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Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Original poster

Best referencing software?

34 replies

Bigeggsinapackoften · 06/10/2021 07:22

I started with mendeley but now I’m struggling with it. Is it me or can anyone recommend anything else?

OP posts:
EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues · 06/10/2021 10:24

Watching with interest …

PineappleWilson · 06/10/2021 10:27

Presuming you're studying at a university, what do they have available?

burnoutbabe · 06/10/2021 10:53

doesn't word do it? We have to do Oscala and really all i need to do is look at thw quick gude (1 page) and use that to format any article/book or case)

Our library also runs regular sessions on how to reference.

Original poster
Bigeggsinapackoften · 06/10/2021 10:57

I’ve done the referencing courses but I’m doing an extended piece of work and I also need to keep track of my references - so it’s not just for putting into the word doc if that makes sense.

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BrickSteps · 06/10/2021 11:10

I use Mendeley for my work, and get on ok with it, though I don't love it. I'm sure most of the alternatives are as good if not better. Other options I looked at include RefWorks, Endnote, Zotero, and others.

I did spend a long time trying to decide which to use. In hindsight, choosing one and getting on with it sooner would have been more effective than being indecisive and getting nothing done.

If your university library supports / offers training in one option, I'd use that. They may offer training in Mendeley (and / or others) - ours have useful training sessions, advice on which are easiest to use, and can also do some 1:1 sessions with people if you're still struggling. I've found our uni library really useful. Can yours help?

HoppingPavlova · 06/10/2021 11:13

Cite this for me - think that’s what it’s called. I have uni kids that use it.

rocksteadyfreddy · 06/10/2021 12:06

I use MHRA and I'm yet to find anything that works at all.

Original poster
Bigeggsinapackoften · 06/10/2021 12:08

Cite this for me doesn’t keep your references in a library I don’t think?

I was really happy with mendeley til it went buggy when it updated to mendeley cite.

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sciencegirl91 · 06/10/2021 12:08

I use endnote (just because that’s what my university offers) and think it works quite well- the Word plug-in seems pretty good (though can get a bit clunky in a big document with lots of refs)

TheOneWithTwoParties · 06/10/2021 17:08

I started with Mendeley but did not get on with it and it locked me out of my account for a while so I got scared. I then switched to Endnote as my uni offered it for free. It was fine, not perfect but did the job. A lot of my fellow students used Zotero, I think because it’s free.

Original poster
Bigeggsinapackoften · 06/10/2021 18:20

I tried endnote and didn’t get on with it at all.

I’m doing a phd. May as well say it (was trying not to be too outing) 😂😂😂😂. There’s thousands of references and big chapters.

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CoffeeWithCheese · 06/10/2021 18:30

Oh bugger - have they fucked up Mendeley? I was relying on using it for this dissertation I'm avoiding thinking about.

Think it's RefWorks our uni offers for free but I didn't like it when I tried it out .

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 06/10/2021 18:30

Zotero is amazing. Made putting together dissertation so much easier, both in terms of referencing, and keeping track of useful papers.

www.zotero.org/

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 06/10/2021 18:32

Also consider writing in Overleaf. Its a bit of a learning curve, but it looks so much better than anything you can do in Word.

leafinthewind · 06/10/2021 18:33

I used Mendeley for mine because EndNote made me sad. Maybe this problem doesn't have a single solution. I'm looking at Zotero now though...

moredogsthansense · 06/10/2021 18:37

I’m near submission with a PhD and have been very happy with Zotero.

Original poster
Bigeggsinapackoften · 06/10/2021 18:52

I’m going to try zotero

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BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 06/10/2021 19:14

I've always used Zotero and been happy with it.

quiteathome · 07/10/2021 20:21

Using mendelet at the moment. I don't know how easy it is to transport references to another referencing software.

Gladioli23 · 07/10/2021 20:25

I used zotero too. One of my friends insists that you can't use referencing software because it's always wrong but I've never yet had a good reason Why it would be wrong?

weaselwords · 07/10/2021 20:26

I use Mendeley, as cant get on with others but have to really edit the info sometimes as otherwise I get some very strange references. I wish I could find something that really works well, as I am pants at manually referencing.

Magpiecomplex · 07/10/2021 20:26

I use Mendeley although it's not perfect. Saw me through my PhD!

Gladioli23 · 07/10/2021 20:27

Google gives this up:

www.capstoneediting.com.au/blog/should-i-use-referencing-software

But as far as I can see this is a list of reasons to check your data entry and engage your brain rather than not use it!

Zog14 · 07/10/2021 20:31

Just finished a post grad and used Cite this for me. There was/is a monthly charge, can’t remember exactly how much as it was charged in dollars. Wasn’t perfect but got me through.

Original poster
Bigeggsinapackoften · 07/10/2021 20:32

I do double check the formatting but the other thing is it generates a biblio for me ?

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