Format references in word

Word for Microsoft 365 Word 2021 Word 2019 Word 2016 More…Less

In Word, you can easily add citations when writing a document where you need to cite your sources, such as a research paper. Citations can be added in various formats, including APA, Chicago-style, GOST, IEEE, ISO 690, and MLA. Afterwards, you can create a bibliography of the sources you used to write your paper.

To add a citation to your document, you first add the source that you used.

Add a new citation and source to a document

  1. On the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click the arrow next to Style and click the style that you want to use for the citation and source. For example, social sciences documents usually use the MLA or APA styles for citations and sources.

    The Style APA option is highlighted on the References tab

  2. Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite.

  3. On the Reference tab, click Insert Citation and then do one of the following:

    • To add the source information, click Add New Source, and then, in the Create Source dialog box, click the arrow next to Type of Source, and select the type of source you want to use (for example, a book section or a website).

    • To add a placeholder, so that you can create a citation and fill in the source information later, click Add New Placeholder. A question mark appears next to placeholder sources in Source Manager.

  4. If you chose to add a source, enter the details for the source. To add more information about a source, click the Show All Bibliography Fields check box.

  5. Click OK when finished. The source is added as a citation at the place you selected in your document.

When you’ve completed these steps, the citation is added to the list of available citations. The next time you quote this reference, you don’t have to type it all out again. You just add the citation to your document. After you’ve added a source, you may find you need to make changes to it at a later time. To do this, see Edit a source.

Notes: 

  • If you’ve added a placeholder and want to replace it with citation information, see Edit a source.

  • If you choose a GOST or ISO 690 style for your sources and a citation is not unique, append an alphabetic character to the year. For example, a citation would appear as [Pasteur, 1848a].

  • If you choose ISO 690-Numerical Reference and your citations still don’t appear consecutively, you must click the ISO 690 style again, and then press ENTER to correctly order the citations.

Add citations to your document

  1. Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite, and then on the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Insert Citations.

  2. From the list of citations under Insert Citation, select the citation you want to use.

    The list of citations is shown from the Insert Citation button

Find a source

The list of sources that you use can become quite long. At times, you might need to search for a source that you cited in another document.

  1. On the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Manage Sources.

    The Manage Sources option is highlighted on the References tab

    If you open a new document that does not yet contain citations, all of the sources that you used in previous documents appear under Master List.

    If you open a document that includes citations, the sources for those citations appear under Current List. All the sources that you have cited, either in previous documents or in the current document, appear under Master List.

  2. To find a specific source, do one of the following:

    • In the sorting box, sort by author, title, citation tag name, or year, and then look for the source that you want in the resulting list.

    • In the Search box, type the title or author for the source that you want to find. The list dynamically narrows to match your search term.

Note: You can click the Browse button in Source Manager to select another master list from which you can import new sources into your document. For example, you might connect to a file on a shared server, on a research colleague’s computer or server, or on a Web site that is hosted by a university or research institution.

Edit a source

  1. On the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Manage Sources.

    The Manage Sources option is highlighted on the References tab

  2. In the Source Manager dialog box, under Master List or Current List, select the source you want to edit, and then click Edit.

    Note: To edit a placeholder to add citation information, select the placeholder from Current List and click Edit.

  3. In the Edit Source dialog box, make the changes you want and click OK.

    Edit Source dialog box

Need more help?

Insert and Manage Dynamic Cross-Reference Fields in Microsoft Word

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 9, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)

In Microsoft Word, you can insert a cross-reference to content in another part of your Word document and then update it if the target of the cross-reference changes. A cross-reference can refer to a heading, bookmark, the caption of a table or figure as well as other target items. Since a cross-reference is a field, it can be updated and formatted manually, using styles or using switches in the field.

Recommended article: How to Keep Text Together in Microsoft Word (Paragraphs, Lines or Words)

The information inserted by a cross-reference field can be text, a page number, a section number, a paragraph number, a caption number, a caption label or a combination of items. The cross-reference field is a code so it can also include special information in the code (called a switch) that make the field act or appear in a specific way. For example, a cross-reference field may act as a hyperlink so you can jump directly to the target of the cross-reference by Ctrl-clicking the field.

It’s easiest to create cross-references to built-in heading styles but they can also be used with bookmarks, footnotes or endnotes.

For example, you could insert a cross-reference to a built-in heading style as follows:

See Section 4: About Our Services on page 5.

In this case, the cross-reference refers to a style’s paragraph number, paragraph text and a page number so you would need to insert three separate cross-references and type some of the text (like the word See) as well as appropriate spacing.

Inserting a cross-reference to a built-in heading

It’s common to create a cross-reference to a built-in heading in Microsoft Word.

To insert a cross-reference to a built-in heading in the current document:

  1. Position the cursor where you want to insert your cross-reference.
  2. Type text that you want to precede the cross-reference (such as See) and any necessary spacing.
  3. Click the References tab in the Ribbon.
  4. In the Captions group, click Cross-reference. A dialog box appears.
  5. In the Reference type drop-down menu, select Heading.
  6. In the Reference to drop-down menu, select Heading text, Page number, Heading number, Heading number (no content) or Heading number (full content).
  7. In the For which heading list, click the item you want to reference.
  8. Ensure Insert as hyperlink is selected If you want to be able to Ctrl-click the cross-reference to jump to the referenced item.
  9. Click Insert. Word inserts an invisible bookmark to the target.
  10. Repeat for other items you want to include in the cross-reference. The dialog box can remain open.
  11. Click Close.

In the following example, note that Heading has been selected as the Reference type in the Cross-reference dialog box:

Insert cross-reference dialog box in Microsoft Word to a built-in heading.

In the Cross-reference dialog box, the Separate numbers with and Include above/below check boxes are enabled under some conditions.

All paragraphs that are formatted with one of the built-in heading styles (Heading 1-9) are automatically shown in the dialog box. Although you can use outline levels, it’s best to use the built-in heading styles (these appear in the Home tab in the Ribbon in the Styles group and in other areas in Word).

