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Difference between source and reference

  • Thread starter nationi
  • Start date Dec 25, 2017
  • Dec 25, 2017

What's the difference between "source" and "reference"? and how do I use the terms?  

owlman5

Senior Member

Hello, nationi. Both "source" and "reference" can refer to some book or article that you consult when you make a factual statement about something. At the end of many books, you'll find a list of "references", which are the books, etc. the author used in writing his or her book. I think it's a little more common to talk about "sources" rather than "references" when people are talking about the sources of information that they rely on for facts: I read that the world will have nearly eight billion people in it by 2050. Oh yeah? What is your source for that number?  

A reference is a mention of a source. From the WR dictionary: source any thing or place from which something comes or is obtained; origin source - WordReference.com Dictionary of English reference a direction of the attention, as in a book, to some other book, passage, etc. reference - WordReference.com Dictionary of English The source of a quotation is the place (book, newspaper, website etc.) from which you took the material quoted. The reference is your listing of the source. The list at the end of an article or book could be called either "references" (i.e. the author's list of sources) or "sources" (the books etc. themselves which the author used in doing research).  

lingobingo

In academic books, references to sources such as books, journals, articles, etc. are often given in short form – e.g. "Smith et al. 1982" – in the main text (and/or in footnotes or endnotes), with full details of them listed in a bibliography at the end of the book. There are also cross-references in the text, such as: "(see fig. 8 on p. 139)".  

So, "source" is where I get my materials from (such as books, journals, etc.),"Reference" is a list of sources, and "Bibliography" always equals "Reference"? Can I use the word "source" at the end of an academic paper instead of "reference"?  

Yes, you should be able to do that, nationi. Abstract questions about what you can and can't do in a paper are hard to answer. But many sentences in academic papers refer to "sources" of information.  

  • Dec 26, 2017

I understand now, thanks!  

A-friend

  • Aug 25, 2019

Hello everyone I wonder if my take based on these words "source" "reference" "bibliography" based on my experience is correct. If not, please kindly let me know where I am mistaken: Case one: The "list" / "mention" at the end of a book used by the author to write a book / article can be called: "references" or "sources" or "bibliography". Case two: The place of a quotation (book, newspaper, website etc.) from which you took the material quoted can be called: "references" or "sources". (Bibliography) does not work here.) Case three: The materials (books) you have to study to pass an exam just can be called: "references". (To me, "sources" and "bibliography" do not work in this sense.)  

Your explanation suggests that you misunderstand these words. A bibliography is a full list — nearly always placed at the end of an academic book, along with other endmatter such as index, appendixes, glossary, list of picture credits, etc. — of all the publications referred to and/or mentioned in the main part of that book. (Any word with “biblio” in it refers to books.) The words source (the book/article/speech etc. that a quote or piece of information came from) and reference (a mention of a particular source) should not be confused. See #3 and #4.  

lingobingo said: Your explanation suggests that you misunderstand these words. A bibliography is a full list — nearly always placed at the end of an academic book, along with other endmatter such as index, appendixes, glossary, list of picture credits, etc. — of all the publications referred to and/or mentioned in the main part of that book. (Any word with “biblio” in it refers to books.) The words source (the book/article/speech etc. that a quote or piece of information came from) and reference (a mention of a particular source) should not be confused. See #3 and #4. Click to expand...

A reference is any mention of a source in the main text of the book — where, for the sake of brevity, references are often made in short form. Full listing of an article in the bibliography: French, A. (1972), “Topical Influences on Herodotus’ Narrative”, Mnemos , 25, 9–27. References to it in main text and notes: (French in Mnemos , 1972)  

lingobingo said: A reference is any mention of a source in the main text of the book — where, for the sake of brevity, references are often made in short form. Full listing of an article in the bibliography: French, A. (1972), “Topical Influences on Herodotus’ Narrative”, Mnemos , 25, 9–27. References to it in main text and notes: (French in Mnemos , 1972) Click to expand...

I don’t know of a specific term for that (apart from coursebook). Presumably you mean study materials for a particular course of study.  

lingobingo said: I don’t know of a specific term for that (apart from coursebook). Presumably you mean study materials for a particular course of study. Click to expand...

They’re sources, as I explained in #9.  

lingobingo said: They’re sources, as I explained in #9. Click to expand...

I’ve been explaining specifically about the term references as used in the field of academic publishing (definition 1.1 here: reference | Lexico ). But the word reference is used in other ways too. You seem to be talking about definition 1.2.  

lingobingo said: I’ve been explaining specifically about the term references as used in the field of academic publishing (definition 1.1 here: reference | Lexico ). But the word reference is used in other ways too. You seem to be talking about definition 1.2. Click to expand...

PaulQ

A-friend said: Here, if I'm not mistaken, a "reference" is cited to be exactly the same as a "source". Click to expand...

Keith Bradford

Keith Bradford

I always understood the difference to be: The sources of an author's information are all the books he has read while preparing his article. Sometimes entitled Further Reading . The references are the specific page numbers of the quotations he uses. These are often numbered and refer to Notes or Footnotes The bibliography is the alphabetic list of sources, or the numeric list of references, as the case may be.  

PaulQ said: "A-friend said PaulQ's book says "The River Nile has its source in Lake Victoria and the Nile is the longest river in the world"." The source of the River Nile is Lake Victoria. -> the original starting point; the origin. The reference to the River Nile is not Lake Victoria but is in PaulQ's book. -> a reference need not be the origin. PaulQ's reference to the length of the River Nile is disputed (the words/facts of the reference)- the Amazon might be longer. PaulQ says that his source for the claim that the Nile is the longest river in the world was the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. The neutrality of the source is disputed. Click to expand...
owlman5 said: Both "source" and "reference" can refer to some book or article that you consult when you make a factual statement about something. At the end of many books, you'll find a list of "references", which are the books, etc. the author used in writing his or her book. I think it's a little more common to talk about "sources" rather than "references" when people are talking about the sources of information that they rely on for facts: I read that the world will have nearly eight billion people in it by 2050. Oh yeah? What is your source for that number? Click to expand...
A-friend said: Don't you think there is an AE / BE difference here? Click to expand...
Keith Bradford said: I always understood the difference to be: The sources of an author's information are all the books he has read while preparing his article. Sometimes entitled Further Reading . The references are the specific page numbers of the quotations he uses. These are often numbered and refer to Notes or Footnotes The bibliography is the alphabetic list of sources, or the numeric list of references, as the case may be. Click to expand...
PaulQ said: No. It is down to individual understanding. I think we are all agreed that sometimes a source and a reference are almost the same and in other contexts, they are not. "My reference for my claim is the article in "Wikipedia". The source of that claim is a manuscript written c. 200BC." "The source of, and the reference for, the quote are the same - I took it from "Hamlet" by Shakespeare." Click to expand...

Rasmussen University: FAQS banner

Are references and sources the same thing? Is a reference page the same thing as a page of citations?

A reference list (sometimes called reference page ):

  • Appears at the end of a paper, presentation, or project
  • Is a listing of all of the materials referred to (cited, quoted, paraphrased, summarized) in the paper 
  • Who wrote/created it (author)
  • When they created it (date of publication)
  • What the source is called (title)
  • Where to find it (varies by format of material)

Items within a reference page/list are sometimes called sources, references or citations.

In-text citations appear inside a paper and tell the reader:

  • That the a specific portion of the information comes from an outside source, not from the author of the paper
  • That there is a "matching" item in the reference list that they can look at for complete information about the source of the information

To learn more about APA in general, visit the APA Guide . Take a close look at specific sections of the Guide like In-Text Citations and References .

  • Research and Library
  • Last Updated Jun 22, 2020
  • Views 18298
  • Answered By Kate Anderson, Librarian

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Works Cited v. References v. Bibliography

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Works Cited vs. References vs. Bibliography

Knowing the proper term for your paper’s list of citations can be confusing. Do I call it a works cited page? Should it actually be called a bibliography? How is it different from a reference list? In this article, we explain what these three terms mean and how they are different or related to one another.

To begin, each citation style has its own way of naming the list of sources you used in your paper. Here we break down the differences in these list types, so that you can better understand which option works best for your work.

Works Cited

A “Works Cited” list is an alphabetical list of works cited, or sources you specifically called out while composing your paper. All works that you have quoted or paraphrased should be included. Works Cited is generally used when citing sources using MLA format (Modern Language Association) style, and sources should be listed in alphabetical order by author’s last name.

Example Works Cited entry :

Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution. Oxford UP, 2007.

References or “Reference List”

A “Reference List” is very similar to a Works Cited list, and is a term used when citing sources using APA format (American Psychological Association) style. The page should be titled “References,” and is arranged alphabetically by author last name.

Example References entry :

Middlekauff, R. (2007). The glorious cause: The American Revolution . Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Bibliography

Bibliographies, on the other hand, differ greatly from Works Cited and References lists. In Works Cited and References, you only list items you have actually referred to and cited in your paper. A Bibliography, meanwhile, lists all the material you have consulted in preparing your essay, whether you have actually referred to and cited the work or not. This includes all sources that you have used in order to do any research. Bibliographies are often used in Chicago and Turabian citation styles. They usually contain a long reference that has a corresponding footnote within the body of the paper.

Example Bibliography entry :

Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2007.

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Harvard Guide to Using Sources 

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If you are using Chicago style footnotes or endnotes, you should include a bibliography at the end of your paper that provides complete citation information for all of the sources you cite in your paper. Bibliography entries are formatted differently from notes. For bibliography entries, you list the sources alphabetically by last name, so you will list the last name of the author or creator first in each entry. You should single-space within a bibliography entry and double-space between them. When an entry goes longer than one line, use a hanging indent of .5 inches for subsequent lines. Here’s a link to a sample bibliography that shows layout and spacing . You can find a sample of note format here .

Complete note vs. shortened note

Here’s an example of a complete note and a shortened version of a note for a book:

1. Karen Ho, Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street (Durham: Duke University Press, 2009), 27-35.

1. Karen Ho, Liquidated , 27-35.

Note vs. Bibliography entry

The bibliography entry that corresponds with each note is very similar to the longer version of the note, except that the author’s last and first name are reversed in the bibliography entry. To see differences between note and bibliography entries for different types of sources, check this section of the Chicago Manual of Style .

