Reference help: Tips for writers

• When you find a good source, write it down immediately (Mendeley, Word file, paper...). If you do not take notes, you may not find the source again, and lose precious time on trying to locate it again.
• When referring to a source, add the in-text reference immediately while writing, not afterwards. Adding in-text references at the end of the writing project can be a slow and painstaking process.
• If you are using Mendeley, remember to mention it in the introduction chapter. Be consistent, stick to the same referencing system throughout your report.
• Set aside plenty of time!
• Be precise!
• Mark only the sources you have actually read and used in your report. A list of references contains only the sources you have referred to in your writing, and vice versa.

If you like, you can use a reference management program. They help you organize source materials. They can be used to

• collect and organize references
• add in-text references to your text
• quickly create a bibliography

There are various reference management programs available. Haaga-Helia’s library provides support for using the free version of Mendeley.

• Mendeley guide

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