There are many different referencing styles in use and most journals and learned societies have their own requirements. When creating references the trick is to check with who you are writing for, pick a style and apply it consistently throughout your piece of work. The majority of OU faculties use the 'OU Harvard' style but you should check the referencing requirements for your particular module.
OU Harvard guide to citing references
The OU Harvard guide to citing references (may require login) provides guidance and examples that will help you create your own references for assignments. (Check the requirements for your module before using this guide). A .pdf is available but please note that the most up-to-date version of the OU Harvard Guide is the online one.
Other referencing styles
Some of the most frequently used styles are:
- APA style (requires login): OU guidance on this style from the American Psychological Association;
- MLA style: Modern Language Association citation style;
- MHRA Style Guide: the Modern Humanities Research Association style is specified for some Open University M.A. dissertations (the Guide can be downloaded as a free .pdf file);
- Numerical style Guide: produced by the University of Worcester.
Citation tools
Citation style tools can assist you in creating your bibliographic references by showing you how they should look in different styles. Here are some to try:
For more guidance on referencing see Referencing and Plagiarism. You can also find more detailed information on citing references in the online tutorial Information Skills for Researchers, and on the Learn Higher site.
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