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APA PowerPoint Slide Presentation

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Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

Media File: APA PowerPoint Slide Presentation

This resource is enhanced by a PowerPoint file. If you have a Microsoft Account, you can view this file with   PowerPoint Online .

Select the APA PowerPoint Presentation link above to download slides that provide a detailed review of the APA citation style.

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APA 7th Edition Guide

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Citing Sources in PowerPoint Slides

• PowerPoint - In-text Citations
• PowerPoint - References List

Note:  APA does not have specific rules about the format of PowerPoint slides.  Rasmussen University does have recommended guidelines outlined below and in the attached PPT presentation.

PowerPoint slides  may   need citations, depending on what type of information is included on the slide.

If the text on a slide is a quote (someone else's words, verbatim) or someone else's ideas in the presenter's own words, then a citation is needed.

If the text placed on a slide is simply a word or phrase that represents a topic that the presenter will be discussing in greater detail, then a citation is not needed.

The table below includes two PowerPoint slides (left side). The column on the right tells whether or not the information would need to be cited and why.

Speaker Notes:  Some assignments require text in the Speaker Notes area of the PowerPoint slide. If information from a source is quoted, summarized, or paraphrased in that area, an in-text citation and reference will likely be required. Ask your instructor for clarification.

• Presentations & APA Citation Style at Rasmussen University Great resource to share with students if they are having struggles with APA in PPTs.

PowerPoint Slides - References

There are two ways to include the Reference list in your presentation:

• Coordinating reference lists are typically handed out during or after the presentation either in print if presenting in person, or electronically if presenting online. This is the preferred method of including a Reference list of the sources cited in your slide deck.
• Include a Reference list in the last slide of the presentation. This is an acceptable method if there are not many resources to include. Avoid adding so many resources to the list that the type is not legible to those attending the presentation

Creating the Reference List Slide

• If you use outside sources in your presentation (noted in your in-text citations), you must cite those sources on a References page/slide.
• Your Reference page can be created in NoodleTools, exported to Microsoft Word, and distributed or submitted with your slides to those who attend your presentation. Ask your instructor if they would like a Reference slide as the last slide of your presentation. Note that you may need more than one slide depending on how many references are needed.

See the slide deck below for more information.

• << Previous: Missing Reference Information
• Next: Annotated Bibliographies >>
• Last Updated: Apr 24, 2024 9:10 AM
• URL: https://guides.rasmussen.edu/apa

• Research Guides

Citing Business Sources in APA Style

7. citing sources in presentations.

• 1. About this guide
• 2. Citing references in-text
• 3. Citing sources in your reference list
• 4. Reference List Examples: Brock Library Business Databases
• 5. Reference List Examples: Statistical Sources
• 6. Reference List Examples: Audiovisual Sources

7.3: Using Reference Lists in Presentations

7.4: apa style powerpoint help.

• The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Style) was designed to assist writers in preparing research papers (such as journal articles) and therefore does not actually contain any guidelines on preparing powerpoint presentations according to APA Style.
• Typically, if you are required to create a presentation according to APA Style, you should clarify with your professor if he/she actually just expects you to put your in-text citations and references in APA Style.

7.1: In-text citations in Presentations

• You can cite references within the text of your presentation slide using the same APA format for in-text citations (Author, Date) as in a written essay.
• Remember to cite sources for direct quotations, paraphrased materials, and sources of facts (such as market share data in the example slide).
• Your Reference List must include the sources cited on your presentation slides.

7.2: Using Images on Slides

If you use images, such as photographs or clipart, on your slides, you should also credit the source of the image. Do not reproduce images without permission. There are sources for clipart and images that are "public use" according to Creative Commons licensing such as:

• Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
• Google Advanced Image Search allows you so filter results by usage rights (e.g., free to use or share):  https://www.google.com/advanced_image_search
• ClipSafari:  https://www.clipsafari.com
• Openclipart.org:  https://openclipart.org/
• Noun Project:  https://thenounproject.com   (free membership, must give credit to creator of icon following a specific format)

Photographs are treated as figures in APA Style. Therefore, the citation for the source of the image is included as a footnote in the figure caption underneath the photograph which includes the figure number and a description. The source of the image obtained is attributed using the following model:

Figure 1. Blah blah blah. From Title of Image , by Author, Year. Retrieved from URL.