For Liquidated , the bibliography entry would look like this:

Ho, Karen, Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street . Durham: Duke University Press, 2009.

Citing a source with two or three authors

If you are citing a source with two or three authors, list their names in your note in the order they appear in the original source. In the bibliography, invert only the name of the first author and use “and” before the last named author.

1. Melissa Borja and Jacob Gibson, “Internationalism with Evangelical Characteristics: The Case of Evangelical Responses to Southeast Asian Refugees,” The Review of Faith & International Affairs 17, no. 3 (2019): 80-81, https://doi.org/10.1080/15570274.2019.1643983 .

Shortened note:

1. Borja and Gibson, “Internationalism with Evangelical Characteristics,” 80-81.

Bibliography:

Borja, Melissa, and Jacob Gibson. “Internationalism with Evangelical Characteristics: The Case of Evangelical Responses to Southeast Asian Refugees.” The Review of Faith & International Affairs 17. no. 3 (2019): 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/15570274.2019.1643983 .

Citing a source with more than three authors

If you are citing a source with more than three authors, include all of them in the bibliography, but only include the first one in the note, followed by et al. ( et al. is the shortened form of the Latin et alia , which means “and others”).

1. Justine M. Nagurney, et al., “Risk Factors for Disability After Emergency Department Discharge in Older Adults,” Academic Emergency Medicine 27, no. 12 (2020): 1271.

Short version of note:

1. Justine M. Nagurney, et al., “Risk Factors for Disability,” 1271.

Nagurney, Justine M., Ling Han, Linda Leo‐Summers, Heather G. Allore, Thomas M. Gill, and Ula Hwang. “Risk Factors for Disability After Emergency Department Discharge in Older Adults.” Academic Emergency Medicine 27, no. 12 (2020): 1270–78. https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.14088 .

Citing a book consulted online

If you are citing a book you consulted online, you should include a URL, DOI, or the name of the database where you found the book.

1. Karen Ho, Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street (Durham: Duke University Press, 2009), 27-35, https://doi-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/10.1215/9780822391371 .

Bibliography entry:

Ho, Karen. Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street . Durham: Duke University Press, 2009. https://doi-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/10.1215/9780822391371 .

Citing an e-book consulted outside of a database

If you are citing an e-book that you accessed outside of a database, you should indicate the format. If you read the book in a format without fixed page numbers (like Kindle, for example), you should not include the page numbers that you saw as you read. Instead, include chapter or section numbers, if possible.

1. Karen Ho, Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street (Durham: Duke University Press, 2009), chap. 2, Kindle.

Ho, Karen. Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street . Durham: Duke University Press, 2009. Kindle.

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Types of Sources Explained | Examples & Tips

Published on May 19, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Throughout the research process , you’ll likely use various types of sources . The source types commonly used in academic writing include:

Academic journals

  • Encyclopedias

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Table of contents

Primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of sources.

Academic journals are the most up-to-date sources in academia. They’re typically published multiple times a year and contain cutting-edge research. Consult academic journals to find the most current debates and research topics in your field.

There are many kinds of journal articles, including:

  • Original research articles: These publish original data ( primary sources )
  • Theoretical articles: These contribute to the theoretical foundations of a field.
  • Review articles: These summarize the current state of the field.

Credible journals use peer review . This means that experts in the field assess the quality and credibility of an article before it is published. Journal articles include a full bibliography and use scholarly or technical language.

Academic journals are usually published online, and sometimes also in print. Consult your institution’s library to find out what academic journals they provide access to.

  Learn how to cite a journal article

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Academic books are great sources to use when you need in-depth information on your research or dissertation topic .

They’re typically written by experts and provide an extensive overview and analysis of a specific topic. They can be written by a single author or by multiple authors contributing individual chapters (often overseen by a general editor).

Books published by respected academic publishing houses and university presses are typically considered trustworthy sources. Academic books usually include a full bibliography and use scholarly or technical language. Books written for more general audiences are less relevant in an academic context.

Books can be accessed online or in print. Your institution’s library will likely contain access to a wide selection of each.

Learn how to cite a book

Websites are great sources for preliminary research and can help you to learn more about a topic you’re new to.

However, they are not always credible sources . Many websites don’t provide the author’s name, so it can be hard to tell if they’re an expert. Websites often don’t cite their sources, and they typically don’t subject their content to peer review.

For these reasons, you should carefully consider whether any web sources you use are appropriate to cite or not. Some websites are more credible than others. Look for DOIs or trusted domain extensions:

  • URLs that end with .edu are specifically educational resources.
  • URLs that end with .gov are government-related

Both of these are typically considered trustworthy.

Learn how to cite a website

Newspapers can be valuable sources, providing insights on current or past events and trends.

However, news articles are not always reliable and may be written from a biased perspective or with the intention of promoting a political agenda. News articles usually do not cite their sources and are written for a popular, rather than academic, audience.

Nevertheless, newspapers can help when you need information on recent topics or events that have not been the subject of in-depth academic study. Archives of older newspapers can also be useful sources for historical research.

Newspapers are published in both digital and print form. Consult your institution’s library to find out what newspaper archives they provide access to.

Learn how to cite a newspaper article

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sources vs references

Encyclopedias are reference works that contain summaries or overviews of topics rather than original insights. These overviews are presented in alphabetical order.

Although they’re often written by experts, encyclopedia entries are not typically attributed to a single author and don’t provide the specialized knowledge expected of scholarly sources. As a result, they’re best used as sources of background information at the beginning of your research. You can then expand your knowledge by consulting more academic sources.

Encyclopedias can be general or subject-specific:

  • General encyclopedias contain entries on diverse topics.
  • Subject encyclopedias focus on a particular field and contain entries specific to that field (e.g., Western philosophy or molecular biology).

They can be found online (including crowdsourced encyclopedias like Wikipedia) or in print form.

Learn how to cite Wikipedia

Every source you use will be either a:

  • Primary source : The source provides direct evidence about your topic (e.g., a news article).
  • Secondary source : The source provides an interpretation or commentary on primary sources (e.g., a journal article).
  • Tertiary source : The source summarizes or consolidates primary and secondary sources but does not provide additional analysis or insights (e.g., an encyclopedia).

Tertiary sources are often used for broad overviews at the beginning of a research project. Further along, you might look for primary and secondary sources that you can use to help formulate your position.

How each source is categorized depends on the topic of research and how you use the source.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

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  • ChatGPT citations
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  • Using ChatGPT for your studies
  • What is ChatGPT?
  • Chicago style
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There are many types of sources commonly used in research. These include:

  • Journal articles

You’ll likely use a variety of these sources throughout the research process , and the kinds of sources you use will depend on your research topic and goals.

Scholarly sources are written by experts in their field and are typically subjected to peer review . They are intended for a scholarly audience, include a full bibliography, and use scholarly or technical language. For these reasons, they are typically considered credible sources .

Popular sources like magazines and news articles are typically written by journalists. These types of sources usually don’t include a bibliography and are written for a popular, rather than academic, audience. They are not always reliable and may be written from a biased or uninformed perspective, but they can still be cited in some contexts.

In academic writing, the sources you cite should be credible and scholarly. Some of the main types of sources used are:

  • Academic journals: These are the most up-to-date sources in academia. They are published more frequently than books and provide cutting-edge research.
  • Books: These are great sources to use, as they are typically written by experts and provide an extensive overview and analysis of a specific topic.

It is important to find credible sources and use those that you can be sure are sufficiently scholarly .

  • Consult your institute’s library to find out what books, journals, research databases, and other types of sources they provide access to.
  • Look for books published by respected academic publishing houses and university presses, as these are typically considered trustworthy sources.
  • Look for journals that use a peer review process. This means that experts in the field assess the quality and credibility of an article before it is published.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Ryan, E. (2023, May 31). Types of Sources Explained | Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved February 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/types-of-sources/

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Citing Sources - References vs Bibliography

References and Bibliographies - What's the difference?

When you write academic papers, you will need to include a list of sources you used to write the paper. There are two main ways to list your sources, with a reference list or a bibliography.

References include sources that have been directly cited in your paper. For each source, you will have at least one in-text citation in the body of your paper. The citation styles that use reference lists include APA citations, AMA citations, and MLA citations.

Bibliographies, on the other hand, contain all the sources that you have used for your paper, whether they are directly cited or not. In a bibliography, you should include all of the materials you consulted in preparing your paper. Chicago citations and Oxford citations are two citation styles that use bibliographies.

Both reference lists and bibliographies appear at the end of a written work and are usually organized alphabetically. A paper can have both a reference list and a bibliography.

For more information on how to cite your sources, check out the De Paul Library's Citation Guide .

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Types of Sources

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We live in an age overflowing with sources of information. With so many information sources at our fingertips, knowing where to start, sorting through it all and finding what we want can be overwhelming! This handout provides answers to the following research-related questions: Where do I begin? Where should I look for information? What types of sources are available?

This section lists the types of sources most frequently used in academic research and describes the sort of information that each commonly offers.

Print Sources

Books and Textbooks:  Odds are that at least one book has been written about virtually any research topic you can imagine (and if not, your research could represent the first steps toward a best-selling publication that addresses the gap!). Because of the time it takes to publish a book, books usually contain more dated information than will be found in journals and newspapers. However, because they are usually much longer, they can often cover topics in greater depth than more up-to-date sources.

Newspapers:  Newspapers contain very up-to-date information by covering the latest events and trends. Newspapers publish both factual information and opinion-based articles. However, due to journalistic standards of objectivity, news reporting will not always take a “big picture” approach or contain information about larger trends, instead opting to focus mainly on the facts relevant to the specifics of the story. This is exacerbated by the rapid publication cycles most newspapers undergo: new editions must come out frequently, so long, in-depth investigations tend to be rarer than simple fact-reporting pieces.

Academic and Trade Journals:  Academic and trade journals contain the most up-to-date information and research in industry, business, and academia. Journal articles come in several forms, including literature reviews that overview current and past research, articles on theories and history, and articles on specific processes or research. While a well-regarded journal represents the cutting-edge knowledge of experts in a particular field, journal articles can often be difficult for non-experts to read, as they tend to incorporate lots of technical jargon and are not written to be engaging or entertaining.

