Reference Management Tools for Academic Writing

If you already have PDF file(s) saved on your device, simply drag and drop the PDF(s) into Mendeley to generate reference(s).

Unlike EndNote, references can be generated in Mendeley from the PDF files without Digital Object Identifier (DOI). Nevertheless, the PDF files must be text-recognizable, i.e.: not an image file created by a scanner.

Steps:

1. Drag and drop the PDF(s) into Mendeley.
2. Reference(s) will be generated automatically with PDF attachment.

Click to see steps in screenshots

OneSearch supports direct export of reference to Mendeley. You can follow the steps below:

1. Conduct a search from PolyU Library's homepage using OneSearch
2. Click on the title of the selected item.
3. Click on ENDNOTE(RIS).
4. Click on DOWNLOAD.
5. Drag and drop the .ris file from the download folder to Mendeley.
6. Reference created.

Click to see steps in screenshots

You can download references and full text (if available) from the Mendeley's network via the "Literature Search" and "Related Documents" functions:

Literature Search: To search references uploaded by other Mendeley users.

1. Click on Literature Search.
2. Conduct a search.
3. Select the reference you would like to add and then click Save Reference.
4. Click on All Documents and the reference is added to your library.

Click to see steps in screenshots

 Related Documents: To search articles related to the selected references in your library.

1. Select one or more references.
2. Click on Related.
3. Select the reference you would like to add.
4. Click on Save Reference to add the selected reference into your library.

Click to see steps in screenshots

Sometimes you have to create references manually, for example, citing legal cases, newspapers, YouTube videos, DVDs or films.

Different format is required for citing different types of sources. The guide "Referring to different types of resources" developed by PolyU ELC shows the components required for citing different sources. Read it before creating references manually.

Steps:

1. Expand the pull down manual.
2. Select Add Entry Manually.
3. Select the reference type that you want to cite.
4. Input the information required.
5. Click Save.

Click to see steps in screenshots

Tips for entering author name manually:-

1) Personal author:

Input Last Name, First Name and then Middle Name (e.g. Chan, Brain T.M.).
 

2) Institutional author:

Indicate the author is an institution/organization when key in the name as below:

3) Multiple authors:

Input one author name per line. Press the "Enter" key to go to the next line for the second author.
            e.g.: Murphy, James          <Enter>
                    Adams, Douglas

You can import the references from Word document back to your Mendeley, provided that the references in Word document are inserted by Mendeley (with field codes). This is helpful especially when you are doing a group project, and you wish to extract the references (inserted by your teammates) from Word document to your Mendeley.  The steps are listed below:

You have to install Mendeley MS Word Plugin before performing the steps below:

1. Open the Word document with citations inserted by Mendeley, and click on the in-text citation that you would like to add.
2. Click on Insert or Edit Citation.
   (Or Edit Citation for Windows users).
3. Select which folder you would like to import at your Mendeley library.

Click to see steps in screenshots