How to Reference in an Essay: a Quick Guide to Referencing Books, Websites, Images, PDFs and More
Referencing doesn’t need to be the bane of your life when you submit assignments.
One of the biggest shifts in studying when you head to university is the importance of referencing when you write assignments. You’re expected to show where you find the answers to your work, how you formed arguments and how you got to your conclusions. It’s also a way of showing that you have read around the subject and appreciate the context rather than just offering your own opinion.
But why we reference is one thing. HOW you reference… well that’s a whole new chapter (no pun intended).
Nothing is ever simple right? And referencing really does love to throw a spanner in the works – different universities, and even different subjects WITHIN the same university use a variety of referencing styles. Some types of referencing works better for certain subjects than others do, so it is very dependent on what your course wants to use.
To break it down, we’ve put together this quick reference guide to cover the basics of different styles of referencing, including websites, images, journals and books, in some of the more popular referencing styles. It’s not everything, but it’s a good starting point. Need more tips on your uni work? Check out our best revision techniques.
In this article:
- How to reference a website
- How to reference a book
- How to reference an image
- How to reference a PDF
- How to reference a journal article
- Citation generators
- What’s the most popular referencing style?
How to reference a website
You might find that websites are one of the most commonly referenced sources these days, especially with how many open source publications out there now. We’ve gathered some of the most popular referencing styles to make it that little bit easier.
The difference between referencing a book and a website is that books have all the printed information you need for citations – but websites can vary. So while we’ve included examples for the different referencing styles, you may need to tweak based on the website. It’s super important to make sure you’re sourcing from a reliable source, but if you find that a website doesn’t have an author, or doesn’t have a year, then amend to suit.
Referencing a website in Harvard style
Format: Author surname, first name initial. (Year) Page Title. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Example: Bartlett, M. (2024) Freshers Guide 2024: What You Need To Know About Freshers & Student Life. Available at: https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/uk/advice/freshers-guide/ (Accessed: 11 September 2024).
Referencing a website in APA style
Format: Author surname, first name initial. (Year). Page Title. Retrieved from URL
Example: Kah-Pavlou, L. (2024). 10 Fun Alternatives To Alcohol & Drinking During Freshers’ Week. Retrieved from: https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/uk/10-fun-alternatives-to-drinking-during-freshers/
Referencing a website in OSCOLA style
Format: Author first name initial surname, ‘Entry Title’ (Blog Name, publication date) <URL> accessed date.
Example: K Moody, ‘Best Revision Techniques’ (Student Beans Blog, 15 February 2024) <https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/uk/the-best-revision-techniques/> accessed 11 September 2024.
Referencing a website in MLA style
Format: Author surname, first name. “Title.” Website name, URL. Accessed day month year
Example: Moody, Keith. “Using Mind Maps for Revision – The Ultimate Guide for Students.” Student Beans Blog, https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/uk/students-guide-to-creating-and-using-mind-maps-for-revision/. 11 September 2024
Referencing a website in Vancouver/AMA style
Format: Author surname, first name initial. Title [Internet]. Year published [cited Date Accessed]. Available from: URL
Example: Howarth, E. Your Must-Have Uni Essentials Checklist [Internet]. 2024 [cited 11 September 2024]. Available from: https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/uk/student-essentials-list-university-checklist/
Referencing a website in IEEE style
Format: First initial, surname, “Page title.” Website Title. URL (accessed date, month, year).
Example: E. Howarth, “The Essential Uni Food Shopping List.” Student Beans Blog. https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/uk/essential-student-food-shopping-list-cheap-living/ (accessed 11 Sept, 2024).
How to reference a book
If you prefer to study with a paper and pen, you’ll probably spend a lot of time in the library exploring textbooks and anthologies to support your assignments. It can be a little simpler to cite a book, as you’ll have all the information you need printed inside, which is a relief if you’re scrambling to find an author on a website!
But each major referencing style has subtle differences between them, so check out how to reference books (and chapters within books) below.
Referencing a book in Harvard style
Format: Author surname, first name initial. (Year) Book Title. Edition if application. Place of Publication: Publisher
Example: Thwaite, A. (1985). Poetry Today: A Critical Guide to British Poetry 1960-1984. London: Longman.