Government Reports and Legal Documents:  The government regularly releases information intended for internal and/or public use. These types of documents can be excellent sources of information due to their regularity, dependability, and thoroughness. An example of a government report would be any of the reports the U.S. Census Bureau publishes from census data. Note that most government reports and legal documents can now be accessed online.

Press Releases and Advertising:  Companies and special interest groups produce texts to help persuade readers to act in some way or inform the public about some new development. While the information they provide can be accurate, approach them with caution, as these texts' publishers may have vested interests in highlighting particular facts or viewpoints.

Flyers, Pamphlets, Leaflets:  While some flyers or pamphlets are created by reputable sources, because of the ease with which they can be created, many less-than-reputable sources also produce these. Pamphlets and leaflets can be useful for quick reference or very general information, but beware of pamphlets that spread propaganda or misleading information.

Digital and Electronic Sources

Multimedia:  Printed material is certainly not the only option for finding research. You might also consider using sources such as radio and television broadcasts, interactive talks, and recorded public meetings. Though we often go online to find this sort of information today, libraries and archives offer a wealth of nondigitized media or media that is not available online. 

Websites:  Most of the information on the Internet is distributed via websites. Websites vary widely in terms of the quality of information they offer. For more information, visit the OWL's page on evaluating digital sources.

Blogs and personal websites:  Blogs and personal sites vary widely in their validity as sources for serious research. For example, many prestigious journalists and public figures may have blogs, which may be more credible than most amateur or personal blogs. Note, however, that there are very few standards for impartiality or accuracy when it comes to what can be published on personal sites.

Social media pages and message boards:  These types of sources exist for all kinds of disciplines, both in and outside of the university. Some may be useful, depending on the topic you are studying, but, just like personal websites, the information found on social media or message boards is not always credible.

Citations and References

The citation-order system (typically used in engineering--ieee documentation)..

Citations : When you cite the sources of information in the report, you give a number in brackets that corresponds to the number of the source listed in the order in which they appear in the report, the source listed first as [1], the next source [2], etc. Jenkins and Busher report that beavers eat several kinds of herbaceous plants as well as the leaves, twigs, and bark of most species of woody plants that grow near water [1]. Beavers have been shown to be discriminate eaters of hardwoods [2].

References : The sources are listed in the order in which they are cited in the report, as in the following book and article.

[1] S.H. Jenkins and P.E. Busher, "Castor canadensis," Mammalian Species . Vol. 20, Jan. 1979. [2] H.S. Crawford, R.G. Hooper, and R.F Harlow, Woody Plants Selected by Beavers in the Appalachian and Valley Province . Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1976.

Documentation on the Internet:

Help for using the documentation system of the Council of Biological Editors (for life sciences). The source is the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin. Help for using the documentation system of the American Chemical Society (for chemistry classes). The source is the Lehigh University Library.

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Source vs. Reference — What's the Difference?

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Difference Between Source and Reference

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Different kinds of sources

  • The functions of references
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  • Referencing Introduction Different kinds of sources The functions of references How to give references Reference accuracy Reference management tools Using a reference style Quick guides to reference styles Writing acknowledgements
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For writers who make use of previous research, it is important to be able to distinguish between different kinds of sources and knowing whether they are useful or not. If you are a student and have been asked to locate sources for an assignment, for instance, you need to know what kinds of sources you have found in order to know if they can be used.

On this page, we explain different kinds of sources and how to find out whether they are reliable or not.

Source and reference

The source is the text or other work that provides the information that is being used, whereas the actual mention of the source that is being used is called a reference . To some extent, these terms are synonymous; in several reference styles, the list of sources used in an academic text are called References, for instance. When discussing the actual function of the reference in the written text, however, it may be useful to distinguish between the two terms.

In order to use sources efficiently and in a correct manner, you must be able to identify the nature of each source and the reason for using it. By clarifying to yourself what kind of use you make of different kinds of sources, you will be able to distinguish between your own contribution and the argument expressed by the sources that you use.

It should be noted that the distinctions that are made below may be more relevant in some fields than in others. If you are a student, discuss the use of sources with your supervisors and with the library staff at your departmental library. Note, though, that all writers need to be aware of the importance of originality , in the sense of first-hand results, in scholarly writing.

Common types of publications

Research writing is published in various forms. Depending on discipline, some publications forms are more common and relevant than others. Here we list some common types of publications:

Anthology / edited volumes

An anthology (or edited volume) is a collection of texts (or other created works) on a specific subject that are published (or otherwise presented) together. Usually, the different chapters in the book will be written by different authors, and there will be an introductory chapter written by the editor(s), providing a general introduction to the contents of the book.

Conference proceedings

Volumes consisting of papers presented at a conference are often referred to as conference proceedings. Such publications usually consist of articles based on the plenary lectures and on a selected number of conference presentations.

Journal / Periodical

A journal (or periodical) is publication that is issued regularly ( periodically = 'at regular intervals').

Journal article

An article is a text that has been published in a journal (periodical), magazine or newspaper. There are different kinds of articles; apart from original articles (articles that present new, original, research), there are review articles, letters and editorials, for instance. Original articles can be divided into, for instance, methodological articles, theoretical articles and case studies. For further information about different kinds of articles, see

  • Research articles

A monograph is a text (often book-length) that treats one specific subject.

Thesis / Dissertation

A thesis (dissertation) is an extensive research paper that is written as partial fulfilment of an academic degree.

Thesis of dissertation? Most reference style manuals have been published in the US and therefore use the American English 'dissertation' for 'doctoral dissertation,' whereas the word 'thesis' or 'doctoral thesis' is more common in British English.

How to choose sources

One of the central learning outcomes of university studies is the ability to assess information. When writing, students train their ability to decide whether a source is appropriate and how to use it. Read more here:

  • Source evaluation (Libraries of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology, Lund University)

Remember that LU Libraries provide valuable resources for LU students in need of help concerning the choice of sources. Faculty and department libraries provide support geared to students' subject areas.

Primary, secondary and tertiary sources

Sources are sometimes divided into three types, depending on the way in which they relate to the subject of study:

Primary sources

A primary source is usually a document or result that is being reported first hand. In other words, primary sources are original sources, not interpretations made by someone else. The following kinds of texts/sources often function as primary sources:

  • works of fiction
  • official documents, such as census data and legal texts
  • artefacts, such as archaeological findings
  • numeric data, such as statistical data
  • corpora, such as large collections of texts or recordings of speech

Secondary sources

Secondary sources are texts that value, discuss or comment on primary source materials. Previous research in the field is often defined as secondary sources. The following are examples of such secondary sources:

  • research articles
  • biographies

Tertiary sources

A tertiary source is a source that summarises or compiles facts and knowledge produced by someone else. Tertiary sources are often some kind of assemblage of primary and secondary sources. They are convenient for quick access to summarised facts, but not all sources that belong to this category are considered suitable for scholarly writing. In most cases, it is not acceptable to use compilations of facts instead of reading the original sources, for instance. Therefore, students writing essays are recommended to consult their teachers and library on the suitability of using tertiary sources in their writing. Sources that would be regarded as tertiary sources include:

  • study guides
  • encyclopaedias and wikis
  • indexes and other classification systems

A note of caution

The distinction between primary, secondary and tertiary sources is not a fixed one. For instance, in an analysis of an encyclopaedic article, that article would be regarded as a primary source, whereas it in another context would be seen as a tertiary source. Students are advised to check with their teachers what types of sources are expected and accepted.

What is the difference between source lists titled “Works Cited,” “Bibliography,” and “References”?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

As the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook explains, “the list titled ‘Works Cited’ identifies the sources you borrow from—and therefore cite—in the body of your research project” (20).  If you wish to list additional works and your instructor has no objection, create a separate list titled “Works Consulted.” 

Previous editions of the handbook observed that source lists sometimes have other titles. The seventh edition, for example, explained that “[o]ther names for such a listing are  Bibliography  (literally, ‘description of books’) and  Literature Cited ” but noted that “ Works Cited is most appropriate, since research papers often draw not only on printed books and articles but also on films, recordings, web publications, and other nonprint sources” (130). For simplicity, the MLA recommends using the titles “Works Cited” or “Works Consulted,” even if the source list contains only printed works. 

Note that other citation manuals, such as The Chicago Manual of Style , allow the title “Bibliography” for a list that includes both works cited and works consulted and both print and nonprint sources (“Kinds”). The manual recommends the title “References” or “Works Cited” for author-date style citations, in which sources are cited in the text using the author’s name and date of publication (“Author-Date System”). 

Works Cited 

“The Author-Date System—Overview.” The   Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed., sec. 15.5, U of Chicago P, 2017, www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed17/ part3/ch15/psec005.html.

“Kinds of Bibliographies.” The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed., sec. 14.64, U of Chicago P, 2017, www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed17/part3/ ch14/psec064.html.

MLA Handbook . 8th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2016. 

MLA Handbook  for Writers of Research Papers . 7th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2009.

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General Question: Sources - Citations, Difference?

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I read Evidence several years ago and didn't pursue family history due to illness. Now am trying again. Just finished re-reading Evidence .

What confuses me is that, in Evidence, for the footnotes, it all seems to run together. There is no notation that now we have left the source material and are reading the citation material. Wheras in my software there is a division between the source and the citation. In fact there are many different ways that people seem to separate them. For instance in a census, some use just the broad: United States 1910 Federal Census, and enter the state, county, district, etc. under the citation. Others enter the location all in the Source and the details into the citation detail.

The reason many give for using the broad heading is that there will be hundreds of sources if they break them down so specifically. I'm not sure that matters so long as it is entered correctly.

Forgive me for asking such an elementary question. I hope you can help me understand. I can't seem to get my mind around it. I keep interrupting myself from entering my information into my software since I'm afraid I'm not doing it correctly.

Peggy, core citation

Peggy, core citation principles (like the definitions of source and citation ) have not changed. The confusion you're trying to work through stems from the fact that some software programs incorrectly use these terms. A footnote does not indicate that "we have left the source material and are reading the citation material" because the citation is the whole footnote .

Every citation guide, including EE, identifies the two terms this way:

Citation: a statement in which we identify the source(s) of an assertion.

