Skip to main content

Help with study skills

Citing references

Guidance from the university

For each assignment you complete it is important to reference the resources you have used. This can include books, websites, newspapers and social media. Types of referencing include footnotes, endnotes, citations and bibliographies. Failing to cite your sources is an example of plagiarism and can affect your marks. It might be worth looking at the University’s policies on plagiarism and Academic Misconduct.

Guidance from the department

All Faculties and Departments are expected to provide guidance about local good academic practice, and expectations of students. This is normally provided as part of your student handbook, or on Moodle or a local intranet.

If you cannot find your subject's plagiarism guidance, you should ask your Director of Studies or supervisor about local conventions, or contact your course organiser.  You can find general guidance on Referencing conventions within this website, but note that this will not be applicable to all subjects.

Help within College

Library staff can help you get started with referencing.  You can also book an appointment with Library staff or ask a question via library@girton.cam.ac.uk. Learn to manage your references with our eguide to Managing references.

If you want to read about referencing in more detail the library stocks the following:

  • Williams, Kate (2015), Referencing.  London, England; Macmillan Education/Palgrave.  (Sg 76)
  • Pears, Richard and Shields, Graham (2016). Cite them right. (10th Ed.). Basingstoke, England; Palgrave Macmillan. (Reference Bay 029 P31) Alternatively, visit Cite them Right Online (Raven password required).
  • Gibaldi, Joseph (2003), MLA handbook for writers of research papers. (6th Ed.). New York: Modern Language Association of America. (Reference Bay 029 M72)
  • Modern Humanities Research Association (2002), MHRA style guide: a handbook for authors, editors, and writers of theses. London: Modern Humanities Research Association. (Reference Bay 029 M72)

Referencing guides

Additionally, find resources, that are not endorsed by the University of Cambridge, but may help to enhance and test your understanding of good academic practice here

Help within college

Library staff are always happy to provide support and assistance. You can book an appointment with us or ask a question via library@girton.cam.ac.uk.

Library Guides

We have wide range of guides for College members to use

Find out more