References and citations: what's the difference?

All academic writers need to show the sources of their ideas and information. This allows readers to go back to the sources if they want more detail.


References give the information needed to find a source. They are usually listed alphabetically at the end of the article or book eg:


Smith, M. (2009) Power and the State. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.


(Author, date of publication, title, place of publication, publisher)


Citations are links, included in the text, to the full reference. Citations for quotations have this form:


Smith 2009:37


(Author's surname, date of publication, page number)


Citations for summaries use this format:


Smith (2009)


(Author's surname, date of publication)


For more details about references see:

Academic Writing Chapter 1.8 page 62