Reference vs. Referance — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 21, 2024
Reference is the incorrect spelling of reference. Reference means a mention of something or someone.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Reference or Referance
How to spell Reference?
Reference
Correct Spelling
Referance
Incorrect Spelling
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Think of the "e" in "reference" as standing for "evidence," which you often provide in references.
Associate "reference" with "preference"; both share the "-ence" ending and involve choices or citations.
The word "reference" ends in "-ence," a common suffix for nouns indicating a state, quality, or act, unlike "referance," which mistakenly uses "-ance."
Remember that "reference" contains "refer," indicating its use to point to or mention something.
How Do You Spell Referance Correctly?
Incorrect: Referance can mean a source of information.
Correct: She checked the reference section for more details on the topic.
ADVERTISEMENT
Incorrect: In computing, referance denotes a data type that indicates a variable or object.
Correct: In programming, a null reference means that the pointer points to no object.
Reference Definitions
Reference also refers to a mention or citation of a source.
The professor included several references to primary sources in his paper.
Reference can mean a source of information.
She checked the reference section for more details on the topic.
In computing, reference denotes a data type that indicates a variable or object.
In programming, a null reference means that the pointer points to no object.
Reference might mean the act of consulting.
Quick reference to the manual solved the issue.
Reference can imply the act of referring someone for a job or position.
His reference played a crucial role in securing the job.
Reference is a relationship between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object. The first object in this relation is said to refer to the second object.
The act of referring to something
Filed away the article for future reference.
Significance for a specified matter; relation or relationship
Her speeches have special reference to environmental policy.
Meaning or denotation
The reference of the word “lion” is to a kind of wild cat.
A mention of an occurrence or situation
Made frequent references to her promotion.
A note in a publication referring the reader to another passage or source.
The passage or source so referred to.
A work frequently used as a source.
A mark or footnote used to direct a reader elsewhere for additional information.
Submission of a case to a referee.
Legal proceedings conducted before or by a referee.
A person who recommends another or who can vouch for another's fitness or qualifications, as for a job.
A statement about a person's qualifications, character, and dependability.
To supply (a text) with references
The author hadn't adequately referenced the third chapter, so the copyeditor suggested adding more citations. This article is thoroughly referenced with up-to-date sources.
To cite as a reference
The monograph doesn't reference any peer-reviewed articles.
Usage Problem To mention or allude to
The comedian's monologue referenced many Hollywood stars.
A relationship or relation (to something).
A measurement one can compare (some other measurement) to.
Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted.
A person who provides this information; onlyn in UK English: a referee.
A reference work.
(attributive) That which serves as a reference work.
Reference Dictionary of Linguistics
The act of referring: a submitting for information or decision.
(semantics) A relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object.
(academic writing) A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.
(academic writing) A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.
(computing) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.
A special sequence used to represent complex characters in markup languages, such as
™ for the ™ symbol.(obsolete) Appeal.
To provide a list of references for (a text).
You must thoroughly reference your paper before submitting it.
To refer to, to use as a reference.
Reference the dictionary for word meanings.
To mention, to cite.
In his speech, the candidate obliquely referenced the past failures of his opponent.
(programming) To contain the value that is a memory address of some value stored in memory.
The given pointer will reference the actual generated data.
The act of referring, or the state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for guidance.
That which refers to something; a specific direction of the attention; as, a reference in a text-book.
Relation; regard; respect.
Something that hath a reference to my state.
One who, or that which, is referred to.
The act of submitting a matter in dispute to the judgment of one or more persons for decision.
Appeal.
A remark that calls attention to something or someone;
She made frequent mention of her promotion
There was no mention of it
The speaker made several references to his wife
A short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage;
The student's essay failed to list several important citations
The acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book
The article includes mention of similar clinical cases
An indicator that orients you generally;
It is used as a reference for comparing the heating and the electrical energy involved
A book to which you can refer for authoritative facts;
He contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic
A formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability;
Requests for character references are all to often answered evasively
The most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to;
The extension of `satellite of Mars' is the set containing only Demos and Phobos
The act of referring or consulting;
Reference to an encyclopedia produced the answer
A publication (or a passage from a publication) that is referred to;
He carried an armful of references back to his desk
He spent hours looking for the source of that quotation
The relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to;
He argued that reference is a consequence of conditioned reflexes
Refer to;
He referenced his colleagues' work
Reference Meaning in a Sentence
The teacher recommended a website for further reference.
The library is a great place to find reference materials for your project.
Every essay should include a reference list at the end.
Please provide a reference for each fact you mention.
She used the book as a reference while writing her paper.
I used an online encyclopedia as a quick reference.
The footnotes contain important reference information.
The reference section of the book was very informative.
You can find more details in the reference guide provided.
The reference desk at the library can help you find what you need.
She gave me a reference book on European history.
The textbook includes a reference section for further reading.
The manual serves as a reference for troubleshooting the device.
The encyclopedia is a valuable reference for general knowledge.
You can find a reference code at the bottom of the receipt.
Reference Idioms & Phrases
Reference point
A standard or guide that can be used to judge or understand something else.
The historical document serves as a reference point for understanding the era.
Without reference to
Not considering or not related to.
The decision was made without reference to the advice given by the committee.
In reference to
Talking about or mentioning something.
In reference to your question, yes, the meeting is still scheduled for tomorrow.
Cross-reference
To refer to another part of the same document or to another document for additional information.
You will need to cross-reference the charts in the appendix for a complete understanding.
For future reference
To be used or helpful in a future situation.
Keep these instructions for future reference in case you need to reset the device.
Lose one's reference
To become confused or lose one's place in a discussion or activity.
I lost my reference during the debate and had to pause to gather my thoughts.
Reference group
A group that someone compares themselves to for self-evaluation.
Teenagers often look to celebrities as a reference group for fashion trends.
Make reference to
To mention or refer to something.
The author makes reference to an earlier study in chapter three.
Reference book
A book containing useful facts or information, often used for specific research.
The encyclopedia is a good reference book for general knowledge questions.
Reference material
Books, documents, websites, etc., used to find information.
The library has an excellent selection of reference material on ancient Greece.
Direct reference
A clear and specific mention of something.
The report includes a direct reference to the findings of the previous study.
Indirect reference
A mention of something in a roundabout or not direct way.
The novel makes an indirect reference to the political turmoil of the time.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Frought vs. Fraught
Next Comparison
Propperly vs. ProperlyAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
