Getting references right

Different fields use different referencing styles, such as APA, Harvard, or IEEE. Getting the style right and consistent is part of your mark, and getting it wrong looks careless.

AI can help you understand and check a style, but be careful using it to format real references, because it can quietly change details like page numbers or years.

Safer approach:

• Let your citation manager do the actual formatting
• Use AI to explain the rules of your style if you are unsure
• Always check the final reference against the real source

Explain the [APA or Harvard] rules for citing a journal article, with one example.

The reference list is one of the easiest places to lose marks and one of the easiest to get right with a little care.

Practice

Find out which referencing style your department requires. Format one of your sources in that style, then check every detail against the original.