Unit 4 - Writing

Using reference management software

How do I insert literature into the text?

Have you written a section in your term paper and now want to insert the appropriate sources? Have you been writing each citation by hand after a sentence and then laboriously adding the source to your bibliography in the correct format? Fortunately, there is a tool for inserting sources into your text that does all the work for you. With the help of so-called reference management programs, you can easily insert your references into your text in the desired or specified citation style.

When setting up a reference management program, you can also install a plug-in that you can use in the writing program of your choice. In the tabs of your writing program, you will then see a tab for the reference management program that is linked to your reference collection. If you want to insert a reference, all you need to do is enter the author's name in a search field and select the correct source. The reference to this source will then be inserted in the correct format and created in the bibliography. You can adapt the citation style to your wishes or specifications in the settings or you can select one of several preset citation styles. The program also automatically sorts the bibliography according to the selected citation style (e.g. chronologically or alphabetically).

In addition to Zotero, Citavi and EndNote are also well-known management programs for which you can also attend training courses at the ThULB. Since Zotero is compatible with many writing programs, works on all common operating systems and can also be used in OnlyOffice, the FSU cloud writing program, for example, it is particularly recommended for you as a student. As an open source application, Zotero is also available free of charge. Take a look at the tutorial for using it here, below which you will also find information on the corresponding training courses offered by the ThULB.