Citing and Referencing
Citing and referencing your sources is essential when you’re writing your assignments, because failure to do so is plagiarism.
There are lots of different citation styles used in DCU; check your course handbook to find out which one you're required to use. Each citation style has a style guide that shows you how to use it.
This page provides links to style guides we recommend you bookmark for quick reference.
You will also find information on how to get started with Zotero - an open source reference manager that can help you out when you have lots of sources to keep track of.
Watch our video below, which explains some of the principles behind citing and referencing, which together are your best means of avoiding plagiarism.
DCU Library subscribes to Cite Them Right Online, an excellent resource which will help you to reference correctly and avoid plagiarism.
Cite Them Right will show you how to format references and citations for many different sources (books, ebooks, online articles, websites, etc.) in a number of styles including Harvard, APA 7th edition,Chicago, IEEE, MHRA, MLA, and OSCOLA.
Approach Cite Them Right with the type of source you wish to cite and reference, then choose a citation style from a drop-down list.
There is also an accompanying text book and we have several copies in the Library - "Cite them right : the essential referencing guide" ; check Library Search for availability
APA 7th ed.
This short video shows you how to cite and reference a chapter in an edited book in APA 7th ed. Style
Chicago
This short video shows how to cite and reference a book and a journal article in Chicago style using style guide Cite Them Right.
Harvard
This short video shows you how to cite and reference a journal article in Harvard style.
IEEE
This short video shows you how to cite and reference a journal article in IEEE style.
IHS (Irish Historical Studies)
- Download the style guide
Visit the Irish Historical Studies website and scroll to the bottom of the homepage to download the latest version of the 'Rules for Contributors' (revised May 2025).
- This short video shows you how to cite and reference a book, a chapter in an edited book, and a journal article in IHS style, using 'Rules for Contributors' (May 2003 version)
MHRA (with footnotes)
This short video shows you how to cite and reference a book and a journal article in MHRA (footnote) style.
MHRA (author-date system)
This short video shows you how to cite and reference a chapter in an edited book in MHRA style using the author-date system.
OSCOLA
This short video shows you how to cite and reference a case and a journal article in OSCOLA style.
Vancouver
This short video shows you how to cite and reference a journal article in Vancouver style.
Zotero Reference Manager allows users to easily cite and reference sources when doing assignments. Create an account and use it to save your references when you have a lot to keep track of.
Although reference management tools like Zotero save a huge amount of time, it is still extremely important to know how to cite and reference manually so that you can correct them when you need to.
Here is a DCU Library Guide - Zotero to help you get started.
If your Windows system is being upgraded, or you are changing your laptop/PC, see the section in the guide that shows you how to back up your Zotero library.
Cite Them Right Website
There’s lots of help on the Cite Them Right website (you will need to enter your DCU username & password to access)
LETS online tutorial
If you want to learn more about what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, how to cite and reference as well as good paraphrasing tips. Check out the LETScite section of the Library online tutorial LETS. Available on Loop.
Classes & Workshops
Check the Library Classes and Workshops calendar
Subject Librarians
Contact your Subject Librarian directly with your citing & referencing questions.
Citing & Referencing Query Form
If you’re still not sure about something or have a more complex query please fill out our online form.