Dictionaries, Encyclopedias and Other Sources

A dictionary citation identifies:

• the dictionary title;
• the edition and year (for print dictionaries);
• the entry being consulted; and
• the definition number (if needed).

If an entry contains multiple definitions, include the number of the definition you are relying on.

Title of Dictionary (edition, year) ‘entry’ (definition number).

Legal encyclopedias are updated regularly, so the citation must identify the version being used. A citation includes:

• the publisher;
• the title of the encyclopedia;
• the volume;
• the currency date;
• the title number and name;
• the chapter number and name; and
• the paragraph number.

The currency date is important because the content of an encyclopedia may change over time.

Publisher, Title of Encyclopedia, volume (at date) Title number Name of Title, ‘Chapter number Name of Chapter’ [paragraph].

Looseleaf services are cited similarly to legal encyclopedias.

The main difference is that the citation may identify the relevant release number instead of a currency date, depending on how the service is organised.

AGLC4 provides specific rules for intellectual property registrations, including patents, trade marks and designs. These citations identify:

• the jurisdiction code;
• the type of intellectual property right;
• the registration or application number;
• the filing date; and
• the registration status.

Company constitutions and similar governing documents are cited by identifying the type of document, the company name, the version date and the relevant clause.

Document type, Company (at date) pinpoint.

Correspondence and interviews are usually unpublished materials. Examples include emails, letters and personal interviews.

Because these materials may not be publicly available, they should only be cited where the reader can reasonably access the material, or the assessment permits their use.