Source: the actual artifact, book, document, ... website, etc. from which we obtained our information.

Some genealogical database programs mistakenly take the first part of a citation and call it the "source" while using the term "citation" for just the last part of the citation.

The debate to which you refer stems from confusion over the difference between citations used in a bibliography (source list) and citations used in a reference note (i.e., footnote or endnote). A source list citation is a generic entry. The reference note is both general and specific. For example, if we are using a book:

  • Our SOURCE LIST citation will identify the book completely; but it will not point to any specific place in the book because, theoretically, we studied the whole book and various parts of it are relevant.
  • Our REFERENCE NOTE citations, the one we create when we take notes (manually or via input into a database) and when we write, are keyed to each specific assertion. There in the reference note, our citation should provide all the information that identifies the book, together with the specific page (or volume:page, or map, or table, or whatever) that supports what we have just asserted. A citation in a reference note frequently includes several sources, as well as discussions of quirks or problems in the source or its information.

Obviously, a census is a source. Following the basic pattern above, a source list citation to a census will identify the census broadly, from a geographic standpoint. A reference note citation will identify it more specifically. Typically here in the U.S., the breakdown is this:

  • SOURCE LIST ENTRY: We identify (a) the census, the state, and county, and (b) the film or the website that provides the census images or the archives that holds the originals.
  • REFERENCE NOTE: We use all of the above data but also insert, between (a) and (b) the specific details that identify the local jurisdiction, the page/dwelling/family numbers, and the specific person or household. Again, a single reference note might include several different censuses if we need to cite several that agree or disagree on a particular point.

Relational databases blur the line between these two types of citations. That creates confusion for those who have not yet had the opportunity to learn the basic principles or standard vocabulary. Some software uses the term "Master Source" for the generic data that goes in the source list entry. Some refer to the source list as a "pick list."

Once users have created a source list item, when it is time to create a reference note, they "pick" an item from the list of "master sources" and the software will repeat that data for their reference note. The software should then allow them to add additional data that specifically states the local jurisdiction and the page/etc. numbers, then add any other relevant information necessary.

The debate to which you refer rests upon differences of opinion as to how much detail needs to go into the source list entry and it has existed ever since software of this type was created in the late 1970s. At the time Evidence! was published (1997), the common practice was to start a census citation with the name of the person of interest; this is the pattern that Evidence! followed. However, software at that time was far less flexible. Whatever census ID was created for the source list entry automatically became the first few words of the reference note—which meant that users, in order to begin a citation with an individual name, had to create a source list entry for every person they researched.

Today's software developers can quite easily rearrange elements from one form of citation to another, although not all programs do so. In the meanwhile, with the expansion of Evidence! into Evidence Explained , EE's recommended citations addressed this problem.

EE's Chapter 2, "Fundamentals of Citation, discusses much background that will help researchers understand the relevant principles and practices. It also includes various options for source list arrangements that resolve a variety of debates of this type. Most of today's major genealogical programs incorporate EE, so that anyone who uses the guide alongside the software can interface smoothly.

Thank you so much for the

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I am re-reading Evidence again. I looked up Evidence Explained but will have to save my pennies to purchase it. It is definitely a much more detailed book.

I'm also printing out this explanation so I can try and absorb it. Sad that so many of us enter the Family History field when our brains are older and more tired!

I did order the guide for citing Ancestry.com references since I am at the stage where I use it a lot. It should come soon.

I so much like the way your footnotes flow. There is no sign of a break between Master Source and Source Detail. Since I haven't reached the place where I have printed reports (still entering data) I should do that and may be happily surprised that the result looks more like your footnotes. If not I will likely import the report/book into a word processor document and "smooth" it out. :)

© Evidence Explained  2011-2024.

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Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Citation and Reference

citation-vs-reference

While writing an article, one must quote or refer to the original source of the information, fact or idea, from which it has been taken. It not just to supports your own points, but also to prevent plagiarism and denote that a variety of sources are used to write the piece.

And so, the author provides citations, which are correspondingly mentioned under the head reference, indicating the complete details of the resource. In this article, we are going to talk about the differences between citation and reference.

Content: Citation Vs Reference

Comparison chart, definition of citation.

In the citation, the author cites or refer to the source in the text to represent that the information is derived from an external source and to mention that source, in brief. Basically, it is an abbreviated reference, which you can find in the main body of the article or assignment, addressing the source of a quote, image, video, paraphrase, chart, table, etc. Due to this very reason, it is also called as “in-text citation”, which includes a set of parenthesis.

Simply put, it is a short notation, within the intellectual work, which points out to a complete notation, at the end of the page, providing full details of the source i.e. all the authors or publications which have been cited, are to be mentioned in the list of references.

Citation is like a credit to the author, editor or publisher, for their work and to help the readers in consulting the same source when they want more information in this regard. While citing the source of information in the document, you indicate the last name of author and year of publication.

Definition of Reference

Reference can be understood as the list of items which you have read and considered in your piece of work. While providing references, the author actually tells its readers about what kind of source he/she has used in the document.

Along with that it also helps the readers to identify the difference between the author’s words, theories and ideas and those of other authors. Further, it helps the reader to refer to the source for further information in that area, whenever required.

You can find references at the end of the document or article (before bibliography), in alphabetical order, by the first or main author’s last name. One should always use a genuine, reliable and authentic source of information, to ensure support, credence and authority, to the information, ideas and arguments stated.

Reference can be given to books, articles from journals, legal documents, webpage, blogs, official report of government departments and agencies, interview transcripts, conference papers, newspaper articles, films, television, video, etc.

Key Differences Between Citation and Reference

The difference between citation and reference can be drawn clearly on the following grounds:

  • Citation can be understood as a formal abbreviated reference, in the main part of your text, which clearly and uniquely identifies the author and publication year, from which the details are derived. On the other hand, a reference list is nothing but a list of resources which you have used particularly for writing your article or assignment and also while performing the research.
  • With the help of citation, you inform your readers, about the source, from where the information is extracted. As against, in the case of reference, the reader gets to know about the complete source of information.
  • Citations are mainly used to show the source of the material taken. Conversely, references are mainly used to support or critique an argument or point.
  • While reference is found as endnote or at the end of the page, the citation is the bracketed piece of information, which informs the reader about the source of material.
  • When it comes to information, the reference provides more information than citation. A reference provides all the details of the source, such as author’s name, the title of the book, date of publication and page number, whereas in citation provides a few details only such as year of publication and last name of the author.

Basically, reference and citation are provided to give the user or reader, the source of facts, images, statistics, charts, tables and diagrams, which are a part of the article or assignment. It may also be used when you are talking about a theory, method or model, discovered by or linked to a specific person or writer.

With the help of these two, the author shows acknowledgement to those scholars, whose work or ideas has been used in the article or assignment.

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Write it Right - A guide to Harvard referencing style

  • Referencing
  • Referencing & Citing
  • Paraphrasing

The Reference List

Differences between a reference list and a bibliography, compiling your reference list or bibliography.

  • Elements in References
  • Journal articles
  • Online journals
  • Newspaper articles
  • Online newspapers
  • Internet sources
  • Government and legal publications
  • Patents and standards
  • Miscellaneous
  • The reference list is a detailed list of all the sources that you have cited within your work, including books, eBooks, journal articles, theses, webpages etc. 
  • Items are listed in alphabetical order in the reference list according to the main author/editor’s surname.
  • This means that regardless of the order in which the in-text citations appear within your work, these items are all listed alphabetically by author/editor in the reference list. 
  • This explains why the Harvard referencing style is also known as the ‘author-date’ style.
  • The reference list is an alphabetical list of all the sources that you cited in the text of your assignment. 
  • A bibliography is a separate list, presented in the same format as a reference list, however, it includes all the sources you consulted in the preparation of your assignment, not just those you cited. 
  • In other words, a bibliography presents the same items as a reference list, but it also includes references to all the additional research you carried out, so it shows your extra effort. 
  • All in-text references must be included in an alphabetical list, by author/editor’s surname, at the end of the work. As stated earlier, this is known as the reference list. A bibliography is a list of all works you used in preparation of the work, but which were not necessarily cited/referred to.
  • This list must not be numbered.
  • When there is no author/editor, use the title (book, journal, newspaper etc.)
  • References in your reference list must be a full description of the in–text citations.
  • If there is more than one publication by the same author, arrange the works in chronological order.
  • In your reference list/bibliography the following abbreviations are accepted:

- (ed.) editor  - (eds) editors  - col. column - comp(s). compiler/compilers - edn. edition - et al. and others - n.d. no knowledge of the date - no. number - par. paragraph - s.l. no place of publication - s.n. publisher unknown - vol. volume

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What’s common

It is easier to understand the difference between a citation and a reference if we know what they have in common.

  • Both are associated with academic texts and are pointers to sources of information .
  • The two are also linked , with the citation (within the main body of the text) pointing to the corresponding reference (often added to the end of the main text, for example, in a reference list of bibliography).

What’s different

  • Purpose : The purpose of a citation is to point to additional information whereas the purpose of a reference is to supply that additional information.
  • Location : Citations appear within the main text whereas references are added towards the end of the main text as a list.
  • Amount of information : Citations give minimal information whereas references provide all the details.
  • Length : It follows therefore that citations are short, either comprising the last names of authors and the year of publication or appearing as footnotes. In contrast, references are long and often run to several lines.
  • Mutual referencing : Some citations lack corresponding references (for example, when the source of information is a personal email or unpublished data) whereas every reference must have a corresponding citation within the main text.

A working example of citations and references

The difference is best illustrated with an example of an excerpt from a typical academic text.

Note the citations below, highlighted in bold: 

“We have yet fully to understand how typography should be designed when glance reading competes with other cognitive tasks, such as driving while using an in-vehicle display ( Reimer et al. 2014 ) or walking while reading on a mobile device ( Chen and Lin 201 6).” 

At the end of the paper from which this example is taken, there will be a list of sources. The list has a heading, ‘ References ’, and is arranged alphabetically by the names of authors taken from the citations. Included within that list are the following two references, which were cited in the paper (the excerpt above).