Inserting a cross-reference to a bookmark

You can also insert a bookmark and then insert a cross-reference to the bookmark.

To insert a cross-reference to a bookmark in the current document:

  1. Position the cursor where you want to insert a bookmark.
  2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  3. Click Bookmark in the Links group. A dialog box appears.
  4. Type a name for the bookmark without spaces.
  5. Click Add.
  6. Click where you want to insert the cross-reference to the bookmark.
  7. Type text that you want to precede the cross-reference (such as See) and any necessary spacing.
  8. Click the References tab in the Ribbon.
  9. In the Captions group, click Cross-reference. A dialog box appears.
  10. In the Reference type drop-down menu, select Bookmark.
  11. In the Reference to drop-down menu, select Bookmark text, Page number or one of the other options as required.
  12. In the For which heading list, click the item you want to reference.
  13. Ensure Insert as hyperlink is selected If you want to be able to Ctrl-click the cross-reference to jump to the referenced item.
  14. Click Insert.
  15. Repeat for other items you want to include in the cross-reference. The dialog box can remain open.
  16. Click Close.

The following is an example of a bookmark created in the Bookmark dialog box:

Insert bookmark dialog box in Microsoft Word.

Inserting a cross-reference to a table or figure

You can cross-reference tables and figures in Word if you have inserted captions using Insert Caption on the References tab in the Ribbon.

To insert a cross-reference to a table or figure in the current document:

  1. Click where you want to insert the cross-reference to the table or figure (which has already been captioned).
  2. Type text that you want to precede the cross-reference (such as See) and any necessary spacing.
  3. Click the References tab in the Ribbon.
  4. In the Captions group, click Cross-reference. A dialog box appears.
  5. In the Reference type drop-down menu, select Table or Figure.
  6. In the Reference to drop-down menu, select the required option – Entire caption (which includes the figure caption or table title with the label and number), Only label and number (such as Table 10), Only caption text (which includes the figure caption or table title without the label and number), Page number or Above/below (which inserts the word above or below with no additional text related to the table or figure).
  7. In the For which heading list, click the table or figure you want to reference.
  8. Ensure Insert as hyperlink is selected If you want to be able to Ctrl-click the cross-reference to jump to the referenced item.
  9. Click Insert.
  10. Repeat for other items you want to include in the cross-reference. The dialog box can remain open.
  11. Click Close.

In the following example, note that Table has been selected as the Reference type in the Cross-reference dialog box:

Insert cross-reference dialog box in Microsoft Word to table.

Showing or hiding field codes

Cross-references are fields. Normally, the result of a field is displayed but you can also view the field codes.

To show or hide all field codes in your document, press Alt + F9.

The following is an example of a field code:

{ REF _Ref46507086 h }

Understanding cross-reference field codes

When you insert a cross-reference, a field code will be inserted based on what the reference refers to.

There are three types of cross-reference fields in Word – PAGEREF, NOTEREF and REF. The first part of the field code of a cross-reference field indicates which type of field it is.

A cross-reference field that refers to the page on which the target is found is a PAGEREF type. When you select Page number as the Reference to insert in the Cross-reference dialog box, the inserted cross-reference field will be PAGEREF.

A cross-reference field with a footnote or an endnote as the target will be the NOTEREF type.

All other cross-reference fields will be the REF type.

Part of the field code inside a cross-reference field refers to a bookmark that points to the target. A bookmark in Word is a named location or a named block of text or other content in a document.

If you refer to a built-in heading style in a cross-reference, Word automatically adds a bookmark around the heading text at the beginning and the end (excluding the paragraph mark) if a bookmark is not already found. The name of the bookmark is included in the field code of the cross-reference field. Bookmarks that are automatically added are named _Ref followed by eight or nine digits.

If you are inserting a cross-reference to a caption, a bookmark will also be added to enclose the part of the caption content to be displayed by the cross-reference field. The bookmark will include different parts of the caption depending on the kind of caption reference you select (such as the entire caption or only the label and number).

The following is an example of a cross-reference for a REF field:

{ REF _Ref449977221 p h d».»* CHARFORMAT }

The syntax for REF fields is:

{ REF Bookmark [* Format Switch ] [Switches ] }

Switches are optional.

The underscore at the start of the bookmark name means that the bookmark is being treated as a hidden bookmark in Word. You cannot add hidden bookmarks manually.

Hidden bookmarks are invisible in the document even if you turn on display of bookmarks. You can view invisible bookmarks in the Bookmarks dialog box, but you must turn on Hidden bookmarks to display them.

Formatting cross-references

Cross-references can be formatted manually, using styles or using switches in the field code. A switch holds special information that causes the field to act or appear in a specific way.

One easy way to format a cross-reference is by using a character style such as Emphasis or Intense Emphasis.

To apply the Emphasis, Intense Emphasis or Intense Reference character style to a cross-reference:

  1. Select the cross-reference as well as any surrounding text that refers to it.
  2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
  3. Click the More down arrow in the Style gallery in the Styles group.
  4. Click Emphasis, Intense Emphasis or Intense Reference.

The benefit of this method is that you can later modify the style or find and replace the style with a different style.

In a future article, we’ll take a look at more advanced formatting techniques for cross-references.

Updating cross-references

If a document has been edited, you will likely need to update the cross-references since cross-references do not update automatically.

It is important that the markers that are added at the beginning and end of the target of a cross-reference are not deleted or moved during editing. If they are, you will need to reinsert the cross-reference because you will receive an error when you update.

You can update cross-references manually by pressing Ctrl + A to select all and then pressing F9.

Cross-references will also be updated when you switch to Print Preview or when you print (if the Word option Update fields before printing is turned on).

To ensure that fields are updated before printing:

  1. Click the File tab in the Ribbon.
  2. Click Options.
  3. Select Display in the categories on the left.
  4. In Printing options, select Update fields before printing.
  5. Click OK.

