Terms of use
The deal, in plain English
These are the terms for using ReferenceIt, a free referencing tool run by David Turner (“we”), and they apply when you use the website, the apps or the browser extension. By creating an account you agree to them. Last updated 25 October 2026.
We format references as carefully as we can, but your university’s guidance has the final say. Check anything that matters.
1. The service
ReferenceIt helps you record sources and format them in referencing styles such as Harvard, APA, MLA, IEEE, Vancouver and OSCOLA. It also looks up details for you from public catalogues and from the pages you ask it to reference. It is provided free of charge, as it is, and we may change or add features at any time.
2. Your account
- Keep your password to yourself and tell us if you think someone else has used your account.
- One account per person. You may delete it at any time from settings.
- If you had an account on the original ReferenceIt, it has been moved here; your first sign-in uses your old password once and then upgrades it.
3. Your content
Your references, notes and collections belong to you. You give us permission to store, process and display them so that we can run the service for you, and, if you choose to share a collection with a public link, to show that collection to anyone who has the link. You are responsible for what you store: do not store anything unlawful or anything you do not have the right to store.
4. Acceptable use
Please do not: use automated tools to hammer the lookups or the API beyond the published rate limits; try to access other people's accounts or data; use the service to distribute spam or malware; or do anything that breaks the law. We may suspend or close accounts that do, and we will tell you why unless the law prevents it.
5. Accuracy
We work hard to format references correctly, but referencing guidance varies between institutions and changes over time. Always check our output against your own course or publisher guidance. We are not responsible for marks lost or submissions rejected because of a formatting error, a lookup that returned wrong details, or a link that stopped working.
6. Availability and liability
We aim to keep ReferenceIt available and backed up, but it is a free service and we cannot promise it will never be down or lose data. Export your references regularly (settings → Export) before important deadlines. To the extent the law allows, we are not liable for any loss arising from your use of, or inability to use, the service. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.
7. The API and mobile apps
The ReferenceIt API and apps are covered by these same terms. Access tokens are personal to you; revoke them from settings if a device is lost.
8. Ending things
You can stop using ReferenceIt whenever you like and delete your account from settings. If we ever have to close the service, we will give at least 60 days' notice on the dashboard and by email so you can export your references.
9. Changes and law
If we change these terms in a way that matters, we will say so on the dashboard and update the date above. These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.