Hi Vahid,

I think, the question is not about what you preferred, but rather it is about which referencing system the journal article you would like to publish on would accept as a legitimate style. Thus, I always adhere to the preferred referencing style of a journal, regardless of my own preference.

Vahid - Tefera is correct. It's not what we prefer - but what we need to adhere to with regard to journal/institutional preference. All systems are relevant - as long as they are correctly applied according to the conventions dictated by the journal/institution. 

I personally prefer APA 6th edition - but I have to adapt according to where I work and where I am targeting to publish. 

Hi Vahid.

I think the same. One must adapt their publications to the norms of the journal. In health sciences are the most widely used vancouver standards.

Dear Vahid,

In terms of referencing, most journals force authors who want to publish with them to dance to the same song. In the case of journal publication, our hands are always tied. They may prefer MLA, Harvard or APA. Personally, I was groomed into using the APA 6th edition so I have naturally felt in love with that referencing style. However, for fluidity in the reading of research papers and for quick glances at bibliography for references, the MLA is better. My institution has now ordered post graduate students to use the Harvard referencing style for thesis and dissertation writing.

As scholars and problem solvers, I think we must be abreast with the intricacies and rudiments of all the referencing styles to be able to adjust as and when the situation deems it necessary. Thanks

Dickson Adom

It is not your choice to prefer or follow, depends on which journal you are going to publish your data.

Some universities prefer certain style. For eg. Newcastle university fellow Harvard.

I always use the reference system that suits me best. Never adapt to journal demands. This is a matter of principle. By the way I like numbered articles [1], [2], .... best, it makes checking the reference list easiest and most convenient.

Dear Vahid

In general, it will depend on journal which you are going to submit your paper.

To make the reference list and bibliography consistent and easy to read across different papers there are predefined styles stating how to set them out - these are called citation styles. Different subjects prefer to each use different styles. The following are the most popular:

APA. APA is an author/date based style.

MLA. is most often applied by the arts and humanities, particularly in the USA.

Harvard. Harvard is very similar to APA. Where APA is primarily used in the USA, Harvard referencing is the most well used referencing style in the UK and Australia, and is encouraged for use with the humanities.

Vancouver. The Vancouver system is mainly used in medical and scientific papers.

Chicago and Turabian. These are two separate styles but are very similar, just like Harvard and APA. These are widely used for history and economics.

Regardless of what subject you're writing for, you should use the style your university and tutor recommend and you must not mix-and-match.

Regards,

Ata

word of caution: if you do not use the style recommended by the journal your paper may be rejected before review.

Hi Dear Ata 

Thanks for completely information.

Hi dear Glenn 

I agree with you but, in my opinion ,if the researchers product a unique style then decrease problems for writing the article.

Hi Vahid, I understand. However, I am not sure why the journal would make such an exception-I have reviewed articles with a 'unique' style and all were rejected.

The system, used in Iran is the most clear: A.A. Author, B.B.Author, J. Name. Abbr. vol(year), page

Moreover, it's very easy to interpret and to digit. Not like the systems, used in Russia, in Ukraine and even like Vancouver.

It is not up to me, it is up tp the instruction for the author in a certain journal.

I think all styles are best, but i prefer APA, because its use by majority of the research journals

Although I prefer APA, the ultimate choice is the journal editor's decision... if you don't comply, then your paper may not be reviewed.

I prefer APA style. But, as we know, we all must use style which is required for journal in which we want to publish paper... formatting paper according guidance of the journals is the most boring and time wasting activity for me.

Any reference style is OK. But I think all the journals need to follow any one universal reference criteria. Because it is very difficult for researchers to keep on formatting the reference for every journals. And you feel difficult specially when references are too much. Like in review articles.

I my view, The system which start with Author name and followed by year then the Title, might be easier for researchers who are following a specific Author or latest research done

In this view APA is preffered

APA guidelines.