This may sound a silly question, but how do you refer to authors in your work (not footnote/endnotes, but in the text)?

Do you use the surname of the author, the full name, or the surname with title i.e., Bloggs, Joe Bloggs, Professor Bloggs.

I've always just referred to authors by their surname, but I've noticed a growing trend to use the surname with title. These latter options do seem to read better.

I'm in law, so there are no hard or fast rules on this...but how about the social scientists? do you have a method? eg. stating full name, then referencing just the surname in all other cites.

I'm arts/social sciences and use the surname in my text, as in the Harvard system, but have also used the Joe Bloggs variation a few times for people I cite regularly. I don't know why I do that, now you've mentioned it - maybe it's for variety in writing or reading, but will ask my supervisors about it when I get my 2nd draft feedback. I've never used anyone's title, but these seem more likely to change over time, so perhaps the other variations based on names have slightly more longevity for written work eg someone who is a Dr one year may become a Professor the next as it's related to job title and professional/institutional status, whereas family/given names aren't. For other people, eg designers or artists whose work I'm discussing, I use the full Joe Bloggs name the first time I mention them, then just the surname for subsequent references.

I'm in biological sciences and I would put it in the format 'Jones [et al. if required] (2006) showed that sheep like chocolate digestives' or 'In 2006 Jones demonstrated that sheep enjoy chocolate digestives'.

I have no idea how it is supposed to be done in law, my other half is doing a law PhD so I will ask him for you and see what he says :o)

Thanks for the replies guys.


@Ruby, I am basically doing the same as you at the moment, mixing it up a little. I've noticed it's mainly US writers who will cite as Professor Bloggs etc., but I recently read an Oxford thesis that did the same.

@Tricky, really I should have opted to social sciences referencing system that you refer to. Unfortunately, in law there is no one authoritative system to use. Thanks for asking your other half!

My main concern it not offend any authors (I know most of them that I refer to) or appear inconsistent to the reader.

:-)