Be sure to check after update to see if there are any errors in your cross-references.

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How to Automatically Add Citations and Bibliographies to Your Document

Properly formatting citations and references have always driven researchers crazy. With Microsoft Office Word, though, the process is streamlined to the point of almost being automatic.  Microsoft Word automatically generates a bibliography from the sources you used to write your manuscript. Each time you add a new citation to your document, Word adds that source so that it appears in the bibliography in the proper format, such as APA, Chicago/Turabian, and MLA style.  This handout is going to show you how to add citations and bibliographies to your Word documents and how to format references automatically using the Microsoft Word References tool.

The techniques this guide is going to discuss here should work for all Microsoft Word newer versions. The screenshots are all taken in the latest version of Microsoft Word 2020 for Mac, so your Word version might look slightly different, but it works the same way.

Before you can add a citation, a works cited list, or a bibliography; you should add a source to your word document. A works cited list is a list of references, usually placed at the end of the main text, that you referred to in your document. A works cited list is different from a bibliography, which is a list of sources that you consulted when you created the document.

When you add a new source, the source information is saved on your computer automatically

When you complete adding your sources, you can automatically generate a works cited list or a bibliography based on your source information that you completed already. When you add a new source, the source information is saved on your computer automatically. If you want to find and reuse any source that you have previously created, even sources in your other documents, you can use the Citations tool.

A citation is a parenthetical reference that is placed in line with the text. A citation is different from a footnote or an endnote, which is placed at the bottom of the page or end of the document. You can use the source information stored in your citation tool to create citations, a reference list, or a bibliography. However, there is no way to create footnotes or endnotes by using the information in Citations tool or the Source Manager.

For more information about citation styles for various manuals, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago Style, read the following articles: Citation Styles | Which Citation Style Should I Use?, APA Formatting Guide for Academic Manuscripts.

Steps to Automatically Add Citations and References

Step 1:

  • Open a new or existing Microsoft Word document.

Step 2:

  • Place your cursor where you would like your in-text reference to be.

  • When you are working on any Word document, place your cursor where you want the citation to be placed.

Step 3:

  • Choose a documentation style (APA, Chicago, MLA, or IEEE) from the dropdown menu.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

Step 4:

  • Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite.

  • Choose the References tab at the top and click the Insert Citation button.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

  • In the Create Source dialog box, next to Type of Source, select the type of source you want to us.

  • In this dialog box, you can enter all of the relevant information for your source. The default setting for the Type of Source dropdown is Book.

  • If you want to enter other types of sources such as a book section, an article in a journal or periodical, or a website, open the dropdown menu to choose the type of source you want.

  • Then click OK to complete the source.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

  • Enter the details for your source (for example, author name, title of the source, and year of the publication), and click OK. The source is added as a citation at the place you selected in your document. If you want to add more details for your source, check the Show all bibliography fields box.

When you have completed the steps mentioned above, the citation is added to the available citations. The next time you quote this reference, you do not have to type it all out again. Just select your source from the list of available citations.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

Here is an example: 

You can repeat those steps to add any other sources you need, and to place citations where you want.

How to Edit an Existing Source Using Microsoft Word

Step 1:

  • If you want to edit a source, go to the References tab, click Citations, and then click the settings button in the bottom right corner of the Citations pane.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

Step 2

  • Click Edit Source, make the necessary changes to the source and then click OK.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

Step 3

  • If you want to manage your list of sources, click Citation Source Manager and then add, edit, or delete sources in your list. You can also copy the available sources or add a new one.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

How to Add Citations to Your Word Document

Follow the steps below to add a citation to your document.

Step 1

  • Place your cursor where you would like your in-text reference to be and then on the References tab, click Citations

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

  • Go to the Citations pane on the right and double-click the citation you want to add to your document.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

How to Create A Bibliography or A Reference List

A reference list or bibliography is a list of all works you cited or referred to in your document. When your document is completed, you will want to add a bibliography or works cited list that lists all your sources.

Step 1:

  • Click where you want the Works Cited or Bibliography to appear (mostly at the very end of the main text).

Step 2:

  • On the References tab, click the arrow next to Bibliography, and then click Bibliography or Works Cited.

  • A works cited list is typically used when you cite sources using the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, and it differs from a bibliography, which is a list of all works that you consulted when your researched and wrote your document.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

When you click Bibliography, you will have the following list (for APA style):

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

When you click Works Cited, you will have the following one (for MLA style:

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

How to Change A Bibliography or Works Cited List Style

You can change the style of all the citations contained in your document’s works cited list or bibliography without manually editing the style of each citation. You can change the citations from the APA style to the MLA style based on your manual.

  1. Go to the View menu, click Draft or Print Layout.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

  1. On the References tab, click Citations.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

  1. In the Citations pane, on the Citation style list, select a style.

Format Citations Automatically Using Microsoft Word

All references in your document’s bibliography or works cited list change to the new style.

If you need help, then contact us!

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For more information about the citation styles and APA style, read the following articles: 

  • The 9 Most Important Changes in the 7th Edition of the APA Manual

  • APA Manual 7th Edition: In-Text Citation

  • How to Present Tables and Figures in APA Style (7th edition)

  • How to Use et al. in APA Style (7th Edition)?

  • APA Style: In-Text Citation | Reference List Entry

  • How to Cite Sources in APA Referencing Style? | With APA 7th Edition Update

  • How and When to Use ”et al.” in APA In-Text Citations?

  • Citation Styles | Which Citation Style Should I Use?

  • APA Formatting Guide for Academic Manuscripts

This handout discusses how to add citations and bibliography automatically to your manuscript. To give you an opportunity to practice your proofreading, we have left a few spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors in the text. See if you can spot them! If you spot the errors correctly, you will be entitled to a 10% discount.

