1. General in-text references

In general, the referencing system adopted for this edition is a modified version of the Harvard system of parenthetical in-text references. A model use of the Harvard system in the field of Old Norse-Icelandic Studies is Clover, Carol J. and John Lindow, eds. 1985. Old Norse-Icelandic Literature: A Critical Guide. Islandica 45. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press. However, it should be noted at the outset that we have departed from a small number of the practices exemplified there in particular circumstances, which are set out in what follows.

a.       When sources are cited as parenthetical references in the text, editors should use the following form, unless the reference is covered under Sections b-g below:

<author's last name>_<year of publication>,_<page number(s)>

In this formalised representation, '<...>' is used to designate variables, '_' to designate a space, and other signs are the usual signs of punctuation.

A simple example of in-text parenthetical referencing is (Nordal 2001, 29-42).

b.      Two or more in-text references cited within a single pair of parentheses should be separated from one another by a semi-colon. An example of multiple in-text referencing is 'Some say alliteration loses its power in skaldic verse (Genzmer 1954-5; von See 1967, 42; Kuhn 1983, 182); others suggest it does not...'

c.       For works with two or three authors, use names (not 'et al.'), e.g. (Jón Helgason and Holtsmark 1941). For works with more than three authors, the use of 'et al.' is permitted.

d.      Arabic numerals will normally be used for page references, except where the reference is to introductory material paginated with roman numerals. Please do not use f. or ff. after a page number; precise page numbers should always be given, but the second number should have the minimum number of digits necessary, e. g. 38-9 not 38-39, 142-59, not 142-159. Pages need not be preceded by 'p.' or 'pp.' unless there is danger of confusion, as, e.g., in a reference to Saxo 2005, II, 14, 43, 5, pp. 408-9 (see § 3-e-ii, below).

e.       Instead of page numbers, you may sometimes need also to cite a chapter or chapters (ch. or chs) or volume (vol.). Use the symbol § or §§ to refer to a section or sections. Note that volumes in a series are indicated by arabic numerals, but volumes of a multi-volume work are indicated by roman capitals. Examples are ÍF 2, 20 and Flat I, 46. When the in-text reference is to both volume and page of an author's or editor's work, use roman capitals for the volume number followed by a comma, space, then the page number(s).

f.       If you need to refer to more than one work by an author or group of authors published in the same year, use the formula <author's last name>_<year of publication><lower case letter of the alphabet>. An example would be (Kabell 1980b).

g.      The author's last name and the year of publication may be integrated into the sentence, alternatively to placing them in parentheses, e.g. 'Lindow 1975 considers the similarity between kennings and riddles...'.

References