone else’s work word for word
• Put the words used in “quotation marks”
• Use sparingly
• Paraphrasing – put someone else’s ideas in your own words

8. Details to include for in-text citation
Author’s surname
WHO
Date (year) of publication
WHEN
Page number
WHERE

9. Example
From:
Crouch, L. A. 1996. Public education equity and efficiency in South
Africa: lessons for other countries. Economics of Education Review.15(2):
125-137. DOI:10.1016/0272-7757(96)00004-0.
Extract from page 134:
It is now perhaps trite to state the rather obvious fact that South African
society embodies both First World and Third World standards of living.
WHO
Crouch
WHERE
134
WHEN
1996

10. In-text citation - Direct quotation
The study found that “South African society embodies both First World and
Third World living standards” (Crouch, 1996:134).
Crouch (1996:134) states that “South African society embodies both First
World and Third World living standards”.
NB: List all authors to a maximum of three separated by a comma but the last
separated by an ampersand &. If more than 3 authors, list the first author followed by et
al.

11. In-text citation - Paraphrase
In an analysis of equity and efficiency in public education, it was
found that South Africa has elements of both a first world
country and a third world country (Crouch, 1996:134).
In his analysis of equity and efficiency in public education,
Crouch (1996:134) noted that South Africa has elements of
both a first world country and a third world country.

12. In-text citation
Sometimes the basic structure of a citation will vary slightly.
For example, when there is:
• no author
• no date
• no page numbers

13. In-text citation - No author
If there is no author, use the first significant words of the title. Usually, three
words are enough for in-text citations. Use ellipses for longer titles to indicate the
omission of words:
(“First significant words of title …”, year of publication:page number)
Title: SA and Nigeria in deal to enhance bilateral economic co-operation
“SA and Nigeria in deal …”
South Africa is hopeful for an increase in economic activity with Nigeria (“SA
and Nigeria in deal …”, 2016:3).
“SA and Nigeria in deal …” (2016:3) noted that “SA is optimistic about further
growth of economic ties between the two countries”.

14. Practice Exercises

15. Which in-text citation is correct?
A. According to (Fischer, 2001:18) the type of inflation
that is associated with wars usually arises from an
increase in aggregate demand.
B. According to Fischer (2001:18) the type of inflation
that is associated with wars usually arises from an
increase in aggregate demand.

16. Answer
B. According to Fischer (2001:18) the type of inflation
that is associated with wars usually arises from an
increase in aggregate demand.

17. What will the in-text citation look like for the following
context:
Two authors: Aisen, Ari
Veiga, Francisco Jose
Date: 2006
Page: 27
Furthermore, they argue that politically unstable countries are often susceptible
to political shocks _________________

18. Answer
Two authors: Aisen, Ari
Veiga, Francisco Jose
Date: 2006
Page: 27
Furthermore, they argue that politically unstable countries are often susceptible
to political shocks (Aisen & Veiga, 2006:27).

19. Context: Four authors
Hint: Authors’ names are not part of the sentence
Its target-range approach amounts to “a compromise between an exclusive
focus on price stability and concern for short-term output and employment
goals” ________
A. (Bernanke, Laubach, Mishkin & Posen, 1999:116).
B. Bernanke, Laubach, Mishkin & Posen (1999:116).
C. (Bernanke et al., 1999:116).
D. Bernanke et al. (1999:116).

20. Answer
Its target-range approach amounts to “a compromise between an exclusive
focus on price stability and concern for short-term output and employment
goals” ________
A. (Bernanke, Laubach, Mishkin & Posen, 1999:116).
B. Bernanke, Laubach, Mishkin & Posen (1999:116).
C. (Bernanke et al., 1999:116).
D. Bernanke et al. (1999:116).

21. Reference list
• Full details of all the sources mentioned in your work have to
be listed at the end of the paper
• Alphabetical order
• Details included in a reference are dependent on the source
type i.e. book, article, website etc.

22. Basic structure of UCT Author-date reference
Author(s) of resource – Surname & initials
WHO
Date of publication – Year of publication
WHEN
Title of resource
WHAT
Publication details
• Book - Place and name of publisher
• Journal - Volume, issue and page numbers
• Web resource – URL – web address
WHERE

23. Referencing - Book
Glimcher, P. W. 2011. Foundations of neuroeconomic analysis. New
York: Oxford University Press.
Note: The names of all authors should appear in the reference list to a maximum of eight. Add et al.
after the eighth name when there are more than eight authors.
Surname & initials Glimcher, P. W.
WHO
Year of publication 2011.
WHEN
Title of book - italicised Foundations of neuroeconomic
analysis.
WHAT
Town of publication New York:
Name of publisher Oxford University Press.
WHERE

24. Referencing journal articles
Things to consider:
• Does it have a DOI?
A unique number that identifies electronic documents. It is guaranteed
never to change, so you can use it to link permanently to electronic
documents.
• Does it have a stable URL/permalink?

25. Referencing – Electronic journal with DOI
A DOI is a unique number that identifies electronic documents. It is guaranteed
never to change, so you can use it to link permanently to electronic documents.
DOI

26. Referencing – Electronic journal with DOI
A DOI is a unique number that identifies electronic documents. It is persistent
identifier, so you can use it to link permanently to electronic documents.