In your Word document, click on the References tab in the Ribbon. In the Citations & Bibliography group, click the arrow next to Style. Click the style that you want to use for the citation and source. Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite.

Firstly, How do you list references in APA?

Order of references:

  1. For APA the reference list is arranged in alphabetical order of authors’ surnames.
  2. Arrange by first author’s name, then by second author if you have the same first author, etc. …
  3. If a reference has no author, list it alphabetically according to the title.

Then What is APA Format Reference Example? APA in-text citation style uses the author’s last name and the year of publication, for example: (Field, 2005). For direct quotations, include the page number as well, for example: (Field, 2005, p. 14).

Actually How do I fix references in Word?

Use the Citations tool to edit a source

  1. On the Document Elements tab, under References, click Manage.
  2. In the Citations List, select the citation that you want to edit.
  3. At the bottom of the Citations tool, click. , and then click Edit Source.
  4. Make the changes that you want, and then click OK.

What is bibliography and example?

A bibliography is a list of all of the sources you have used (whether referenced or not) in the process of researching your work. In general, a bibliography should include: the authors’ names. the titles of the works. the names and locations of the companies that published your copies of the sources.

What is APA Format example?

APA in-text citation style uses the author’s last name and the year of publication, for example: (Field, 2005). For direct quotations, include the page number as well, for example: (Field, 2005, p. 14).

What are examples of references?

Book references: general form

  • Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (year). Book title. Location: Publisher.
  • Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (year). Book title. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxx.
  • Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (year). Book title. …
  • Editor, A. A. (Ed.). (year). …
  • Editor, A. A., & Editor B. B. (Eds.). (year).

How do you list references in an article?

Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work. For multiple articles by the same author, or authors listed in the same order, list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to most recent.

How do you write APA format?

The most important APA format guidelines in the 6th edition are:

  1. Use 12 pt Times New Roman.
  2. Set 1 inch page margins.
  3. Apply double line spacing.
  4. Insert a running head on every page.
  5. Indent every new paragraph ½ inch.

Ensure you use the correct date depending on the version of the book you have read and are citing in your work.

  1. Author/editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) …
  2. Title (this should be in italics)
  3. [E-reader version]
  4. Edition (if not the first edition)
  5. Place of publication (where available)
  6. Publisher.
  7. (Year of publication)

How do I show formatting marks in Word?

Show or hide tab marks in Word

  1. Go to File > Options > Display.
  2. Under Always show these formatting marks on the screen, select the check box for each formatting mark that you always want to display regardless if the Show/Hide. button is turned on or off. Clear any check boxes for ones you don’t want always displayed.

How do you do APA format?

APA Paper Formatting Basics

  1. All text should be double-spaced.
  2. Use one-inch margins on all sides.
  3. All paragraphs in the body are indented.
  4. Make sure that the title is centered on the page with your name and school/institution underneath.
  5. Use 12-point font throughout.
  6. All pages should be numbered in the upper right hand corner.

How do you write a bibliography example?

Collect this information for each Web Site:

  1. author name.
  2. title of the publication (and the title of the article if it’s a magazine or encyclopedia)
  3. date of publication.
  4. the place of publication of a book.
  5. the publishing company of a book.
  6. the volume number of a magazine or printed encyclopedia.
  7. the page number(s)

What are the 2 types of bibliography?

Bibliographies may be divided into two categories: the APA citation and MLA citations, which in turn contain the different bibliography types. These include analytical bibliographies, enumerative bibliographies, and lastly, annotated bibliographies.

Is a bibliography the same as references?

A reference list is the detailed list of references that are cited in your work. A bibliography is a detailed list of references cited in your work, plus the background readings or other material that you may have read, but not actually cited.

What is proper APA format?

General APA Guidelines

Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″), with 1″ margins on all sides. You should use a clear font that is highly readable. APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font.

What is APA Word format?

Instructions to format an APA paper in Word:

APA format requires certain font formatting. … In the Font Group, select one of the recommended fonts: Times New Roman, size 12 pt., Calibri, size 11pt., or Arial, size 11pt.

What are the five major types of reference sources?

There are many types of reference sources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, directories, and almanacs. More broadly, reference sources can also include bibliographies, manuals, handbooks, atlases, and gazetteers. You can find these resources in print and online.

Where do I find references?

Indirect Cited Reference Searching (search for the specific author and title, than check who has cited)

  • ScienceDirect.
  • SciFinder Scholar’s Chemical Abstracts.
  • Emerald.
  • Sage Journals Online.
  • PubMed.
  • JSTOR.

What do you put on a resume for references?

This list should include each reference’s name, job title, company, address, phone number, and email address. If the job listing asks you to submit a list of references but does not tell you how many you need, include three on the list. This is the typical number of references that employers want for each candidate.

What are CV references?

Your CV references are people, called referees, who can vouch for your character, skills and experience to potential employers. Consider your referees as your personal brand ambassadors, ready to promote your best-selling points as a candidate.

What is a running head in APA format example?

A running head, also called a page header, is a line at the top of each page of a document that gives the reader important information. For APA format, the running head includes a shortened version (no more than 50 characters) of the title of the document IN CAPITAL LETTERS, as well as the page number.

What is APA format used for?

APA Style provides fairly comprehensive guidelines for writing academic papers regardless of subject or discipline. However, traditionally, APA is most frequently used by writers and students in: Social Sciences, such as Psychology, Linguistics, Sociology, Economics, and Criminology. Business.


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Add citations to your document Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite, and then on the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Insert Citations. From the list of citations under Insert Citation, select the citation you want to use.

