How to use citations in Google Docs

If you've ever written a research paper, academic paper, or professional report, you understand the value of being able to accurately cite sources. You cite your authors so that people can check your sources and give weight to your work. This is done in Google Docs via its native citation tool, which is easy, simple, native, and smooth. For your next project, here is how to maximize the use of this tool.

Google Docs citations: the ropes

Using Google Docs with a couple of small third-party extensions was formerly what "Google Docs for citations" meant. Now, though, Google has accomplished this with its integrated citation tool. To begin citing sources in your paper, follow these steps:

Launch the reference manager: From the Tools menu at the top of your manuscript select Citations. On the right-hand side of the screen you will now see a citation panel with easy access to all of the citation capabilities.

Choose your citation style: Depending on demand, different citation styles are used such as MLA, APA, or Chicago. From the drop-down menu in the citation panel, select your preferred style here. You will not be required to retype your citations in case you decide to make another update to this.

Give reference: Click "Add citation source." On this page, you are able to select the source you have and from which you are taking: book, website, and journal article. Each different type of source has unique fields that must be specified: author's name, work title, year published, etc. Google Docs has these fields laid out in a way that will prompt you to fill them out in.

After saving your source, you will be able to add in-text citations. Highlight the reference you want to use and click the Cite button next to it in the citation panel. Google Docs will automatically insert a prepared citation into your text, complete with all of your chosen formatting, after you've chosen a style in the previous stage. This is about as close you can get to an automated citation generator in a writing tool.

Though the majority of in-text citation formats are considered to be standard, some readers prefer to see the use of footnotes. To insert a footnote, locate the spot in your document where you want the footnote to appear, click Insert > Footnote from the main menu, and manually type in the citation information at the bottom of the page.

Building a reference page

After having cited all of your sources in the text, you will want to create a references page. Your audience will have a complete understanding of your sources because all the works you have listed are compiled on this page and can be organized into one list. This becomes as easy as adding citations when you use Google Docs.

Generally, you'll want to make some edits, such as correcting a couple of spelling errors or eliminating some superfluous sources. This photo has been attributed.

Insert the reference page: The typical location for the reference page is at the end of a work. Select where you'd like to insert the page.

Insert the list of references: Look for an Insert

Policies option at the bottom of the browsing panel; its the right underground for anything contacts.

When clicked, Google Docs will auto-create a references page formatted according to the chosen style. At least one source entry per source with style rules creates a professional appearance.

Changing of citation style if needed: This is pretty easy when using Google Docs. After opening the citation panel and selecting your new style via a drop-down option, tap Post bibliography once. You don't need to reformat each entry; instead, you should apply this when the reference page updates automatically according to the newer style.

Inserting edits or deleting references in Google Docs

Of course, this is often just minor editing - spelling and grammar checks, for example, or removal of references that are just not needed. Fortunately, citations in Google Docs are easily edited or deleted.

To edit existing citations, the first step is to locate the source you want to edit in the citation blurb. Then click Open the panel to change the citations. Click the menu icon (three vertical dots) beside the Edit menu to access it. If desired, you can go back and edit the data that you originally entered in the fields. Google Docs automatically edits both the in-text citations and the references.

Cleanup of extra sources: The three vertical dots, followed by delete will take off a citation. The source will no longer appear in your references list but the citations within the text will still exist for you to delete later. You can easily delete it from your document by selecting the citation within the text and using the Del (Remove) or Backspace (To Erase But not Delete) keys.

To help you cite sources more effectively, here are a few pointers. This image is credited.

Following the advice of experts for proper citation usage

When it comes to properly attributing sources, style guides are just half the battle; they also ensure credibility and clarity. In order to make your citations more effective and of higher quality, consider the following:

Be consistent: Having various different styles within one document can make it appear unprofessional and may confuse readers. When you're finished, use only one citation format. Google Docs not only lets you choose between styles but it also lets you check your work for errors.

Double-check source details: While Google Docs makes the process a lot easier, the onus for correct citations falls squarely on you. Make sure to double-check any source details, such as author names, publication years, etc., before submitting your work. Even minor errors can call into question the veracity of your material.

If possible, use grouped citations: When several sources all relate to the same point it is possible to include all of them in one in-text citation. You can group several sources on to one line in MLA style with a semicolon between each Smith 24; Johnson 42 There are no interruptions here; the text is clear and uncluttered.

Use the find feature in Google Docs to find references: It can be cumbersome to find several specific editing citations for longer publications. For more efficient citation searching and correcting, use Ctrl + F on Windows or Cmd + F on Mac to search by author name or keyword.

Additional detail is provided in the footnotes: Sometimes, sources should be cited instead of taking up valuable main text. Footnotes are a great way to provide background or explanations without cluttering the main body of your work. To include a footnote, click Insert > Footnote, and then type the reference.

Avoid over-referencing: One of the mistakes people make is to refer to too many sources. Only refer to those that are absolutely necessary in making your argument. Badgets, or citations, used to credit sources, are to be used sparingly lest they detract from the text or cause a question as to the credibility of the text. In keeping yourself clear and on course, keep to a narrow course.

Citing sources can be a pain; the tools in Google Docs are fairly basic, but they get you where you need to go easily. Follow these tactics so that you can take maximum benefit of the citation capabilities of Google Docs, which will lead to an easy writing phase and a high-quality finished paper.