How to cite sources in your writing (Australian)

Rules and examples

Rules and examples

Basic principles

Rule

Insert the author's last name and year of publication at the point where you have used the source. The name and year are enclosed in round brackets ( parentheses ). If the author's name is part of the sentence, only the year is placed in parentheses:

Example
The most recent study (Dobben 2001) produced contrary results. Shaw (1996) analysed the data and arrived at the same conclusion.

Citing more than one source at the same point in your assignment

Rule

List sources alphabetically by author and separate by a semi-colon. When citing more than one source by the same author at the same point, list chronologically and separate by a comma.

Example
This interpretation is common (Dobben 2001; Pratt 2000, 2001).

Citing a source with two or more authors

Rule

Two or three authors: Give all names every time the source is cited. Use an ampersand ('&') to join the names in brackets; use the word 'and' to join names in the sentence.

Example
Earlier research (Harrison & Saw 1971) produced troubling data. Later analysis (Worley, Hitchin & Ross 1996) uncovered flaws in the design. The study by Harrison and Saw (1971) has been discredited.

Rule

Four or more authors: Give the name of the first author only, followed by 'et al.' each time the source is used. (Note: In the reference list, record all names.)

Example
The earlier analysis (Bryant et al. 1986) was correct. Gleeson et al. (1990) conducted a parallel study. The method was based on that used in a similar study by Staples et al. (2004).

Citing more than one source published by the same author in the same year

Rule

Add 'a', 'b', 'c', etc., to the year to distinguish between the sources.

Example
Research in this area (Yu 1996a) confirms these findings. Similar research (Yu 1996b) was based on this methodology.

Citing sources by authors with the same surname

Rule

Add initial(s) to the surname to distinguish between sources.

Example
This finding is consistent with other studies (Dalton, B 2001). Extensive analysis can be found in the work by T. Dalton (1994).

Citing specific page numbers of a source

Rule

Give a page reference when using direct quotes from a source, or when referring to a specific page of a source. The page reference follows the year and is preceded by the abbreviation 'p.' (for a single page) or 'pp.' (for a range of pages). If the author's name is part of the sentence, the page number follows the quotation.

Example
The situation was described as 'approaching hysteria' (Pratt 2000, p. 7). Jones (2003) called it 'absolute lunacy' (p. 92).

Citing a personal communication (email, interview, conversation)

Rule

Give the year of communication followed by 'pers. comm.,' then the day and month. Note: personal communications normally do not need reference list entries.

Example
This was related by John Green (2006, pers. comm., 30 July).

Citing a source that you have taken from another source

Rule

Refer to both sources in the text, but only give an entry in the reference list for the source you have used directly. (For example, in the example below, the 'Freimer & Perry' source needs to appear in the reference list, but the 'Smith' source does not.)

Example
Smith's findings (cited in Freimer & Perry 1986) prove this.

Citing a source by an author with a long name (organisation, agency)

Rule

Give the full name followed by the initials in square brackets in the first reference. In subsequent references, use the initialised form.

Example

Health costs are higher in rural regions (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW] 2004). One quarter of the population was found to be obese (AIHW 2004).

Citing a source with no author

Rule

Give the first two or three words of title to direct reader to reference list entry (which will be under title in full). Italicise book titles; enclose articles titles in single quotation marks.

Example
The recommendations made (Survival skills 1999) were followed completely. This situation appears to be becoming more serious ('Meddling claims' 2006).

Citing a source with no date

Rule

When the date of a work is unknown, use the abbreviation 'n.d.' in place of date.

Example
An early example (Bakhita n.d.) undermines this theory.