Heimildirnar

Heimildirnar is the Icelandic term for the list of sources or references that supports a text. It appears at the end of essays, articles, and academic works and provides full bibliographic information for every work cited in the text. The section enables readers to locate the original sources and to verify statements or data presented in the work.

The word derives from heimild, meaning source or reference. The form heimildirnar is a definite plural used as a heading in Icelandic texts. In practice, writers may encounter related terms such as heimildir, heimildaskrá, or tilvísunarskrá, which are used in similar contexts depending on publisher style or academic discipline.

Content and format of heimildirnar

Entries typically include author(s), title, place of publication, publisher, year of publication, and identifying numbers such as ISBN or DOI. For online sources, the URL and the date of access are often required. Some guides distinguish primary sources from secondary sources, while others present all entries in a single list. The exact formatting—order of fields, punctuation, and style—varies by chosen citation style guide.

Standards and purpose

Adherence to a consistent citation style (for example APA, Chicago, MLA, or local Icelandic guidelines) is common. The primary purpose of heimildirnar is reliability and verifiability: to document sources so readers can consult them and to prevent plagiarism by giving proper credit to original authors.