Chen , C.-M., and Y.-J. Lin . 2016 . “Effects of Different Text Display Types on Reading Comprehension, Sustained Attention and Cognitive Load in Mobile Reading Contexts.” Interactive Learning Environments 24 (3): 553–571. Reimer , B., B. Mehler, J. Dobres, J.F. Coughlin, S. Matteson, D. Gould, N. Chahine, and V. Levantovsky. 2014 . “Assessing the Impact of Typeface Design in a Text-Rich Automotive User Interface.” Ergonomics 57 (11): 1643–1658.

Difference of form

One more difference between a citation and a reference can be in terms of form. A citation may either be a combination of letters (names of authors) and numbers (year of publication) or entirely numerical , whereas the form of the corresponding references is often the same.

The citation provided earlier (presented here again for ease of perusing) comprises the names of authors and the year of publication . 

“We have yet fully to understand how typography should be designed when glance reading competes with other cognitive tasks, such as driving while using an in-vehicle display ( Reimer et al. 2014 ) or walking while reading on a mobile device ( Chen and Lin 2016 ).” 

Good to know: This system of citation is known as the Harvard system .

Another system comprises numbers instead of names. In the example below, note the superscript ‘18’ in bold.

“We focus on domestic food value chains for the simple reason that roughly three-quarters of all food is consumed in the same country as its raw commodity inputs were grown 18 .”

At the end of the article appears a numbered list, arranged in the order of appearance in the text, in which reference no. 18 is given as follows:

D’Odorico, P., Carr, J. A., Laio, F., Ridolfi, L. & Vandoni, S. Feeding humanity through global food trade. Earth’s Future 2, 458–469 (2014).

Good to know: This system of citation is known as the Vancouver system and is common in medical journals and review papers.

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Articles, Books, and . . . ? Understanding the Many Types of Information Found in Libraries

  • Reference Sources

Encyclopedias

Dictionaries, almanacs and yearbooks, handbooks and manuals.

  • Documents and Reports
  • Non-Text Content
  • Archival Materials

Reference sources are generally the place to begin your research, especially when you're starting out with an unfamiliar field. But they're also where you return when you need to look up formulas, facts, definitions, and other standard details; they tend to pack a lot of information into simple, easy-to-use packages.

Physical Media

Many reference works are available online and are accessible through links from the Library Catalog and from subject or course guides , but many valuable reference resources are still available only in print, and a few highly specialized tools are on microform or CD. Because print-only reference books are in high demand, they are kept in separate, non-circulating reference collections in most UCLA libraries.

Scholarly Sources

Reference sources are rarely peer-reviewed. In fact, because they mostly contain established, factual information, they're sometimes not even cited in academic works, unless directly quoted. Check your style manual for best guidelines.

Primary or Secondary Sources

As compilations of existing information, reference works are decisively in the category of secondary sources... to the point that some people call them tertiary sources .

Because Wikipedia content is anonymous and lacks a formal review process, it's not considered a "scholarly source," and most professors don't accept Wikipedia citations in papers. That said, Wikipedia does increasingly cite sources, so you can use it to lead you to sources which you can cite.

Encyclopedias attempt to provide comprehensive summaries of knowledge in either a specific field (subject encyclopedias) or "everything" (general encyclopedias). Encyclopedias are typically divided into a collection of articles on discrete topics. Academically oriented encyclopedias will often include short bibliographies, making them a good resource for identifying key books and articles on a topic.

  • Online Encyclopedias
  • Finding Print Encyclopedias
  • Subject dictionaries: define technical terms in specific fields, sometimes in as much detail as an encyclopedia
  • Bilingual dictionaries: define words in a different language
  • Thesauri: provide synonyms
  • Rhyming dictionariess
  • Major Online Dictionaries
  • Finding Dictionaries (both online and in print)
  • World Almanac and Book of Facts
  • Statistical Yearbooks

Both "handbook" and "manual" refer to the traditional small size of the volumes, designed to fit in one hand for ease of use. Despite this origin, many modern handbooks are quite hefty!

sources vs references

  • Databases containing online handbooks
  • Find print handbooks in the Library Catalog Search "[subject] handbooks" within Subject List.
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  • Last Updated: Sep 26, 2023 4:13 PM
  • URL: https://guides.library.ucla.edu/content-types
  • Citation vs. Reference: Understanding the Key Differences

As a student or researcher, you’ve probably heard the terms “citation” and “reference” thrown around quite often. While they may seem interchangeable at first glance.

The citation refers to a brief acknowledgment within the text, indicating the source of information used in the research or writing. While reference is a detailed entry at the end of a document, providing complete bibliographic information about the sources cited or consulted during the research process.

Citation vs. Reference

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  • Odds vs. Probability
  • Probability vs. Non-Probability Sampling

What is a Citation?

A citation is a brief acknowledgment within the text of a document that refers to a source of information used in research or writing. It typically includes the author’s name, the year of publication, and, if applicable, the page number.

The purpose of a citation is to provide credit to the original source and enable readers to locate the referenced material for further examination or verification.

What is a Reference?

A reference is a detailed entry at the end of a document that provides complete bibliographic information about the sources cited or consulted during the research process. It includes the author’s name, the title of the work, the publication date, and additional details such as the publisher or journal name.

References serve as a comprehensive list of all the sources used, allowing readers to locate and access the original materials for further study or verification.

Examples of Citations and References

Examples of Citations:

  • In-text citation (APA style): According to Johnson (2019), “The study found significant results” (p. 42).
  • In-text citation (MLA style): “The study found significant results” (Johnson 42).
  • In-text citation (Chicago style): The study found significant results (Johnson 2019, 42).

Examples of References:

  • Book reference (APA style): Johnson, A. (2019). The Impact of Technology on Society. New York, NY: XYZ Publishers.
  • Journal article reference (APA style): Smith, J. L., & Davis, K. R. (2020). The Role of Education in Economic Development. Journal of Economics, 25(2), 45-62.

When to use Citations and References

There are two main types of citations and references: in-text citations and end-of-text references.

In-text citations appear in the body of the paper, while end-of-text references appear in a separate section at the end of the paper. Here are some guidelines for when to use each type of citation:

In-text citations should be used any time you quote or paraphrase someone else’s work. For example, if you’re writing a paper about the novel 1984, you would want to use an in-text citation any time you quote directly from the book.

End-of-text references should be used any time you cite someone else’s work in your paper, but you don’t want to include a direct quote. For example, if you’re writing a paper about the novel 1984 and you want to discuss George Orwell’s political views, you would want to include an end-of-text reference to one of his essays.

Strategies for remembering the difference between Citation and Reference

  • Mnemonic devices: Create a memorable phrase or acronym that represents the key differences between citation and reference. For example, “Citation in the text, reference at the end” or “CR: Citation is brief, Reference is detailed.”
  • Visual cues: Use visual aids like charts, diagrams, or flashcards to visually represent the distinctions between citation and reference. Associate specific visual elements with each term to reinforce the differences.
  • Practice with examples: Work through examples of citations and references in different citation styles. Practice identifying which elements belong in a citation and which belong in a reference. This hands-on approach can help reinforce the distinctions through repetition.
  • Review and repetition: Regularly review the definitions and examples of citations and references. Quiz yourself or create small exercises to test your knowledge. The more you revisit and reinforce the material, the better you’ll remember the differences.
  • Compare and contrast: Make a side-by-side comparison of citations and references, highlighting their unique characteristics. Identify keywords or phrases associated with each term to solidify your understanding of their individual meanings.

Key differences between Citation and Reference

  • Definition: A citation is a brief acknowledgment within the text that refers to a source of information used in research or writing. While reference is a detailed entry at the end of a document that provides complete bibliographic information about the sources cited or consulted.
  • Placement: Citations are typically placed within the main body of the document, close to the information being referenced. References are listed at the end of the document, often in a separate section, such as a bibliography or reference list.
  • Format: Citations may vary in format depending on the citation style used (e.g., APA, MLA), but they generally include the author’s name, year of publication, and page number (if applicable). References follow specific formatting guidelines for each citation style and include complete bibliographic information such as the author’s name, title, publication date, and source details.
  • Difference between Basic and Applied Research
  • Difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Research
  • Difference between Book and Novel

Citations are brief acknowledgments within the text that indicate the source of specific information used. They support claims and enable readers to locate the original source. References, on the other hand, provide comprehensive entries at the end of a document, listing all the sources consulted during the research process. They offer complete bibliographic details, allowing readers to access and explore the cited works.

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After trying the Vision Pro, Mark Zuckerberg says Quest 3 ‘is the better product, period’

Meta’s ceo finally tried apple’s new headset, and he has thoughts..

By Alex Heath , a deputy editor and author of the Command Line newsletter. He’s covered the tech industry for over a decade at The Information and other outlets.

Share this story

Mark Zuckerberg wearing the Meta Quest 3 headset and smiling.

Now that it can be strapped to our faces and worn in strange places , opinions about Apple’s Vision Pro are flying left and right.

Entering the chat is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has more at stake than perhaps anyone on earth if Apple does to headsets what the iPhone did to smartphones. In a video posted to his Instagram account on Tuesday, Zuckerberg gives his official verdict on the Vision Pro versus his company’s latest Quest 3 headset : “I don’t just think that Quest is the better value, I think Quest is the better product, period.”

While being filmed by the Quest 3’s video passthrough system in his living room, Zuckerberg highlights the tradeoffs Apple made to get the fanciest display possible into something that can be worn on your head in an acceptable form factor. He says the Quest 3 weighs 120 grams less, making it more comfortable to wear for longer. He also says it allows for greater motion due to its lack of a wired battery pack and wider field of view than the Vision Pro.

He thinks the Quest’s option of physical hand controllers and hand tracking for input is better, though he says he’s a fan of eye tracking for some use cases and teases that it will return to future Meta headsets after debuting in the Quest Pro . He says the Quest has a better “immersive” content library than Apple, which is technically true for now, though he admits that the Vision Pro is a better entertainment device. And then there’s the fact that the Quest 3 is, as Zuck says, “like seven times less expensive.”

Command Line

/ A newsletter from Alex Heath about the tech industry’s inside conversation.

At the end of the video, Zuckerberg thanks his team that has been building VR headsets for a very long time — a message that seems to contain a we can rest easy, folks vibe. As I discussed with Zuckerberg recently , it’s true that Meta has a tremendous head start and will be the uncontested leader in headset sales for a while. You can even make a strong argument, as Zuckerberg does, that today, the Quest 3 is a better headset for most people than the Vision Pro.