Contents

  • 1 How do you add References manually?
  • 2 Can I add a referencing style to Word?
  • 3 How do I turn on References in Word?
  • 4 How do you add more references?
  • 5 How do you do apa style referencing?
  • 6 How do I add Oxford Referencing to Microsoft Word?
  • 7 How do I insert references in Word 2010?
  • 8 How do you put references in a research paper?
  • 9 Is APA the same as Harvard?
  • 10 How do you write references?
  • 11 How do I reference a website in APA?
  • 12 How do I install Oscola in Word?
  • 13 How do you reference in-text Harvard style?
  • 14 How do you reference a website Harvard style?
  • 15 How do you copy and paste references in Word?
  • 16 How do I insert a reference in Word 2016?
  • 17 How do you add references to a research paper in Word?
  • 18 How do you incorporate references in an essay?
  • 19 Which referencing style is the best?
  • 20 Is APA 6th Harvard?

How do you add References manually?

Select “References” and then “New Reference”, or press “Ctrl+N” on your keyboard or click the “New Reference” button (a clipboard with a plus sign). Choose the appropriate reference type from the “Reference Type” drop-down menu.

Can I add a referencing style to Word?

In your Word document, click on the References tab in the Ribbon. In the Citations & Bibliography group, click the arrow next to Style. Click the style that you want to use for the citation and source. Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite.

How do I turn on References in Word?

Go to Add-In tab -> Reference Manager -> Instant Formatting. Click the Enable Instant Formatting box to toggle Instant Formatting. Click OK to save changes to the Instant Formatting settings. Click OK to format all citations and build the bibliography.

How do you add more references?

Put your cursor at the end of the text you want to cite. Go to References > Style, and choose a citation style. Select Insert Citation. Choose Add New Source and fill out the information about your source.

How do you do apa style referencing?

About APA Style
The APA referencing style is an “author-date” style, so the citation in the text consists of the author(s) and the year of publication given wholly or partly in round brackets. Use only the surname of the author(s) followed by a comma and the year of publication.

How do I add Oxford Referencing to Microsoft Word?

The Oxford referencing system
On any Microsoft Word document, simply click on the ‘Insert’ menu and select ‘Footnote’ (or ‘Reference’ and then choose ‘Footnote’ from the drop-down list).

How do I insert references in Word 2010?

  1. On the References tab, in the Citation & Bibliography group, choose the style of citation you want to use.
  2. Position the cursor where you want the citation to appear, and then click Insert Citation, Add New Source.
  3. In the Create Source dialog box, select the type of source and then fill in the fields shown.

How do you put references in a research paper?

Book: online / electronic

  1. Author/Editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.)
  2. Title (this should be in italics)
  3. Series title and number (if part of series)
  4. Edition (if not the first edition)
  5. [Online]
  6. Place of publication (if there is more than one place listed, use the first named)
  7. Publisher.
  8. Year of publication.

Is APA the same as Harvard?

APA (American Psychological Association)
APA referencing is a variant on Harvard style. Many of the conventions are the same, with brief author-date citations in brackets in the body of the text and full citations in the reference list.

How do you write references?

References

  1. author(s) name and initials.
  2. title of the article (between single quotation marks)
  3. title of journal (in italics)
  4. any publication information (volume, number etc.)
  5. page range.
  6. accessed day month year (the date you accessed the article)
  7. from name of database.
  8. item number (if given).

How do I reference a website in APA?

When citing a web page or online article in APA Style, the in-text citation consists of the author’s last name and year of publication. For example: (Worland & Williams, 2015). Note that the author can also be an organization. For example: (American Psychological Association, 2019).

How do I install Oscola in Word?

To create a footnote in Microsoft Word, click your mouse on the place you want it to refer to. Click on ‘References’ at the top and then on ‘Insert Footnote‘. A number will appear in the text, and also at the bottom of the page, where you write your citation.

How do you reference in-text Harvard style?

An in-text citation should appear wherever you quote or paraphrase a source in your writing, pointing your reader to the full reference. In Harvard style, citations appear in brackets in the text. An in-text citation consists of the last name of the author, the year of publication, and a page number if relevant.

How do you reference a website Harvard style?

To reference a website in Harvard style, include the name of the author or organization, the year of publication, the title of the page, the URL, and the date on which you accessed the website. Author surname, initial. (Year) Page Title. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

How do you copy and paste references in Word?

Use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+C (CMD+C for Mac) to copy. Alternatively you can use the menu “Edit > Copy”. In your email, IM, Google Docs or any other text editing field, paste the content you just copied. Do so by pressing CTRL+V (CMD+V for Mac) or the menu “Edit > Paste”.

How do I insert a reference in Word 2016?

To add a citation to your document, first add the source you used.

  1. On the References tab, click the arrow next to Bibliography Style, and click the style that you want to use for the citation and source.
  2. Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite.
  3. On the References tab, click Insert Citation.

How do you add references to a research paper in Word?

Add citations to your document

  1. Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite, and then on the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Insert Citations.
  2. From the list of citations under Insert Citation, select the citation you want to use.

How do you incorporate references in an essay?

You must cite all information used in your paper, whenever and wherever you use it. When citing sources in the body of your paper, list the author’s last name only (no initials) and the year the information was published, like this: (Dodge, 2008). (Author, Date).

Which referencing style is the best?

How to do I choose a citation style?

  • APA (American Psychological Association) is used by Education, Psychology, and Sciences.
  • MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used by the Humanities.
  • Chicago/Turabian style is generally used by Business, History, and the Fine Arts.

Is APA 6th Harvard?

The Harvard (APA 6th) system of referencing requires you to set this information out in a certain way, and the examples below will show you how to do this.

We’ll cover everything from setting up your page and adding the heading to formatting each reference with the correct citation style. Whether you’re writing a research paper, essay, or thesis, our guide will help you produce a professional-looking reference list that adheres to APA style.

So, let’s get started and master the art of writing references in APA format!

  • Writing References In APA Format: Step-By-Step 🍊
  • FAQ About Writing References 🐢
  • Conclusion 📙
  • Writing References In APA Format: Step-By-Step 🍊

    Step 1

    Begin by creating a new page at the end of your document. This is where you will add your reference list.

    Step 2

    Add the Heading Add the heading «References» at the top of the page. Center the text and make sure it is in bold.

