Possibly the most important part of research is acknowledging your sources. This allows readers the opportunity to trace your ideas through the web of knowledge, uncovering further details, testing the usage of that source in order to validate your claims, or simply to find more fun stuff to read. Plagiarism is the most serious academic crime a researcher can commit, so acknowledging sources is mandatory.
Referencing generally consists of two parts. First we need an inline citation whenever a quote or idea is borrowed from another writer. Second, we need a reference list that gives the reader all the information they require to locate the source.
In the following I will compare popular referencing styles and explain why I use none of them. Or rather: I use a combination of the best qualities of these, in order to guarantee simplicity, consistency, and clarity. Referencing should be as readable as possible, simplifying the tasks of both writer and reader.
