Refrence vs. Reference — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 25, 2024
"Refrence" is an incorrect spelling; the proper term is "Reference," denoting a mention or citation of a source.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Refrence or Reference
How to spell Reference?
Refrence
Incorrect Spelling
Reference
Correct Spelling
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Think of "refer" as the root word, and you just add "-ence" at the end.
Remember "Reference" has two 'e' letters before the 'n'.
Associate "Reference" with "Reverence" both having the same number of Es.
Picture a book of references, with each 'e' standing out.
Practice spelling by writing the word multiple times to reinforce the correct form.
ADVERTISEMENT
How Do You Spell Reference Correctly?
Incorrect: He made a refrence to the book in his essay.
Correct: He made a reference to the book in his essay.
Incorrect: I didn't understand the refrence he made during the lecture.
Correct: I didn't understand the reference he made during the lecture.
Incorrect: Can you provide a refrence for this fact?
Correct: Can you provide a reference for this fact?
Incorrect: Your refrence list at the end of the paper is incomplete.
Correct: Your reference list at the end of the paper is incomplete.
Reference Definitions
A mention or citation of a source.
The author made a reference to a previous study.
Indicating a relationship or linkage.
Her remarks were a reference to the recent news.
Direction to a footnote or bibliography.
See the reference at the bottom of the page for more details.
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
A source of information or expertise.
I used several books as references for my essay.
A person who vouches for another.
Please provide three references with your job application.
Reference Meaning in a Sentence
When you write a paper, always include a reference page.
You can find a reference to that quote in the third chapter.
She used the encyclopedia as a reference for her research.
The dictionary is a great reference for learning new words.
She made a reference to a famous poet in her speech.
The reference manager software helps organize research sources.
Teachers often ask for a bibliography or reference list.
The reference section of the library is for in-library use only.
Footnotes often contain additional reference information.
Reference books are essential for detailed study topics.
The reference librarian helped us find several key sources.
A quick reference guide was provided during the workshop.
The reference desk at the library is always helpful.
Reference materials are not allowed during the closed-book exam.
The manual serves as a reference for troubleshooting the software.
Cross-references in the text guide the reader to related topics.
For further reading, see the reference section at the end of the book.
In academic writing, accurate reference formatting is crucial.
Use the reference number to track your application.
Always check the reference code when looking up a product.
Reference Idioms & Phrases
In reference to
Mentioning or relating to a specific matter.
In reference to your query, we have updated our policy.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Reference?
It's called "Reference" because it refers to or denotes a relation/connection to information or a source.
What is the pronunciation of Reference?
Reference is pronounced as "REF-er-ence."
What is the root word of Reference?
The root word is "refer."
What is the verb form of Reference?
The verb form is "refer" or "referencing."
Which preposition is used with Reference?
Typically, "to" or "of" can be used as in "reference to" or "reference of."
Which conjunction is used with Reference?
Depending on context, any conjunction like "and" or "or" can be used with "Reference."
Which vowel is used before Reference?
The vowel "e" is prominently used in "Reference."
What is the plural form of Reference?
The plural form is "References."
Is Reference a negative or positive word?
Reference is neutral; its connotation depends on the context.
What is the singular form of Reference?
The singular form is "Reference."
Which article is used with Reference?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "Reference."
Is Reference a vowel or consonant?
The word "Reference" contains both vowels and consonants.
Is the word Reference imperative?
No, the word Reference is not imperative.
What part of speech is Reference?
Reference is primarily a noun but can also be an adjective.
What is the first form of Reference?
As a verb, the first form is "refer."
Is Reference an adverb?
No, Reference is not an adverb.
Is the Reference term a metaphor?
No, but it can be used metaphorically in different contexts.
How do we divide Reference into syllables?
Reference can be divided as "Ref-er-ence."
What is the opposite of Reference?
There isn't a direct opposite for "Reference."
Which determiner is used with Reference?
Determiners such as "this," "that," "my," "a," and "the" can be used with Reference.
Is Reference a noun or adjective?
Reference is primarily a noun, but can also be used as an adjective in contexts like "reference book."
How many syllables are in Reference?
Reference has three syllables.
What is a stressed syllable in Reference?
The stressed syllable in Reference is "Ref."
What is another term for Reference?
Another term could be "citation" or "mention."
How is Reference used in a sentence?
"Every academic paper should have a list of references at the end."
Is Reference an abstract noun?
Yes, because it represents an idea or concept rather than a physical object.
Is Reference a countable noun?
Yes, you can have one reference or multiple references.
Is Reference a collective noun?
No, Reference is not a collective noun.
What is the second form of Reference?
As a verb, the second form is "referred."
What is the third form of Reference?
As a verb, the third form is "referred."
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Affend vs. Offend
Next Comparison
Lolypop vs. LollipopAuthor 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.