27. DOI

28. Referencing – Electronic journal with DOI
Pons-Vignon, N. & Anseeuw, W. 2009. Great expectations: working conditions in South
Africa since the end of apartheid. Journal of Southern African Studies. 35(4):883-899.
DOI: 10.1080/03057070903313236.
Surname & initials Pons-Vignon, N. & Anseeuw, W.
WHO
Year of publication 2009.
WHEN
Title of article – Great expectations: working conditions in
South Africa since the end of apartheid.
Title of journal – italicised & capitalised (except articles &
prepositions) Journal of Southern African Studies.
WHAT (x2)
Journal volume and issue number 35(4):
Page number(s) - for the article 883-899.
DOI - DOI: 10.1080/03057070903313236.
WHERE

29. Referencing – Electronic journal with a stable URL

30. Referencing – Electronic journal with a stable URL

31. Electronic journal with a permalink

32. Electronic journal with a permalink

33. Referencing – Electronic journal with stable URL/permalink
Siebert, W.S. 1987. Black trade unions and the wage gap in South Africa. Managerial
and Decision Economics. 8(1):55-65. Available: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2560525
[2020, August 24].
Surname & initials Siebert, W.S.
WHO
Year of publication 1987.
WHEN
Title of publication - Black trade unions and the wage gap in South
Africa. Title of journal – italicised & capitalised (except articles &
prepositions) Managerial and Decision Economics.
WHAT (x2)
Journal volume and issue number 8(1):
Page number(s) - for the article 55-65.
Stable URL or permalink - preceded by the word Available:
Available: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2560525
Date retrieved [2018, March 20].
WHERE

34. Practice example
How do you reference this journal article?

35. Answer
Ariovich, A. 1985. The economics of diamond
price movements. Managerial and Decision
Economics. 6(4):234-240. Available:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2487029 [2020,
August 24].

36. Referencing - Website (personal authors)
Dreschler, D. & Hallam, D. 2009. Buying land in developing nations: challenges
and promises. Available: http://www.voxeu.org/article/buying-land-developing-
nations [2020, August 25].
Surname & initials Dreschler, D. & Hallam, D.
WHO
Year produced or last updated 2009.
WHEN
Title of resource - italicised Buying land in developing
nations: challenges and promises.
WHAT
URL – preceded by the word Available: Available:
http://www.voxeu.org/article/buying-land-developing-nations
Date retrieved - date resource was accessed [2020, August 25].
WHERE

37. Referencing - Website (group or corporate author)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2015. Health care quality
indicators - primary care. Available: http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/hcqi-primary-
care.htm [2018, February 9].
NB: 1st in-text citation: (Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development [OECD], 2015)
Subsequently: (OECD, 2015)
Name of organisation Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development.
WHO
Year produced or last updated 2015.
WHEN
Title of resource - italicised Health care quality indicators -
primary care.
WHAT
URL – preceded by the word Available:
Date retrieved - date resource was accessed [2018,
February 9].
WHERE

38. Practice Example
Which elements do you use to reference this website?

39. Answer
How do you reference this website?
WHO
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE

40. Answer
O'Brien, B. 2010. Water licences valued at A$2.8 billion
traded in Australia’s emerging water markets. Available:
http://voxeu.org/article/price-precious-commodity-water-
trading-australia [2020, August 24].

41. Source with no date
If there is no publication date or identifiable copyright date, use the
abbreviation n.d.
In-text
SADC was formed to reduce economic dependence on apartheid South
Africa (Africa Union Commission [AUC], n.d.).
Reference list
Africa Union Commission. n.d. Southern African Development Community
(SADC). Available: http://www.au.int/en/recs/sadc [2016, January 14].

42. Secondary sourcing - Citing sources you didn’t read
You are reading:
Crouch, L. A. 1996. Public education equity and efficiency in South Africa: lessons for other
countries. Economics of Education Review. 15(2): 125-137. DOI:10.1016/0272-
7757(96)00004-0.
On page 126 Crouch paraphrases an idea from Pillay 1990 in this way:
With specific respect to education, other researchers have noted the similarity of problems in
South Africa to those in other developing areas, with particular reference to Latin America
(Pillay, 1990).

43. Secondary sourcing - Citing sources you didn’t read
If you are interested in using what Pillay said in your essay, you can do one of two things:
1. Find the Pillay 1990 article by looking at the reference list of the Crouch article.
Use Primo or Google Scholar to find the full text.
Reference Pillay in the in-text and in your reference list
2. If you can’t find the Pillay 1990 article, you can reference Pillay as a secondary source.
Your in-text reference will look like this:
Pillay (1990) cited in Crouch (1996:126) states that…
According to Pillay (1990, cited in Crouch 1996:126) education …
Your reference list will only include Crouch and NOT Pillay as you only read Crouch (you did not read the
full text of Pillay).

44. Tip: Get help from Primo, Databases

45. Tip: Get help from Primo, Databases

46. Tip: Get help from Primo, Databases

47. Change style to “Harvard”

48. Copy and paste to your essay
NB: You still need to ensure that your reference is correct according to UCT Author-Date style

49. UCT Author-Date Reference Guide
The guide is available on the Libraries’ website

50. Go to: www.lib.uct.ac.za
Hover your mouse on
Research

52. Reference guide

53. In-text and Reference List examples

54. maureen.chiware@uct.ac.za

55. Acknowledgement:
Some content has been adapted from Learnhigher
http://www.learnhigher.ac.uk/writing-for-university/referencing/