    Step 3

    Set your page margins to 1 inch on all sides.

    Use a 12-point font and double spacing throughout the page.

    Step 4

    Add your references in alphabetical order, by the author’s last name. Each reference should be formatted with a hanging indent. A hanging indent is where the first line of the reference is flush with the left margin, but all subsequent lines are indented. To create a hanging indent, click on the «Paragraph» group under the «Home» tab, select «Special» from the «Indentation» section, and then choose «Hanging«.

    Step 5

    Format each reference using the APA citation style. The basic format for a reference list entry includes the author’s name, the publication year, the title of the work, and publication information. The specific format varies depending on the type of source you are citing, such as a book, journal article, or website. Consult the APA Publication Manual or an online APA citation guide for specific examples of how to format your references.

    Step 6

    Once you have added all of your references, review them carefully to ensure they are accurate and formatted correctly. Make any necessary edits or corrections before submitting your final document.

    🏰

    By following these steps, you can write references in APA format in Microsoft Word with ease. Remember to consult the APA Publication Manual or an online APA citation guide for specific examples and formatting guidelines.

    FAQ About Writing References 🐢

    Q: What is APA style?

    A: APA (American Psychological Association) style is a format for academic writing in the social sciences. It is commonly used to cite sources in research papers, essays, and theses.

    Q: What information should I include in a reference?

    A: The information you include in a reference depends on the type of source you are citing. Generally, you should include the author’s name, the publication date, the title of the work, and publication information such as the publisher and place of publication.

    Q: What is a hanging indent?

    A: A hanging indent is a type of indentation used in reference lists where the first line of the reference is flush with the left margin, but all subsequent lines are indented.

    Q: Can I use online sources in my reference list?

    A: Yes, online sources such as websites and articles from online journals can be included in your reference list. Be sure to follow the appropriate format for citing online sources in APA style.

    Q: How do I format a reference for a book?

    A: A reference for a book in APA style should include the author’s name, the publication year, the title of the book, the publisher, and the place of publication.

    For further information on these steps, refer to this YouTube video:

    Conclusion 📙

    In conclusion, writing references in APA format is an important aspect of academic writing in the social sciences. With the help of Microsoft Word and a solid understanding of APA style guidelines, you can easily produce a professional-looking reference list for your research papers, essays, and theses.

    Don’t let the task of writing references intimidate you — with a little practice, you can master the art of referencing in APA style.

    2 minute read
    Jun 21st, 2018 9:41 AM EDT | Quick Tip

    I think a lot of folks aren’t aware that if you’re using Microsoft Word to write a paper (or a book!) with references, the program can automagically generate those for you. Yes, really. No more figuring out where those periods and italics go! As someone who occasionally proofreads academic papers, this is kind of a godsend. And you can select which format you’d like your items to be in, too—APA, MLA, or Chicago, for example—and then automatically create a full bibliography when you’re ready. So cool.

    Here’s how you get started: First, you’ll open Word (um, yeah), and then place your cursor where you’d like your in-text reference to be. Choose the “References” tab at the top and click the “Citations & Bibliography” button.

    References Tab in Microsoft Word

    We’re going to click “Insert Citation” here (and this is also where you can change the formatting of your references from APA, for example, to MLA), but just so you know, you may see that button all by itself on Word’s Ribbon depending on the size of your window.

    "Insert Citation" Button in References in Microsoft Word

    Yes, “Ribbon” is Microsoft’s weird and fancy name for the toolbar. Go figure.

    In any case, though, once you pick “Insert Citation,” you can fill out a form with all of the details on the reference you’re adding.

    "Create Source" Window for reference citation in Microsoft Word

    The “Type of Source” drop-down at the top is pretty important; that’ll determine what fields you get to type into, depending on whether you’re referencing a journal article or a book, say. Once you pick that, though, you’ll just type in all of the relevant info, like this:

    "Create Source" Window for references Filled Out in Microsoft Word

    Click “OK,” and Word will add the citation within your text.

    Reference Inserted in Text in Microsoft Word

    You can continue adding as many of these as you need, and if you want to reuse one you’ve already entered, just click the “Citations” button on the Ribbon (which, as I mentioned, may be underneath “Citations & Bibliography”), and you’ll see the ones you’ve previously put in.

    Previously Entered Citations in Microsoft Word

    You can then double-click any one of those to insert its in-text reference again!

    Finally, when you’re ready to create your bibliography, click either the “Citations & Bibliography” button or choose “Bibliography” straight from the Ribbon if you see it there. When you do so, you can click one of the options for how you’d like yours to look.

    Inserting Bibliography in Microsoft Word

    Pick your favorite style, and away you go! Word will generate the bibliography for you and insert it wherever you’d put your cursor.

    Bibliography Inserted in Microsoft Word document

    And one more thing here: If you then go back and end up adding more citations, you can click on your bibliography section to reveal a header. Click the arrow there, and you’ll find the option to update the bibliography.

    Update Bibliography Option in Microsoft Word

    That is so freaking awesome. If you’d like even more information about how this works, check out Microsoft’s article on the subject. And in case you’re curious, Pages can do this too, sort of; you’ll need to install a plug-in to get some help, though. Does this mean that I no longer have to check every single punctuation mark in someone’s bibliography? Can it mean that? Pretty please?

    No? Sigh.


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    Download Article

    Microsoft Word has many automatic features that can help you write a report or academic paper. Among these, you can keep a list of sources and citations to automatically generate a bibliography (also called a «Reference List» or «Works Cited») at the end of your paper. If you need footnotes or endnotes, Word has features that can help you format those as well.

    1. Image titled Cite in Word Step 1

      1

      Choose a citation style on the «References» tab. When you click on the «References» tab, you’ll see the word «Style» next to a drop-down menu. If you click on the drop-down menu, you can select the citation style you want to use for your references.