But what Zuckerberg doesn’t say in his video is that Apple has obvious hardware and developer ecosystem advantages, the latter of which takes time to rev up with a new product category like this. Meta may be breathing a sigh of relief right now. But this is a game of endurance. And the headset wars are just beginning.

Apple fans are starting to return their Vision Pros

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Caitlin Clark does it! Iowa guard passes Kelsey Plum as NCAA women's basketball top scorer

Well that didn't take long.

With — what else? — a logo 3 just 132 seconds into the game vs. Michigan on Thursday, Caitlin Clark , the senior from Iowa, surpassed former Washington All-American Kelsey Plum to move into first place in the NCAA scoring record book .

"You all knew I was going to shoot a logo 3 for the record. Come on now," Clark said after the game.

She didn't stop there, though, finishing the night with a school-record (and personal best) 49 points in Iowa's 106-89 win over Michigan.

So what’s next for Clark ? 

She is on pace to break Pete Maravich’s record of 3,667 points , set from 1967-70 when he played at LSU, toward the end of Iowa’s regular season. But the record that might matter even more to women’s basketball historians and junkies is 3,649. That’s how many points Lynette Woodard, a Wichita native , scored when she played at Kansas from 1977-81. That was before the NCAA ran women’s college sports though, so Woodard’s record is in the AIAW record books instead of the NCAA record books. 

Clark surpassing Woodard and Maravich would quiet anyone complaining about Clark’s record not being legitimate. And given how many games she has left this season, it’s possible Clark will set a scoring mark so high, no one could come close to reaching it.  — Lindsay Schnell

How many points did Caitlin Clark score last night?

Clark dropped a career-high 49 points against Michigan on Feb. 15.

Caitlin Clark point total: How many points does she have now?

Clark pushed her all-time point total to 3,569 points. Every point she scores from here on out will just add to the NCAA women's record.

What makes Caitlin Clark so special? Steph Curry, Maya Moore, other hoops legends weigh in

To commemorate Caitlin Clark becoming  the top scorer in women’s NCAA basketball history , USA TODAY Sports spoke to Clark’s friends, family, opponents and admirers — including Stephen Curry and Maya Moore — about some of the biggest and best shots of her illustrious career, letting them explain  what makes the 6-foot point guard so special .  Read Lindsay Schnell's full feature here.

Caitlin Clark's record-breaking shot

Watch the shot here:

Caitlin Clark highlights last night

Caitlin clark celebration: guard moved to tears.

Caitlin Clark got emotional at the celebration for her becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball.

Tears glistened in her eyes and she had to wipe them with her jersey as she listened to video clips of her brothers praising her. She smiled shyly as coach Lisa Bluder called her “special.” And when her teammates picked her up, she immediately began pointing to the ground, telling them, “Put me down!”

“I’m just really grateful,” Clark said, cradling a commemorative game ball. “Thankful for everyone that came out tonight and support us night in and night out. … We’ve got a lot more winning to do so let’s go. I appreciate you all!” — Nancy Armour

Can anyone challenge Caitlin Clark's new NCAA scoring record?

Kelsey Plum’s record stood for seven years. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder thinks Caitlin Clark’s could stand for even longer.

Clark has 3,569 points, and still has the rest of this season to play. Maybe next year, too. Clark is eligible to play a fifth COVID year, and has not yet said whether she plans to return to Iowa or go to the WNBA.

“This record is going to stand for a long time and I’m just glad she’s wearing black and gold,” Bluder said.

Bluder also said she loved that Clark set the record with a logo 3, the shot that’s become her signature. Clark also set a career high with 49 points.

“You do it, you do it well, girl,” Bluder said. — Nancy Armour

One more year for Caitlin Clark?

Iowa fans are getting greedy.

Chants of “One more year! One more year!” echoed throughout Carver-Hawkeye Arena before the post-game celebration for Clark becoming the new NCAA women’s all-time scoring leader.

Clark said after the game it was “pretty special” to break the record at home. Iowa fans have supported her throughout her career, selling out home games this year and packing away arenas to watch her chase the scoring mark.

“It’s so special,” Clark said. “These fans deserve it, they’ve supported me since I stepped on campus. … But we’re not done. We’re still looking for a little bit more.”

Clark’s teammates feted her with T-shirts bearing her name and number on the back and the slogan, “You break it, you own it.” That was the tagline of the post Nike, which sponsors Clark, used to congratulate her. They also held up commemorative front pages of the Des Moines Register.  — Nancy Armour

Final: Iowa 106, Michigan 89

On a career night for Caitlin Clark — she scored 49, a new career best, and broke the NCAA women’s scoring record in the first quarter — the number she’ll care most about is this: 23. That’s how many victories Iowa now has this season after getting back on the winning track after an upset at Nebraska on Super Bowl Sunday. 

Kate Martin chipped in 20, and the Hawkeyes shot 53% in a game where they recorded 25 assists on 34 made baskets. 

“It’s pretty unreal, this crowd is unreal,” Clark told Peacock afterward, adding that she was grateful to play at a school where she could “make a lot of my dreams come true.” 

New career high for Caitlin Clark

Something about Michigan brings out the best in Caitlin Clark.

On the same night she became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, Clark also set a career high with 49 points. Her previous career high was 46, also against Michigan, in 2022. The 49 points is also a new single-game high for Iowa, one better than Megan Gustafson's previous record. 

Clark tied her career best with a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter, then knocked down a 3-pointer on Iowa’s next possession. It was her ninth trey of the night, tying her career high from long distance. Shortly after, she took a seat on the bench, likely for the rest of the game.

— Nancy Armour

End of 3Q: Iowa 81, Michigan 60

Of course in a game where she set a scoring record, Caitlin Clark is still happy to distribute the basketball. 

Just before the third quarter ended Clark tallied her 10th assist of the game — the 58th double-double of her career — on a nifty bounce pass to Addison O’Grady. Along with 10 dimes, Clark has 38 points and four rebounds. 

This is her 53rd game with 30 or more points, the most in all of NCAA basketball since 2008-09. Not too shabby. 

Iowa is dominating in both fast break points (23-5) and points off turnovers (21-7). They’ve also got a 38-26 edge in the paint. 

5:53, 3Q: Iowa 63, Michigan 50

This is a strange game. Iowa is only up 13, but given all the energy in the building and fans who are there just for Caitlin Clark, it feels like they’re up 30 (it’s possible it doesn’t feel this way to Lisa Bluder and her staff). Clark has 33, which is impressive, but she’s clearly slowed after a monster first quarter. 

And yet, as she continues to pile up stats, the congratulations continue to pour in on social media, including from Nike, one of Clark's NIL sponsors:

Halftime: Iowa 53, Michigan 41

Alright, deep breath and everyone grab some water. That was a chaotic first half. 

Behind 28 points from Caitlin Clark — who cooled considerably in the second quarter, only scoring five — the Hawkeyes opened a 12-point lead on Michigan headed into the break. 

Both teams are shooting 55% or better, with Michigan checking in at 56% and Iowa at 63%. 

But the new record-holder isn’t terribly impressed. 

Clark’s assessment of the first half was blunt: “We’ve gotta play better defense.” 

One place Iowa has played great defense is the perimeter — Michigan is just 1-of-8 from long-distance, while Iowa is 9-of-15, with Clark hitting six of those. She also has eight assists, and is on her way to yet another double double. 

Clark isn’t doing it by herself though. Hannah Stuelke, who stole the show last week, has nine points and Kate Martin has eight. Jordan Hobbs leads Michigan with 14 points. 

— Lindsay Schnell

Order your Caitlin Clark commemorative page here

You're going to want to remember this day, and this game, when Caitlin Clark became the NCAA's all-time scoring leader in women's basketball. The USA TODAY Network has you covered in that department, as The Des Moines Register, Clark’s hometown paper, has created a commemorative poster for fans to order . You can get it framed or unframed, stretched on a canvas or as a metal, acrylic or wood print. Order one for yourself, and all your friends and family. 

End of 1Q: Iowa 33, Michigan 22

Whew. Anyone tired? 

Caitlin Clark certainly isn’t. 

After breaking the NCAA scoring record barely two minutes into the game, Clark continued her hot streak, turning in a stunning 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting — including 5-of-7 from 3 — in the first quarter. 

Clark’s career high is 46. Is she about to top that? 

Behind Clark, Iowa is shooting 75% from the field. Michigan is shooting 59% … is this game going to have multiple record setters? 

Caitlin Clark's record comes on a logo 3, naturally

Of course Caitlin Clark broke the record with a logo 3.

Clark’s second 3-pointer of the game, with 7:43 left in the first quarter, set off pandemonium in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Her mom put her hands on her head and her dad and brothers clapped and exchanged high fives.

The game didn’t stop immediately — Clark had said earlier this week, "we can’t be wasting timeouts on that."

But after Michigan missed a shot at the other end, Iowa coach Lisa Bluder called a timeout so the crowd could recognize Clark’s milestone. She beamed as she was hugged and congratulated by her teammates, and she buried her head in Bluder’s shoulder.

“With 3,528 points in her career, she has officially broken Kelsey Plum’s record,” the public address announcer said, sending the arena into a frenzy again. “Let’s hear it one more time for No. 22, Caitlin Clark!” 

Clark had said earlier this week that she wasn't nervous as she approached the record but excited.

"Go out there, play basketball and have fun, and this is what comes along with it," she said. "I understand the magnitude of this but it’s just kind of come with how my four years have gone."

How to watch Caitlin Clark, Iowa vs. Michigan

Iowa vs. Michigan tips at 8 p.m. ET and can be streamed on Peacock .

Caitlin Clark's best shots during her Iowa career

When Caitlin Clark opened her college career by scoring 27 points vs. Northern Iowa on Nov. 25, 2020, it turned out to be a glimpse of what was to come. The Des Moines native has gone on to average 28.2 points over four spectacular seasons, putting her in position to become the all-time leading scorer in NCAA college basketball history. 

“She’s not just a high-powered scoring machine, she’s a flat-out hooper,” said Christy Winters-Scott, the lead analyst at the Big Ten Network.

