Footnotes, endnotes and references Guidelines for Acas reports

We recognise that research reports often need to include references or more detailed descriptions. Use the points below to guide you on this.

Footnotes and endnotes

Follow this guidance:

  • do not use footnotes or endnotes – add the text into the main body of the document in brackets after the point being made
  • keep technical notes brief and in the main body of the document if at all possible
  • where technical notes cannot be kept brief enough to include in the main text, add them at the end of the report – add a reference in the main text on where to find them, for example: 'see Appendix 2 for survey questions'

References

There are different versions of the Harvard referencing style. Use the general principles from the guide to Harvard referencing (Cite Them Right) from The Open University.

In your references:

  • do not use italics
  • use single quote marks around titles
  • write out abbreviations in full – 'page' not 'p'
  • do not use full stops after initials or at the end of a reference
  • use 'et al' where applicable
  • do not use 'ibid' – just repeat the short reference in text
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