AI Disclaimer
Do not use AI to suggest references to read/cite
Please be aware that ChatGPT and other AI services can produce incorrect, made-up references that cannot be sourced. While some individual parts of an AI-generated reference may be accurate (such as the journal name, article or book title or an author) the whole reference does not usually exist so cannot be found by our library team.
If you have a reference that you cannot find and need assistance, please contact ASKMED and include the source (databases, search engines, etc.) in your inquiry.
Common Questions about Citing References
Whenever you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or otherwise refer to the work of another, you are required to cite your source and provide a complete reference for your source in a bibliography, list of references or works cited.
In principle, only references actually consulted should be cited.
Q: I'm reading a review article and want to cite an original research that was cited by this review article. How should I cite?
A: This is referred as Secondary Citations in the AMA Manual of Style. The author of the original research should be mentioned in the text when you cite, while both original research paper and the review paper should be included in the reference list as one item. It may look like the following in the reference list:
citation of original research paper. Cited by: complete citation of review article.
Citation Styles
Citation styles are specific rules that govern how authors cite information from previous research. There are thousands of citation styles available. The most widely used citation style for medical journals is AMA (American Medical Association) Style. Another popular citation style for health sciences is APA (American Psychological Association) Style.
Citation management software generally has a feature that allows authors to insert citations into their documents using a citation style of their choice while writing. Another feature the citation management software offer is to switch between different citation styles as needed, or modify a citation style according to specific requirement from the publisher.
AMA Manual of Style are mostly used by researchers publishing in the medical and health sciences fields.
Example:
Cloete L. Diabetes mellitus: an overview of the types, symptoms, complications and management. Nurs Stand. 2022;37(1):61-66. doi:10.7748/ns.2021.e11709
For more information, please see:
University of Washington Health Sciences Library AMA Style Guide
AMA Manual of Style by
For decades indispensable, the AMA Manual of Style continues to provide editorial support to the medical and scientific publishing community. Since the 1998 publication of the 9th edition, however, the world of medical publishing has rapidly modernized, and the intersection of research and publishing has become ever more complex. The 10th edition of the AMA Manual of Style, published in early 2007, brings this definitive manual into the 21st century with a broadened international perspective. In doing so, the 10th edition has expanded its electronic guidelines, with the understanding that authors now routinely submit articles through online systems and often cite Web-only content. Ethical and legal issues receive increased attention, with detailed guidelines on authorship, conflicts of interest, scientific misconduct, intellectual property, and the protection of individuals' rights in scientific research and publication. The new edition examines research ethics and editorial independence and features new material on indexing and searching as well as medical nomenclature. JAMA and the Archives Journals, one of the most groups of medical publications in the world, have lent members of their expert staff of professional journal editors to the committee that has produced this edition. Extensively peer-reviewed, the 10th edition provides a welcome and improved standard for the growing international medical community. More than a style manual, this 10th edition offers invaluable guidance on how to navigate the dilemmas that authors and researchers and their institutions, medical editors and publishers, and members of the news media who cover scientific research confront in a society that has thrust these issues center stage.
ISBN: 9780195176339Publication Date: 2007-03-15
APA style is widely used in scientific publishing.
Example:
Cloete L. (2022). Diabetes mellitus: an overview of the types, symptoms, complications and management. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987), 37(1), 61–66. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.2021.e11709
Please refer to the comprehensive guide below for more information.
Publication Manual (OFFICIAL) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association by
A WALL STREET JOURNAL, USA TODAY, AND PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER. The newest official release of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition includes four different formats--spiral-bound and tabbed, paperback, hardcover, and ebook, all of which are in full color. It is the official source for APA Style. With millions of copies sold worldwide in multiple languages, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the style manual of choice for writers, researchers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, nursing, communications, education, business, engineering, and other fields. Known for its authoritative, easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, language, and tone that will result in powerful, concise, and elegant scholarly communication. It guides users through the scholarly writing process--from the ethics of authorship to reporting research through publication. The seventh edition is an indispensable resource for students and professionals to achieve excellence in writing and make an impact with their work. The seventh edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect best practices in scholarly writing and publishing. All formats are in full color, with a new tabbed spiral version Easy navigation, with topics divided into numbered sections to help users quickly location the information they need Resources for students on writing and formatting annotated bibliographies, response papers, and other paper types, guidelines on citing course materials, and guidance on writing clearly, precisely, and concisely Dedicated chapter for new users of APA Style covering paper elements and format, including sample papers for both professional authors and student writers New chapter on journal article reporting standards (JARS) that includes updates to reporting standards for quantitative research and the first-ever qualitative and mixed methods reporting standards in APA Style Updated chapter on bias-free language guidelines for writing about people with respect and inclusivity in areas including age, disability, gender, participation in research, racial and ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality Updated chapter on essential style guidelines for scholarly writing, including punctuation, italics, capitalization, abbreviations, and numbers More than 40 new sample tables and figures Expanded guidance on ethical writing and publishing practices, including how to ensure the appropriate level of citation, avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism, and navigate the publication process More than 100 new reference examples covering periodicals, books, audiovisual media, social media, webpages and websites, legal resources, and many other document types Guidelines that support accessibility for all users, including simplified reference, in-text citation, and heading formats as well as additional font options
ISBN: 9781433832161Publication Date: 2019-10-01
Citation Management Tools
Citation management tools store and organize information sources (aka references, citations, etc.). In general, a citation management tool can:
- import references directly from library databases, search engines, or websites
- attach PDFs, images, and other documents to references
- generate bibliographies in a variety of citation formats, i.e. AMA, APA and Chicago style
- insert citations and create reference list while you write using Word processors
Below is a table comparing features of some most popular citation management tools. You may choose any of them that best meets your needs.