USA TODAY Sports spoke to Steph Curry, Maya Moore, Kim Mulkey, Gus Johnson and others about what makes Iowa's Caitlin Clark so s pecial . — Lindsay Schnell

Trying to watch Caitlin Clark? You'll have to subscribe to Peacock

At least the NFL gave us a dry run for how to find tonight's game!

NBC put the wild-card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins on Peacock last month, to no shortage of outrage from NFL fans. But as NBC tries to drive consumers to its streaming platform, especially ahead of this summer’s Paris Olympics, when a lot of the coverage will be on Peacock, it needs some big games to entice them.

And it doesn’t get bigger than Caitlin Clark breaking Kelsey Plum’s all-time NCAA women’s scoring record. 

For example, here's the line to get into the gym tonight:

Caitlin Clark, Iowa headed back to Final Four? 

Is history about to repeat itself? 

Last season as a 2 seed, Iowa and Clark made it all the way to the college basketball promised land, eventually falling to LSU in the national championship . 

Thursday, about 90 minutes before Iowa tipped vs. Michigan, the NCAA selection committee revealed its first top 16 rankings and Iowa was No. 5 overall, which would mean the Hawkeyes would be the top No. 2 seed if the NCAA bracket came out tomorrow. 

Last year, Iowa was the No. 2 seed in its region ; Stanford was the No. 1 seed, but got upset at home in the round of 32. Iowa wound up beating fifth-seeded Louisville in the Elite Eight to advance to the Final Four. 

Want to see Caitlin Clark in person? It will cost you

The  demand to see Caitlin Clark this season  has been high, but as she  goes for the NCAA women's scoring record  Thursday, ticket prices to see the historic achievement are reaching near-record levels.

Tickets to see  No. 4 Iowa  host  Michigan   on Thursday night  have an average purchase price of $387, which is the second-most expensive women's basketball game of all-time − college or WNBA −  according to TickPick . But the average purchase price in the past week has been $521, showing how much the demand has risen as Clark nears the record.

The get-in price for the game is $426 as of Tuesday afternoon. On  StubHub , courtside tickets could be purchased for $13,669 each with fees. — Jordan Mendoza

Where does Caitlin Clark stack up against Kelsey Plum, Pete Maravich?

Iowa's Caitlin Clark fell just eight points short Sunday afternoon of the NCAA women's scoring record as the  Hawkeyes were upset by Nebraska 82-79 .

The 22-year-old senior phenom  has averaged 32.1 points this season, but she's averaged nearly 34 points in her last five games. At that pace, Clark could surpass Kelsey Plum's mark of 3,527 career points in the first quarter Thursday.

Why all the excitement? The Hawkeye phenom's mark on all NCAA basketball could ultimately be even bigger. She is 147 points shy of Pete Maravich's all-time scoring record, which has stood for five decades. — Jim Sergent

What is Caitlin Clark's highest-scoring game?

Clark's highest-scoring game came when she hung 45 points on Ohio State on Jan. 21. Clark shot 12-for-25, including 7-for-18 from 3. She also grabbed three rebounds and handed out seven assists in the 100-92 loss . 

See how many other college players have scored more than 3,000 points here .

Caitlin Clark’s scoring, season by season

One of the most impressive parts of Clark’s climb to the top of the scoring mountain is how, despite every opposing team keying in on her, she has scored more each season. Below is an illustrated look at how much Clark has scored each season, and exactly how she did it. 

Caitlin Clark's remaining games

Iowa's schedule the rest of the season:

  • Thursday, Feb. 22 at Indiana, 8 p.m. ET on Peacock
  • Sunday, Feb. 25 vs. Illinois, 1 p.m. ET on FS1
  • Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Minnesota, 9 p.m. ET on Peacock
  • Sunday, March 3 vs. Ohio State, 1 p.m. on Fox
  • March 6-10, Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis, times and TV vary

Is Caitlin Clark a senior?  

Yes … but she could come back next year and be a super senior if she wants. Though she’s projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, she could return to Iowa City next season. Because Clark was a freshman in the 2020-21 season, she has a COVID year (basically, that season didn’t count toward anyone’s eligibility).

How tall is Caitlin Clark?  

Clark is 6-foot. Big guards have become more common in women’s basketball the last decade or so, and Clark’s size absolutely helps her because she’s able to see over defenders on the break and get vertical separation when she goes up for a shot. Also of note: Clark worked hard last summer to put on eight pounds of muscle and that has made a huge difference in her game, particularly when she drives to the rim.

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Travis Kelce brings home the hardware, holds up ‘end of the bargain’ with Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift were captured kissing on the field after the Kansas City Chiefs won the 2024 Super Bowl.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) hugs his girlfriend Taylor Swift after the team's victory over the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) hugs his girlfriend Taylor Swift after the team’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 against the 49ers. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) blows a kiss after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) warms up before the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) walks the sidelines during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Taylor Swift celebrates with Ashley Avignone, Ice Spice and Blake Lively during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Taylor Swift, center celebrates with friends after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Travis Kelce brought home the hardware he promised to girlfriend Taylor Swift.

The Kansas City tight end finished with nine receptions for 93 yards, including a crucial catch in overtime, to help the Chiefs win their second straight Super Bowl with a 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

One play after Kelce’s reception put the Chiefs on the 3-yard line, Patrick Mahomes found Mecole Hardman alone in the end zone for the winning TD, in the process helping Kelce keep his promise while sending Swift and everyone in her suite into a celebratory frenzy .

“Never a doubt in my mind,” Kelce said. “We’ve got the best quarterback in the league, we’ve got the best offensive line in the league, and we’ve got the most determination out of any team in the NFL and you saw all that tonight.

FILE - Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Chicago. New Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was formally introduced to the media on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. He previously was the offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski, File)

“I guess at this point I take it for granted, but I know we’re in every single game I’ve ever played in, no matter what the score is or no matter how much time is left, that guy’s got magic in his right arm.”

One night after Swift earned her fourth career Grammy for album of the year last week, Kelce said he told her he’d “have to hold up my end of the bargain and bring home some hardware, too.”

Swift flew halfway around the world to watch her boyfriend , who also said during the Super Bowl week’s opening night on Monday, “I want this one more than I’ve ever wanted a Super Bowl before in my life.”

After the game, Kelce said it’s on to the next feat.

“I’m going to go ahead and enjoy this and everything that just happened,” he said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I’ve been able to go through three times now. It gets sweeter and sweeter every time.

“You know the goal has always been to get three. But we couldn’t get here without getting that two, and having that target on our back all year.”

Kelce’s vibe at the end of the game was an emphatic change after he bumped Andy Reid on the sideline during the second quarter, knocking the 65-year-old Kansas City coach a few steps back after teammate Isiah Pacheco fumbled inside the red zone.

Kelce ran over to Reid and screamed at him after the fumble.

“You guys saw that?” Kelce said. “I’m going to keep it between us unless my mic’d up tells the world. I was just telling him how much I loved him.”

Reid said Kelce just wanted to be on the field. “There’s nobody I get better than I get him,” Reid said. “He’s a competitive kid. He loves to play. He makes me feel young. But my balance is terrible.”

This was the second sideline incident involving Kelce and Reid this season. During a game against the Raiders on Christmas Day, an angry Kelce spiked his helmet on the sideline, and when a staff member tried to hand it back to the tight end so that he could take the field, Reid grabbed the helmet and refused to give it back.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

sources vs references

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Meta Quest 3 vs. Apple Vision Pro: How accurate was Zuckerberg's review?

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It's been two weeks since the Apple Vision Pro launched, and naturally, many thoughts and opinions have risen. Is this the VR killer? Or is it simply an iPad killer? Should you cross the street with the headset on? Can you use it to get through an eight-hour workday?

If there's one perspective that you should be particularly vested in -- besides ZDNET's full review coming soon -- it's that of Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who recently took to Instagram to share his experience using the Vision Pro and how it compared to the Quest 3 , Meta's latest VR headset. In short, "I don't just think that the Quest is the better value, I think Quest is the better product, period," said Zuckerberg.

Also: Meta Quest headsets now support Vision Pro's spatial video playback

Should you take the Meta CEO's remarks with a grain of salt? Probably, but he's not far from the truth. The Quest 3, as an indirect competitor to the Vision Pro, is in fact "seven times less expensive" -- and I agree that Meta's headset is better suited for mobile use cases like gaming and fitness. That doesn't mean you should completely rule out Apple's VR alternative, as I'll also highlight its biggest advantages below. 

Specifications

You should buy the meta quest 3 if....

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1. You want a headset for gaming and/or fitness

No matter how far-reaching Zuckerberg is about the Meta Quest 3's feature parity with the Vision Pro, there's no denying that it's a gaming-first headset, backed by hundreds of VR/MR titles like Beat Saber , Superhot , and Asgard's Wrath 2 , a slew of third-party accessories for enhanced comfort, controller grip, and battery life, and PC VR support.

Review: Meta's $500 Quest 3 is the mainstream VR headset I've been waiting for, and it delivers

While the Vision Pro supports a growing list of Apple Arcade games, not all of them leverage the superior audiovisual quality of the headset and the hand-eye tracking sensors within. The Vision Pro is also more front-heavy than the Quest 3 due to the various computing parts embedded within its glass and aluminum face piece. Early adopters, including myself, have expressed concerns over the comfortability of the Vision Pro, especially in more physical use cases like gaming and fitness.

2. Comfort and physical controllers are priorities

That level of fragility on the Vision Pro is absent on the Quest 3, which flaunts a more affordable price tag thanks to Meta's primary material choice: Plastic. The plastic casing that surrounds the Quest makes it lighter on the head and more resistant to damage. That extends to the Touch Plus controllers, which make all the difference when playing games or working out in apps that require rhythmic inputs like Beat Saber and Supernatural . 

Vision Pro has a similar app called Synth Riders , but I've found the reliance on hand-tracking far from ideal, especially in dimmer environments. It doesn't help that the Vision Pro requires an external battery pack that becomes another thing to keep in the back of your mind as you move around.

