(a) Write a summary of the main point, including a citation.
(b) Introduce a quotation to show the key point, referring to the source.
(c) Combine (a) and (b), again acknowledging the source.
6 Abbreviations in citations
In-text citations use the following abbreviations, derived from Latin and printed in italics:
- et al.: Used when three or more authors are given. The full list of names is given in the
reference list - ibid.: Taken from the same source (i.e. the same page) as the previous citation.
- op. cit.: Taken from the same source as previously, but a different page.
Note that journal articles increasingly tend to use full citations, but students should still use
the above in their work.
See 3.2 Abbreviations
7 Secondary references
It is quite common to find a reference to an original source in the text you are reading.
For instance, if you are reading a text by McArthur, you may find:
Chan (2012) argues that there was a significant change in management style between 1985
and the end of the century.You may wish to use this information from the original (i.e. Chan) in your writing, even if
you have not read the whole work. This is known as a secondary reference. If it is not possible
to locate the original, you can refer to it thus:
Chan (2012), cited in McArthur (2014: 241), maintained that there was an important
change...You must include the work you have read (i.e. McArthur) in the list of references.
54 Part 1: The Writing Process