| Tools | EndNote Desktop & EndNote Web | EndNote Basic (Online only) | Mendeley | RefWorks | Zotero |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| URL | WSU students and employees can purchase discounted copy for personal use through WSU C&IT |
Create an account through MyEndNoteWeb link |
Download from Mendeley website |
WSU Affiliates can create an account through RefWorks Proquest database link |
Download from Zotero website |
| Cost | WSU students and employees can purchase discounted copy for personal use through WSU C&IT | Free to anyone | Free to anyone | Free to WSU affiliates | Free to anyone & open source |
| Access | Desktop and Web | Web only | Desktop and Web | Web only | Desktop and Web |
| Mobile App | EndNote App | -- | Mendeley App | RefWorks App | Zotero for Mobile |
| Offline Use | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| PDF Markup | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Export from Databases | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export from Web | N/A | No | Use browser plugin | Save to Refworks | Use browser plugin |
| Citation Styles | 6000+ output styles | Top 21 most commonly used styles | popular output styles + CSL citation styles repository | 6000+ output styles | 8000+ output styles |
| Word Processor Compatibility |
MS Word Google Docs Pages |
MS Word | MS Word |
MS Word Google Docs |
MS Word Google Docs |
| Collaboration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud Storage | Unlimited | Free up to 2GB | Free up to 2GB & purchase additional storage | Free to WSU affiliates | Free up to 300MB & purchase additional storage |
| Strengths |
Ability to manage very large library Ease of editing output styles |
Share a group with other EndNote online users |
Collaboration by sharing groups publicly or privately |
Ease of use Work from anywhere with internet connection |
Free to anyone Capture webpages with ease |
| Training |
WSULS Libguide - How to Use EndNote |
WSULS Libguide - How to Use EndNote Online |
WSULS Libguide - How to Use RefWorks |
WSULS Libguide - How to Use Zotero |
|
| Tech Support | EndNote Support | EndNote Support | Mendeley Support Portal | RefWorks Support | Zotero community forum |
Updated on July 23, 2024.
EndNote Desktop software is available to Wayne State faculty, staff and students for a discounted fee. Easily store, organize, cite and share collected research information, import PDFs, cite while you write, change from APA, Vancouver, MLA and more with a few clicks, edit and share documents simultaneously with co-authors in Word.
- WSU students and employees can purchase a discounted copy for personal use through WSU C&IT
EndNote desktop users can activate an EndNote Web account from within EndNote 21 desktop, and then log in at web.endnote.com. It allows users to sync their library or share with collaborators.
For more information, please refer to:
- WSULS Libguide - How to Use EndNote
- EndNote Knowledge Base
- EndNote YouTube Channel
- EndNote 21 Quick Reference Guides
- Clarivate EndNote Training
If you need technical support, please contact EndNote Support.
EndNote Basic is a Web-based reference organizer and collaboration tool that's free to anyone.
- Create an account through MyEndNoteWeb link
EndNote Basic has limited features but it still allows you to:
- Collect, organize and edit references
- Integrate in-text citations and create a formatted bibliography using their Cite While You Write add-on or plug-in in a variety of word processing software
- Create groups and collaborate with other EndNote Online users
For a comparison of features among different EndNote versions, please see the Comparison Chart from EndNote website.
Video Link: EndNote Online Essentials
Video Link: A class recording: what are you missing by using only EndNote basic?
Mendeley is a free citation management tool that can help you organize your references, share with collaborators or public, and cite references while writing. You can download the desktop software and set up an online account to work with your library from anywhere.
- Download from Mendeley website
For more information, please refer to:
For technical support, please contact Mendeley Support Portal.
RefWorks is a web-based citation management tool that helps you organize and manage references, format and insert citations while you work with Word and Google Docs, and share reference with collaborators. It is free to Wayne State University students, faculty, staff and other affiliated users. Your RefWorks account can be transferred to another institution that also subscribes to RefWorks.
To get started using RefWorks, refer to Create Your RefWorks Account page.
For more information, please refer to:
-
WSULS Libguide - How to Use RefWorks
For technical support, please contact RefWorks Support.
Zotero is a free and open-source citation management tool that can help you store and organize your research sources, format and insert citations while you work with Word and Google Docs, and share reference with collaborators.
Zotero is available as desktop application, on mobile devices, or through web browsers.
- Download from Zotero website
For more information, please refer to:
- WSULS Libguide - How to Use Zotero
- Zotero Documentation (Zotero Website)
- Zotero: A How To Guide (From Harvard Library)
Although Zotero doesn't have an official technical support team, its community forum offers answers to many common questions a user may want to ask.
Online citation generators can help you create citations and bibliographies if you only need a few citations. These generators usually only offer several popular citation styles such as APA, MLA, or Chicago Style, and may not be as accurate and reliable as citation management software such as EndNote or Zotero.
ZoteroBib creates a bibliography in the style you need, including APA, MLA and Chicago/Turbaian. Just enter the from URL, title, DOI and other information, select your style and Zotero will compile a formatted citation list.