      • Make sure the edition is the same as the one you need to use. Word typically offers the most recent edition of each style, but if you have an older version of Word you may need to upgrade. If you have a subscription version, simply download the latest update.[1]
    2. Image titled Cite in Word Step 2

      2

      Click «Add New Source» to enter information about a source. On the «References» tab, click the «Insert Citation» button in the «Citations and Bibliography» group. Any sources you’ve already entered will appear in a drop-down. Select «Add New Source» if the source you want to cite isn’t already listed.

      • A dialogue box will appear with the necessary fields for the citation, including spaces for the author, title, year of publication, city, and publisher. Enter all the information you have for your source, then click «OK.»
      • If you have additional information about the source that doesn’t fit into any of these basic fields, check the box next to «Show All Bibliography Fields.»

      Tip: If you don’t have all the information for the source, or if you don’t want to interrupt your train of thought to add a new source, you can click «Add New Placeholder» instead. This alerts you that you need to add a citation there.

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    3. Image titled Cite in Word Step 3

      3

      Continue to insert citations as you write your paper. Set the cursor at the end of a sentence where you need a citation. Go back up to the «References» tab and click on «Insert Citation» to bring up the list of sources. Click on the source you want to cite, and Word will automatically generate an in-text citation in the style you’ve chosen.

      • To edit an individual citation, such as if you wanted to add a page number for a direct quote, right-click the citation for citation options and click «Edit Citation.»[2]
    4. Image titled Cite in Word Step 4

      4

      Use the «Manage Sources» button to edit or delete sources. Particularly if you have a long paper with a lot of sources, you may find as you go that you have some duplicated sources or some that you no longer need to use. You can add, delete, or edit sources using the «Manage Sources» button in the «Citations & Bibliography» group under the «References» tab.

      • Choose the source you want to edit from your master list. As you edit, you’ll see a preview of the final citation in the lower box.
      • If you inserted placeholders while you were writing, you can also use this menu to add information for those sources.
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    1. Image titled Cite in Word Step 5

      1

      Select the footnote or endnote option on the «References» tab. Set your cursor where you want the footnote or endnote number in your text. Typically this will be at the end of a sentence, but it may be after a signal phrase or author’s name. Go up to the «References» tab and click «Insert Footnote» or «Insert Endnote.»[3]

      • Word will automatically create a superscripted number in your text and move the cursor to the footnote or endnote field.

      Keyboard shortcuts:

      Insert Footnote: Alt+Ctrl+F (PC); Command+Option+F (Mac)
      Insert Endnote: Alt+Ctrl+D (PC); Command+Option+E (Mac)

    2. Image titled Cite in Word Step 6

      2

      Use the «Expand» icon to adjust footnote or endnote settings. You can use sequential numbers, letters, or other symbols to mark your footnotes or endnotes. You can also specify what number or letter you want them to start from.[4]

      • By default, footnotes or endnotes will continue sequential numbering throughout your document. If you want the numbers to restart at the beginning of each new section or chapter, you can specify this in the settings.

      If you need to convert footnotes to endnotes, click on the «Insert» menu, then «Footnote,» then «Options.» Select «Convert» from the menu, then click on «Endnotes.»

    3. Image titled Cite in Word Step 7

      3

      Type your footnote or endnote into your document. You can enter your citation by hand, or you can use the «Insert Citation» tool to add a citation in your footnote or endnote. Choose your source from the drop-down or add a new source if you want to cite a source that you haven’t entered yet.[5]

      • You can also use the «Placeholder» tool if you don’t yet have all the information for the source and need to add it in later.
      • Check the formatting against your style guide to make sure it’s correct before you continue.
    4. Image titled Cite in Word Step 8

      4

      Double-click the footnote number to go back to the document. When you’re ready to go back up to where you left off and start writing again, double-click the number or other symbol at the beginning of the footnote. It will send the cursor back to the end of the text.[6]

      • Similarly, you can double-click a superscripted footnote number in the text to check that footnote, edit, or add to it. While you can also simply scroll down the page, this is a quicker way to get there.

      To delete a footnote or endnote, highlight the footnote or endnote number in your text and press the delete key. Word will automatically renumber your other footnotes or endnotes to accommodate for the deletion.

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    1. Image titled Cite in Word Step 9

      1

      Choose the format for your bibliography. Word automatically builds your bibliography for you as you enter your sources. Select «Bibliography» fro the «References» tab, then choose the type of bibliography you want from the drop-down.[7]

      • For example, if you’re writing your paper in MLA style, you would want a «Works Cited» bibliography. Assuming you chose MLA as the style for your source citations, the «Works Cited» format would be the first format option in the «Bibliography» drop-down menu.
    2. Image titled Cite in Word Step 10

      2

      Generate your bibliography with a click. When you find the format you want, simply select it from the drop-down menu and click. Word will automatically create your bibliography at the end of your document.[8]

      • The bibliography is considered a separate object from the paper you’re writing, and will automatically start on a new page.

      Tip: You don’t have to wait until you’ve finished writing your paper to create your bibliography. Word will auto-populate your bibliography with any new sources you add after the bibliography has been generated.

    3. Image titled Cite in Word Step 11

      3

      Proofread your bibliography carefully. Even though Word has done the hard work of formatting for you, you still need to double-check each entry. Make sure the source is correct and the entry is formatted correctly for the style you’ve chosen.[9]

      • For example, if you made a typographical error when entering the information about the source, that error would carry over into your bibliography.
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    • The steps and information in this article are accurate for Word for Office 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Word 2007. If you have a different edition of Word, your menu options may differ slightly.[10]

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    Stack of books with text overlay "How to Insert Citations in Microsoft Word"

    Managing citations for research papers, theses, dissertations, and other nonfiction works can be overwhelming. However, you can ease the process by learning how to insert citations in Microsoft Word using the software’s citation and bibliography tools.

