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Research Guide: Referencing

This Guide provides post graduate students with the tips and tools necessary to successfully complete their research.

Referencing news and updates

Endnote 21 available now

The latest version of Endnote is now available to staff and students.

How to download and install:

  • Register a task at https://upsmax.up.ac.za/.
  • Log in with your UP Portal credentials (staff and students). 
  • On the SMAX main screen, search for 'Endnote' and choose 'Request Service'.
  • Complete all the fields and click 'Submit'.
  • You will receive an email with instructions and the link to the software (for both Windows and Mac). Please note - the file size for the Windows download is about 92 MB.

Alternatively, visit the Endnote Subject Guide, click the download link from there or check the step by step Endnote Referencing Guide below. 

If you have any issues, please contact IT Helpdesk at 012 420 3051 or help@it.up.ac.za.

Referencing

Referencing can be described as giving credit, with citation, to the source of information used in one’s work. Research is a buildup on what other people have previously done thus referencing helps to relate your own work to previous work. Unacknowledged use and presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own can be used to describe plagiarism. The University of Pretoria takes plagiarism very seriously and could lead to the loss of marks or exclusion from the university. Referencing is important for a number of reasons, some of which include:

  • It allows for acknowledgement of the use of other people’s opinions, ideas, theories and inventions.
  • Helps readers understand what influenced the writer’s thinking and how their ideas were formulated.
  • Helps the readers evaluate the extent of the writer’s reading.
  • Enables readers to visit source materials for themselves and verify the information.

The library offers support and training for EndNote referencing support software

Mendeley Reference Manager

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Mendeley is a free reference manager that can help you collect references, organize your citations, and create bibliographies.  

It is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux and all browsers.

The strength of Mendeley, however, is what it adds to that. Mendeley is also an academic social network that enables you to share your research with  others. Researchers can collaborate online in public or private groups, and search for papers in the Mendeley group database of over 30 million papers. Mendeley can help you connect with other scholars and the latest research in your subject area. Because Mendeley is now owned by Elsevier, the leading provider of science, technology and health information, it integrates with ScienceDirect and Scopus

Recommended sources

General sources