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Referencing

The Importance of Referencing 

A person looking at a light bulb 

Referencing has a direct effect on your degree classification: a work that is referenced correctly will receive better marks than the same work that is not. Viewed in this way, a well-referenced piece of work could be the deciding factor for receiving a higher mark if your work sits at a classification boundary (Pears and Shields, 2022, p. 2). Referencing is, therefore, a good thing, but it needs practice. 

Why Should we Reference? 

As introduced, referencing has a direct effect on your degree classification. Here are some important reasons why (Pears and Shields, 2002, p. 2; McMillan, 2021, p. 201): 

  • If you reference correctly, you will not be guilty of plagiarism (Pears and Shields, 2022, p. 2). The university’s classification of plagiarism includes instances when a person’s work 'does not acknowledge the work of another person or persons’ or if a person’s work presented for assessment does not identify ‘the source or cited quotations’ (University of Derby, 2025, J2.1). Stella Cottrell (2019, p. 247) sums it up well: ‘plagiarism is the use of the work of others without acknowledgement of your source of information or inspiration’. 

  • You can demonstrate the scholarship that has gone into your work. The well thought out use of references is a good way to demonstrate to others that you are aware of the intellectual context into which your work fits. 

  • It will allow the reader of your work to find the sources you have used. The third reason is that your tutors and fellow researchers may want to check your references for themselves, and others may want to pursue ideas further. Referencing correctly enables them to do so. 

  • You can create an authoritative piece of work that weaves the ideas of others with your own thoughts. Referencing allows you to retain your own unique ‘voice’ in your writing whilst using the words/ideas of others (techniques like ‘paraphrasing’ can help with this). Referencing is a very important skill to develop, so that you can retain originality in your writing whilst drawing on the works of others. 

 

References  

Cottrell, S. (2019) The Study Skills Handbook. 5th edn. London: MacMillan. 

McMillan, K. (2021) Study Skills Book: Your Essential Guide to University Success. 4th edn. London: Pearson. 

Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2022) Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide. 12th edn. Available at: https://derby.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44DERBY_INST/1r0lf79/alma991002263385907416 (Accessed: 9 June 2025).   

University of Derby (2025) Academic Offences. Available at: https://www.derby.ac.uk/about/academic-regulations/20-21/academic-offences/