    This tutorial covers six topics:

    1. How to select a citation style
    2. How to insert citations for new sources
    3. How to insert citations for existing sources
    4. How to edit sources
    5. How to use citation placeholders
    6. How to insert bibliographies, reference lists, or works cited lists

    Important Note: At the time this tutorial was published, Microsoft Word did not offer the most up-to-date formatting for several of our primary style guides, including APA, Chicago, MLA, and Turabian. Therefore, I encourage you to review the available styles before using the citation and bibliography tools. We will cover the steps to customize citation and bibliography styles in a separate tutorial.

    This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

    Watch more than 150 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

    The images below are from Word in Microsoft 365. The steps are the same in Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. However, your interface may look slightly different in those older versions of the software.

    How to Select a Citation Style in Microsoft Word

    1. Select the References tab in the ribbon.

    References tab in Word 365

    Figure 1. References tab
    1. Select your citation style from the Style menu in the Citations & Bibliography group.

    Citation Style menu in Word 365

    Figure 2. Citation Style menu

    How to Insert Citations for New Sources in Microsoft Word

    1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the citation.

    Cursor placed for citation insertion

    Figure 3. Cursor placed for citation insertion
    1. Select the References tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
    2. Select the Insert Citation button in the Citations & Bibliography group.

    Insert Citation button in Word 365

    Figure 4. Insert Citation button
    1. Select Add New Source from the drop-down menu.

    Add New Source option in Word 365

    Figure 5. Add New Source option
    1. Select the source type from the Type of Source menu in the Create Source dialog box.

    Create Source dialog box Type of Source menu in Word 365

    Figure 6. Type of Source menu
    1. Enter the source information into the bibliography fields.

    Create Source dialog box Bibliography fields in Word 365

    Figure 7. Bibliography fields
    1. (Optional Step) Select Show All Bibliography Fields if you need to add additional information.

    Create Source dialog box Show All Bibliography Fields option

    Figure 8. Show All Bibliography Fields option
    1. (Optional Step) Enter the source information into the additional fields.

    Create Source dialog box additional bibliography fields

    Figure 9. Additional bibliography fields
    1. Select the OK button.

    Create Source dialog box OK button

    Figure 10. Create Source OK button

    Your citation should appear in your text.

    Citation inserted in a sentence

    Figure 11. Citation inserted in a sentence

    How to Insert Citations for Existing Sources in Microsoft Word

    Once you enter a source, as shown in the section above, you can create additional citations for that source without reentering the information.

    1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the citation (see figure 3).
    2. Select the References tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
    3. Select the Insert Citation button in the Citations & Bibliography group (see figure 4).
    4. Select the source from the drop-down menu.

    Insert Citation menu in Word 365

    Figure 12. Insert Citation menu

    Your citation should appear in your text (see figure 11).

    How to Edit Sources in Microsoft Word

    When you edit an existing source, you will also edit any existing citations for that source in your current document.

    1. Select the References tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
    2. Select the Manage Sources button in the Citations & Bibliography group.

    Manage Sources button in Word 365

    Figure 13. Manage Sources button
    1. Select the source you want to edit in the Master List or the Current List in the Source Manager dialog box.

    Source Manager dialog box Master List and Current List in Word 365

    Figure 14. Master List and Current List

    Pro Tip: The Master List is stored in your computer and is accessible in all your documents. The Current List is part of your current file and is only accessible in that file. By default, Word stores new sources in the Master List and the Current List.

    1. Select the Edit button.

    Source Manager dialog box Edit button in Word 365

    Figure 15. Edit button
    1. Enter your edits in the Edit Source dialog box. (Select Show All Bibliography Fields, if necessary.)

    Edit Source dialog box bibliography fields in Word 365

    Figure 16. Edit Source bibliography fields
    1. Select the OK button.

    Edit Source dialog box OK button in Word 365

    Figure 17. Edit Source OK button
    1. Select Yes or No in the alert box stating that you will be updating the source in both the Master List and the Current List. (Strongly consider selecting Yes to update both lists if you plan to cite this source in future documents.)

    Update source alert box in Word 365

    Figure 18. Update source alert box
    1. Select the Close button in the Source Manager dialog box.

    Source Manager dialog box Close button in Word 365

    Figure 19. Close button

    How to Use Citation Placeholders in Microsoft Word

    You can use placeholders if your source information is not available.

    1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the citation placeholder.
    2. Select the References tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
    3. Select the Insert Citation button in the Citations & Bibliography group (see figure 4).
    4. Select Add New Placeholder from the drop-down menu.

    Add New Placeholder option in Word 365

    Figure 20. Add New Placeholder option
    1. (Optional Step) Change the name of the placeholder in the Placeholder Name dialog box.

    Placeholder Name dialog box in Word 365

    Figure 21. Placeholder name text box
    1. Select the OK button.

    Placeholder Name dialog box OK button in Word 365

    Figure 22. Placeholder Name OK button

    Pro Tip: You can use the same placeholder in the future by selecting it from the Insert Citation drop-down menu (see figure 12).

    1. When you are ready to replace the placeholder with a source, complete the steps in How to Edit Sources above.

    How to Insert Bibliographies, Reference Lists, or Works Cited Lists in Microsoft Word

    These steps will only work if you inserted your sources using Word’s citation and bibliography tools.

    1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the bibliography, reference list, or works cited list.
    2. Select the References tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
    3. Select the Bibliography button in the Citations & Bibliography group.

    Bibliography button in Word 365

    Figure 23. Bibliography button
    1. Select Bibliography, References, or Works Cited from the drop-down menu.

    Bibliography menu in Word 365

    Figure 24. Bibliography menu

    Your bibliography, reference list, or works cited list should appear in your document.

    Related Resources

    How to Create Hanging Indents in Microsoft Word

    How to Insert Footnotes and Endnotes in Microsoft Word

    How to Convert Individual Footnotes to Endnotes in Microsoft Word (and Individual Endnotes to Footnotes)

    How to Create a Cover Page in Microsoft Word (Built-In and Custom)

    Updated August 22, 2022

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