Referencing a book in APA style
Format: Author surname, first name initial. (Year). Page Title. Publisher.
Example: Thwaite, A. (1985). Poetry Today: A Critical Guide to British Poetry 1960-1984. Longman.
Referencing a book in OSCOLA style
Format: Author surname first initial, Title (Publisher, Year).
Example: Thwaite A, Poetry Today: A Critical Guide to British Poetry 1960-1984 (London, 1985).
Referencing a book in MLA style
Format: Author surname, first name. Title. Publisher, Year.
Example: Thwaite, Anthony. Poetry Today: A Critical Guide to British Poetry 1960-1984. Longman, 1985.
Referencing a book in Vancouver/AMA style
Format: Author surname first name initial. Title. Location of publication: Publisher; Year.
Example: Thwaite A. Poetry Today: A Critical Guide to British Poetry 1960-1984. London: Longman; 1985.
Referencing a book in IEEE style
Format: First initial. Surname, Title. Location of publication: Publisher, Year.
Example: A. Thwaite, Poetry Today: A Critical Guide to British Poetry 1960-1984. London: Longman, 1985.
How to reference an image
If you’re an art student, you’ll be writing a lot about your inspirations, emulations, crediting artists from all over the world, present day and past. It’s probably not the most creative thing you thought you’d be doing during your time at uni – but it’s still an important part of your work.
Referencing an image in Harvard style
Format: Artist/photographer surname, first name initial. (Year) Name of piece. Available at: URL (Accessed Day Month Year).
Example: van Gogh, V. (1890). Portrait of Adeline Ravoux, the Innkeeper’s Daughter. Available at: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-portrait-of-adeline-ravoux-the-innkeeper-s-daughter (Accessed 13 September 2024).
Referencing an image in APA style
Format: Artist/photographer surname, first name initial. (Year) Name of piece. [Format]. Site or Museum, Location. URL.
Example: van Gogh, V. (1890). Portrait of Adeline Ravoux, the Innkeeper’s Daughter. [Painting]. National Gallery, London. https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-portrait-of-adeline-ravoux-the-innkeeper-s-daughter
Reference an image in OSCOLA style
Format: Author/Creator, ‘Title of image’ (Name of website, Date published) <URL> Access date
Example: Vincent Van Gogh, ‘Portrait of Adeline Ravoux, the Innkeeper’s Daughter’ (National Gallery) <https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-portrait-of-adeline-ravoux-the-innkeeper-s-daughter> Accessed 16 September 2024.
Referencing an image in MLA style
Format: Artist surname, First Name. Image Title. Year Created. Website Name, Numbers (if applicable), URL.
Example: van Gogh, Vincent. Portrait of Adeline Ravoux, the Innkeeper’s Daughter. 1890. National Gallery, https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-portrait-of-adeline-ravoux-the-innkeeper-s-daughter.
How to reference a PDF
So many publications, from ebooks to journals to poetry, are now available online in PDF formats. So if you struggle to get to the library, or find something in a pinch in your research, then PDFs can be a useful alternative.
Referencing a PDF in Harvard style
Format: Author(s) or Organisation (Year). Title of Document. Available at: URL [Accessed Day Month Year].
Example: Student Beans (2024). Freshers Prediction Report 2024. Available at: https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StudentBeans-Freshers-Predictions-Report-2024.pdf [Accessed 16 September 2024].
Referencing a PDF in APA style
Format: Title of document. (Year). Organisation. URL
Example: Freshers Prediction Report 2024. (2024). Student Beans. https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StudentBeans-Freshers-Predictions-Report-2024.pdf
Referencing a PDF in OSCALA
Format: ‘Title’ (Organisation, Publication date) <URL> accessed day month year
Example: ‘Freshers Prediction Report 2024’ (Student Beans, 15 August 2024) <https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StudentBeans-Freshers-Predictions-Report-2024.pdf> accessed 15 September 2024.
Referencing a PDF in MLA
Format: Author Surname, Author Forename. Title. Publisher, Year Published. Website Name, date page was published if known, URL. PDF download.
