When you write an essay, project, report, dissertation or thesis, you're required to cite and reference each source of information that you use to inform your writing. This is essential in order to both avoid plagiarism and help demonstrate your evaluative skills. However, referencing can be tricky, particularly when handling large numbers of sources and having to comply with the intricacies of a referencing style.
EndNote Online is a referencing tool that may help you manage the process more effectively, enabling you to collect, store and organisereferences to books, articles and other documents. It also enables you to import those referencesinto your Word document in the format of a specific referencing style.
EndNote Online's many referencing styles include ACM, APA (6th and 7th), Harvard (Bath), IEEE, RSC and Vancouver.
Who uses EndNote Online?
EndNote Online tends to be used by undergraduates and Masters students, but other types of user may also find it suitable.
Many academics and postgraduate researchers use a software version called EndNote Desktop (also known as EndNote 20 / X9). You should use EndNote Desktop if you need to merge references from multiple documents.
To find out more about both versions, please refer to our Reference Management Software guide. Note: you can transfer references between EndNote Desktop and EndNote Online.
How to use EndNote Online
Register with EndNote Online. Search the Library Catalogue, or a library database such as Scopus and Web of Science, for references to sources that may prove useful for your work.
Select and export those references into yourEndNote Online library. Alternatively, if necessary, you can manually create a reference for an item within EndNote.
Import those references, along with their corresponding in-text citations, into your Word document. This process is known as Cite while you write.
For more detailed instructions: click each of the headings near the top of this page, starting with 'Register and Access'.
Words of caution
If you decide to use EndNote Online, it's advisable to start learning to use it as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the final stages of writing when other aspects of the writing process are competing for attention! Furthermore, it's easier to export references into EndNote Online as soon as you discover them, rather than trying to do so retrospectively.
If you use EndNote Online (or any reference management tool), you still need to allow yourself sufficient time to check the accuracy of all the citations and references in your Word document. Some imported citations and references may contain elements that don't comply with the required referencing style.
When saving references, it's sensible to use multiple methods so that you have back-ups should something goes wrong. Databases provide options such as saving to email or PDF/Text file.
If you experience problems using EndNote Online, the Library may be able to help, but sometimes we may need to refer you to the provider's help desk. For more details, refer to help/contacts.
