How to Insert a Citation in Your Document

When it comes to citing sources in academic writing, accuracy and consistency are crucial. One of the most popular citation management tools is EndNote, which integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Word. In this article, we will explore how to insert a citation using EndNote.

The process begins by opening your Microsoft Word document and positioning your cursor where you want the citation to appear. Next, click on the 'References' tab in the ribbon menu and select 'Insert Citation' from the 'Mendeley Cite-O-Matic' section. This will launch the EndNote interface, allowing you to search for and insert a reference into your document.

To add text before a citation, follow these steps: open the 'Edit & Manage Citations' dialogue box by clicking on the corresponding button in the EndNote toolbar. In the 'Suffix' text box, type in the required text, such as 'See also.' Make sure to leave a space after typing this text, as it will ensure that there is a gap between the prefixed text and the citation itself.

If you are using an author-date style, you can also highlight the matching reference and insert it directly into your document. To do this, open the EndNote library and search for the desired reference by keyword, author's surname, or research notes. You can then click on 'Insert Citation' to add the reference to your document.

Alternatively, you can use the EndNote toolbar to find and insert a citation. To access the toolbar, click on the top menu bar in Windows (or the equivalent in Mac) and select 'Go to EndNote.' From here, you can browse through your references and select the one you want to include in your document.

It's worth noting that the appearance of the EndNote toolbar may vary slightly between Windows and Mac versions of Word. However, with a little practice, you should be able to navigate the interface with ease.

In conclusion, inserting citations using EndNote is a straightforward process that requires minimal effort. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your academic writing is accurate, consistent, and properly cited.

How to insert a citation