3. The price is right

Some quick math tells me that the $500 Meta Quest 3 is significantly cheaper than the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro. Zuckerberg wasn't wrong to use that as his starting argument. The price gap should also indicate to you how vastly different the two headsets are, and how Apple competing with Meta is more of a narrative than anything else. Put simply, the Vision Pro is intended for technology enthusiasts who want to leverage Apple's spatial computing platform for work, media, and communications. Quest 3 offers similar functionality (and then some) but at a lesser quality -- whether that's display resolution, spatial audio playback, or processing speed.

At a fraction of the price, the Quest 3's "good enough" status should be more than sufficient for most consumers.

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Buy the Meta Quest 3

You should buy the apple vision pro if....

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1. You want the clearest look into the future

I'm not exaggerating here. Using the Apple Vision Pro over the past two weeks has, in many ways, made my tablet, laptop, and TV feel outdated. I can chalk it up to the ultra-premium finish of the headset, from the curvatures of the 3D glass to the clickiness of the head strap fastener, or the 4K Micro OLED displays that can project 3D movies better than the ones in theaters, or how I can FaceTime a friend with a Digital Persona by navigating the software with only my eyes and finger pinches. Using Vision Pro is unlike any other VR headset I've tried, but I've also never tried one that costs $3,500.  

Also: I tried Apple Vision Pro for a weekend and here are my 3 biggest takeaways

What's considered the "Apple Tax" comes with its benefits, such as greater customer support and repair services via the hundreds of Apple Stores nationwide, one-on-one demo sessions, and, most importantly, a seamless integration with the brand's other hardware and services. AirDropping files to and from the Vision Pro feels as smooth as it should be, Mac Virtual Display gives your computer a 4K however-big-or-small monitor to work with, and watching Spatial Videos captured by the iPhone 15 Pro is the closest thing you'll get to reliving memories.

2. You're a movie fanatic who wants the best seats in the house

The combination of Vision Pro's Micro OLED displays and dual-driver audio pods makes for one of the most immersive viewing experiences ever. From 3D renditions of Avengers: Endgame and Avatar: The Way of Water on Disney Plus to sitting courtside as Giannis Antetokounmpo tramples through defenders, the audiovisual quality of the Vision Pro is, arguably, superior to when you're physically at the movie theater or basketball game. And it's far better than the same experience on the Meta Quest 3.

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Buy the Apple Vision Pro

Alternatives to consider, featured reviews.

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Meet Apple's Vision Pro: Price, features, hands-on insights, and everything you need to know

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An Apple store employee gave me a surprising reason to love the Vision Pro

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I tried Apple Vision Pro for a weekend and here are my 3 biggest takeaways

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  1. What is the Difference Between Bibliography and References

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  3. Difference Between Citation and Reference (with Comparison Chart)

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  4. What is the Difference Between In Text Citation and Reference

    sources vs references

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    sources vs references

  6. Referencing

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  1. Wisdom Cannot Exist Apart From Truth

  2. Sunni Sources Vs Shia Sources Meme

  3. The final illustration vs References #gouachepainting #illustrator #гуашь

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  5. Citations and Reference Searching

  6. Maximize Nourishment and Satiety Natural Protein Sources vs Supplements #weightloss

COMMENTS

  1. Source vs Reference: Unraveling Commonly Confused Terms

    Use "source" instead of "reference" when referring to where you obtained your information. Include the author, title, and publication date of your source if possible. Use a citation style that is appropriate for your field of study. For example, if you were writing a research paper on the effects of climate change, you might say:

  2. Understanding Citations vs. References

    3 Min read References and citations are the apples and oranges of the writing world. While it might seem like these two words are interchangeable. They are distinctly different within a scholarly writing piece in MLA, APA format or Chicago style. Learn what they are and how to use each one. Citations or References

  3. Difference between source and reference

    #1 What's the difference between "source" and "reference"? and how do I use the terms? owlman5 Senior Member Colorado English-US Dec 25, 2017 #2 Hello, nationi. Both "source" and "reference" can refer to some book or article that you consult when you make a factual statement about something.

  4. Are references and sources the same thing? Is a reference page the same

    Answer A reference list (sometimes called reference page): Appears at the end of a paper, presentation, or project Is a listing of all of the materials referred to (cited, quoted, paraphrased, summarized) in the paper Includes complete information about the materials so the reader can find it later Who wrote/created it (author)

  5. Works Cited v. References v. Bibliography

    A "Works Cited" list is an alphabetical list of works cited, or sources you specifically called out while composing your paper. All works that you have quoted or paraphrased should be included.

  6. Citation Styles Guide

    A citation style is a set of guidelines on how to cite sources in your academic writing. You always need a citation whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source to avoid plagiarism. How you present these citations depends on the style you follow. Scribbr's citation generator can help!

  7. APA Style 6th Edition Blog: References Versus Citations

    narratively: Becker (2012), Lee (2016), and McAdoo (2017) wrote blog posts about APA Style. Include them in a paper to support claims you have made and/or to provide the sources for paraphrases and direct quotations. As shown in the examples above, citations are almost always composed of an author surname or surnames and a date.

  8. How to Cite Sources

    To quote a source, copy a short piece of text word for word and put it inside quotation marks. To paraphrase a source, put the text into your own words. It's important that the paraphrase is not too close to the original wording. You can use the paraphrasing tool if you don't want to do this manually.

  9. Bibliography

    Citing a source with two or three authors. If you are citing a source with two or three authors, list their names in your note in the order they appear in the original source. In the bibliography, invert only the name of the first author and use "and" before the last named author. Note: 1. Melissa Borja and Jacob Gibson, "Internationalism ...

  10. Types of Sources Explained

    Throughout the research process, you'll likely use various types of sources. The source types commonly used in academic writing include: Academic journals. Books. Websites. Newspapers. Encyclopedias. The type of source you look for will depend on the stage you are at in the writing process.

  11. References vs Bibliography

    References include sources that have been directly cited in your paper. For each source, you will have at least one in-text citation in the body of your paper. The citation styles that use reference lists include APA citations, AMA citations, and MLA citations.

  12. What is the difference between source and reference?

    As verbs the difference between source and reference is that source is to obtain or procure: used especially of a business resource. reference is to refer to, to make reference to, to cite. Other Comparisons: What's the difference? Reference vs Resource Reference vs Sources Resources vs Reference Resources vs References References vs Sources source

  13. Types of Sources

    Primary Research Synthesizing Sources Suggested Resources Purdue OWL Research and Citation Conducting Research Research Overview Types of Sources Types of Sources This section lists the types of sources most frequently used in academic research and describes the sort of information that each commonly offers. Print Sources

  14. Citations and References: Documenting your Sources

    Documenting your Sources In your lab reports you will typically use information from sources such as your textbook, lab manual, a reference book, and articles published in a science or engineering journal.

  15. Source vs. Reference

    Source refers to the origin or supplier of information, materials, or resources, while reference denotes the act of mentioning or citing a source for further information or proof. Difference Between Source and Reference Table of Contents ADVERTISEMENT Key Differences

  16. Different kinds of sources

    The source is the text or other work that provides the information that is being used, whereas the actual mention of the source that is being used is called a reference. To some extent, these terms are synonymous; in several reference styles, the list of sources used in an academic text are called References, for instance.

  17. What is the difference between source lists titled "Works Cited

    The manual recommends the title "References" or "Works Cited" for author-date style citations, in which sources are cited in the text using the author's name and date of publication ("Author-Date System"). Works Cited "The Author-Date System—Overview."

  18. General Question: Sources

    The debate to which you refer stems from confusion over the difference between citations used in a bibliography (source list) and citations used in a reference note (i.e., footnote or endnote). A source list citation is a generic entry. The reference note is both general and specific. For example, if we are using a book:

  19. Difference Between Citation and Reference (with Comparison Chart)

    A reference provides all the details of the source, such as author's name, the title of the book, date of publication and page number, whereas in citation provides a few details only such as year of publication and last name of the author.

  20. Reference List & Bibliography

    The reference list is an alphabetical list of all the sources that you cited in the text of your assignment. A bibliography is a separate list, presented in the same format as a reference list, however, it includes all the sources you consulted in the preparation of your assignment, not just those you cited.

  21. Differences between citation and reference

    In contrast, references are long and often run to several lines. Mutual referencing: Some citations lack corresponding references (for example, when the source of information is a personal email or unpublished data) whereas every reference must have a corresponding citation within the main text. A working example of citations and references

  22. Reference Sources

    Reference sources are rarely peer-reviewed. In fact, because they mostly contain established, factual information, they're sometimes not even cited in academic works, unless directly quoted. Check your style manual for best guidelines. Primary or Secondary Sources

  23. Citation vs. Reference: Understanding the Key Differences

    A citation is a brief acknowledgment within the text of a document, referring to a source of information used in the research or writing. A reference is a detailed entry at the end of a document, providing complete information about the sources cited or consulted during the research process. They are typically placed within the main body of the ...

  24. Zuckerberg says Quest 3 is 'the better product' vs ...

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg compared Apple's Vision Pro to his company's latest Quest 3 in an Instagram video review, arguing that the Quest is the "better product, period."

  25. Caitlin Clark scores career-high 49, sets NCAA women's basketball

    When Caitlin Clark opened her college career by scoring 27 points vs. Northern Iowa on Nov. 25, 2020, it turned out to be a glimpse of what was to come. The Des Moines native has gone on to ...

  26. Travis Kelce fulfils promise to Taylor Swift to 'bring home some

    LAS VEGAS (AP) — Travis Kelce brought home the hardware he promised to girlfriend Taylor Swift. The Kansas City tight end finished with nine receptions for 93 yards, including a crucial catch in overtime, to help the Chiefs win their second straight Super Bowl with a 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.. One play after Kelce's reception put the Chiefs on the 3-yard ...

  27. Meta Quest 3 vs. Apple Vision Pro: How accurate was Zuckerberg ...

    Review: Meta's $500 Quest 3 is the mainstream VR headset I've been waiting for, and it delivers While the Vision Pro supports a growing list of Apple Arcade games, not all of them leverage the ...

  28. Mark Zuckerberg says Meta's Quest 3 is the clear winner compared to

    Someone get Mark Zuckerberg a gadget review YouTube channel, stat. The Meta CEO on Monday posted a video review of Apple's Vision Pro, the new rival mixed reality headset to Meta's Quest 3 ...