Lähdeluettelon

Lähdeluettelo is the Finnish term for the list of sources cited in a scholarly work. It appears at the end of a document and serves to allow readers to locate the cited material and to give proper credit to authors. In Finnish academic writing, a lähdeluettelo typically includes only sources that are actually cited in the text, and its format is determined by a chosen citation style.

Entries in a lähdeluettelo generally contain standard bibliographic fields. Common elements are author(s), year of publication, title of the work, and publication information such as publisher and location for books, or journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers for articles. For electronic sources, a URL or DOI and, if required by the style, the date of access are included. The exact punctuation and ordering follow a citation style such as APA, Chicago, or Harvard, and institutions may specify a preferred style.

The usual order is alphabetical by the surname of the first author. If multiple works by the same author are listed, they are typically ordered by year, with earlier works appearing first. When there is no author, entries may begin with the title. Some styles distinguish between sources in the main text through in-text citations and the accompanying list in the lähdeluettelo, ensuring consistency throughout the document.

In practice, the lähdeluettelo is a tool for verification and scholarly integrity. Authors are advised to verify details, maintain consistency, and use reference management software or templates that align with the chosen citation style.