After the previous theoretical part, it is time to explain using concrete examples for how to create respective bibliographic references to a text with citations. First let us summarize some basic rules and then we will illustrate on the basis of various cited documents how the bibliographic reference was created, what approach was used during its creation and why. We will proceed according to the NLM citation styles in all examples.

I. Clarify the type of the cited document

First of all, you need to determine what type of document you are citing. Otherwise, you will not be able to identify the respective model in the citation instructions, according to which you should create the bibliographic reference. Usually nobody has any serious problems differentiating between a printed book, journal article or an anthology contribution. However, in the case of online documents, videos, etc. this may be more complicated. Therefore, various types of online documents are presented on the following pages with a demonstration of from where one should draw the details for creating a bibliographic reference. This should clarify what the specifics of the individual documents are.

II. Look at the form of the cited document

After you have determined which type of document is in front of you, you should proceed with determining what form the document has. Is it printed material? On CD? On DVD? On the internet? In other words, what is the medium where the information is stored?

III. Find the respective model for a bibliographic reference

After identifying the type and form of the document, look up the respective model for creating a bibliographic reference in the citation instructions. Proceed carefully, because some citation styles often distinguish between different variants of publications. For example, the NLM citation style distinguishes whether an article has one author, multiple authors, institutions as authors, and different combinations of natural or legal person as authors, etc.

IV. Citing is not rocket science, just copy the information

When correcting homework from courses on citing, we commonly encounter mistakes that resulted from students’ lack of concentration when creating citations. Despite having a model of the bibliographic reference, they write a period instead of a comma or vice versa, they fail to enter a space after punctuation, etc. Citing is definitely not a rocket science, it just requires you to pay attention and copy one piece of information after another one according to the given model.