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Academic Integrity - Referencing, Citation & Avoiding Plagiarism: What is In-Text Citation?

This guide explains what referencing and citation is and how to use APA and MLA. It includes a short interactive tutorial on each style.

What is In-Text Citation?

An In-text Citation is when you acknowledge the sources you have used within the body of your writing or assignment. In-text citations are also known as citations and should be used when you

  • use direct quotations (exact Words) from an original source

  • paraphrase or summarise information from a source (taking the thoughts and ideas of someone else and reworking them)

  • include the work of another person or institution in your assignment (for example images, tables, computer code, words etc.)

Each Citation Style has different rules about what these in-text citations should look like. Use this guide to learn how to cite with Harvard, APA, MLA, Vancouver or Chicago Style.

What is a Reference?

Referencing is the process of acknowledging in detail all the information sources (books, journal articles, images, data, webpages etc.) that you have included in your in-text citations. References form a list with full details of sources placed at the end of an assignment or paper allowing your readers to directly consult the sources you have used.

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