Example: Freshers Prediction Report 2024. Student Beans, 2024. Student Beans, 15 August 2024, https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StudentBeans-Freshers-Predictions-Report-2024.pdf. PDF download.
Referencing a PDF in Vancouver/AMA style
Format: Title [Internet]. City: Publisher; Year Published [cited Date Accessed]. Available from: http://Website URL
Example: Freshers Prediction Report 2024 [Internet]. London: Student Beans; 2024 [16 September 2024]. Available from: https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StudentBeans-Freshers-Predictions-Report-2024.pdf
Referencing a PDF in IEEE style
Format: “Title,” website title. URL (accessed day month year).
Example: “Freshers Prediction Report 2024,” studentbeans.com. https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StudentBeans-Freshers-Predictions-Report-2024.pdf (accessed 16 Sept 2024).
How to reference a journal article
Journal articles will be your bread and butter when it comes to your assignments. You’ll find so much information in journal articles, and luckily most are available online these days, so it’s one of the more simpler ways to reference.
Referencing a journal article in Harvard style
Format: Author surname, first name initial. (Year). ‘Journal article title’, Journal name, Vol.(Issue number), doi: .
Example: Huang, H., Tan, Y., Zou, X. (2024). ‘Genetically determined metabolites in allergic conjunctivitis: A Mendelian randomization study’, World Allergy Organization Journal, Vol.17(4), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100894.
Referencing a journal article in APA style
Format: Author surname, first name initial. (Year). Journal article title. Journal name, Vol.(Issue number), doi: .
Example: Huang, H., Tan, Y. & Zou, X. (2024). Genetically determined metabolites in allergic conjunctivitis: A Mendelian randomization study. World Allergy Organization Journal, Vol.17(4), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100894.
Referencing a journal article using OSCALA
Format: Author first name last name, ‘Journal article title’ (Year) Vol(Issue) Journal name <URL> accessed day month year.
Example: Xuyan Zou, Haiyan Huang, Yao Tan, ‘Genetically determined metabolites in allergic conjunctivitis: A Mendelian randomization study’ (2024) 17(4) World Allergy Organization Journal <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100894> accessed 16 September 2024.
Referencing a journal article in MLA style
Format: Author surname, first name, et al. “Journal article title.” Journal name, vol. X no. X, Year. doi URL.
Example: Zou, Xuyan, et al. “Genetically determined metabolites in allergic conjunctivitis: A Mendelian randomization study.” World Allergy Organization Journal, vol.17, no.4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100894
Referencing a journal article in Vancouver/AMA style
Format: Author surname first name initials. Journal article name. Journal name. Year;(issue). Accessed day month year. doi URL.
Example: Zou X, Huang H, Tan Y. Genetically determined metabolites in allergic conjunctivitis: A Mendelian randomization study. World Allergy Organization Journal. 2024;(4). Accessed 16 September 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100894.
Referencing a journal article in IEEE style
Format: Author first name initial., surname, “Journal article name,” Journal name, vol. X, no. X, Year. Accessed on: day month year. [Online]. Available: doi URL
Example: X. Zou, H. Huang and Y. Tan, “Genetically determined metabolites in allergic conjunctivitis: A Mendelian randomization study,” World Allergy Organization Journal, vol. 17, no. 4, 2024. Accessed on: Sept. 16, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100894
Citation generators
You can find lots of citation and reference generators online, and your own university will likely have a referencing guide document online or in the library in case you’re not sure.
If you’re using an online referencing generator, it’s always a good idea to cross reference with your university guide – just in case there are any errors. Just like your university essays, proofreading is a really key part of submitting an assignment, which includes your bibliography.
What’s the most popular referencing style?
Harvard referencing is one of the most popular and common referencing style in the UK as it covers a lot of different subjects at university. Different subjects tend to rely on different styles of referencing as it suits the subtle nuance between a variety of topics and requirements.
If you’re trying to get prepared for uni, then don’t miss our freshers guide and our uni essentials checklist to make sure you have everything you need. Feel ultra prepared by signing up to Student Beans for the best student discounts.