Figure 1. Photograph of a sculpture in Cupertino, California. From Infinite Loop II by Kurafire (2007, January 3).  Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/kurafire/343629962/.

Another option for citing image sources is to create a separate slide titled "Photo credits" or "Image Sources". For more assistance on the various ways to cite images in presentations (but not necessarily in APA format), see:

• Image Citation Guide (UBC Copyright Office)
• How to credit photos (Photoshare.org). Provides examples of various ways to credit image sources in Powerpoint, on webpages, and in print materials.
• How to cite clip art or stock image references (APA Style website) Consult the APA Style site for the latest guidance on how to cite images according to the 7th edition.

Option 1: Create a References handout (recommended)

Option 2: Create a References slide (if you only have a few items in your list)

• use a large enough font (e.g., 24 points)
• limit to 12 lines of text on each slide

• Power up your PowerPoint (gradPSYCH at APA.org) Seven research-backed tips for effective presentations. Includes links to digital extras: "the worst PowerPoint presentation ever made" and "Comedian Don McMillan's PowerPoint pet peeves".
• << Previous: 6. Reference List Examples: Audiovisual Sources
• Last Updated: Apr 17, 2024 8:34 AM
• URL: https://researchguides.library.brocku.ca/APABusiness

APA Citation Guide (7th edition) : Powerpoint Presentations

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On this Page

Powerpoint presentations - what do i need to cite, powerpoint presentations - where do my citations go, other digital assignments - where do my citations go, quick rules for an apa reference list.

Your research paper ends with a list of all the sources cited in the text of the paper. Here are nine quick rules for this Reference list.

• Start a new page for your Reference list. Centre the title, References, at the top of the page.
• Double-space the list.
• Start the first line of each reference at the left margin; indent each subsequent line five spaces (a hanging indent).
• Put your list in alphabetical order. Alphabetize the list by the first word in the reference. In most cases, the first word will be the author’s last name. Where the author is unknown, alphabetize by the first word in the title, ignoring the words a, an, the.
• For each author, give the last name followed by a comma and the first (and middle, if listed) initials followed by periods.
• Italicize the titles of these works: books, audiovisual material, internet documents and newspapers, and the title and volume number of journals and magazines.
• Do not italicize titles of most parts of works, such as: articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals / essays, poems, short stories or chapter titles from a book / chapters or sections of an Internet document.
• In titles of non-periodicals (books, videotapes, websites, reports, poems, essays, chapters, etc), capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, and all proper nouns (names of people, places, organizations, nationalities).
• If a web source (not from the library) is not a stable archived version, or you are unsure whether it is stable, include a statement of the accessed date before the link.

What am I legally required to cite in my digital assignment?

According to the Copyright Act, you must cite the sources (images, videos, books, websites, etc.) that you used in your digital assignment ( 29.21(1)(b) ). You must cite the source (where you got the information from) and the creator of the content (if available). You must also make sure that any copyrighted materials you used in your assignment meet the conditions set out in section  29.21  of the Copyright Act. For a list of conditions and more information, please visit:  http://studentcopyright.wordpress.com/mashups/

What citation style do I use for the sources in my digital assignment?

There is no one required citation style, so please defer to your instructor's directions and citation style preference.

List your sources in a slide at the end of the Powerpoint presentation, with footnotes throughout your presentation as applicable.

You could also provide a print copy of the sources you used to those attending your presentation.

Seneca Libraries has the following recommendations for how to organize your list of sources for digital assignments. Please check with your instructor first:

Videos you create: 

List your sources in a credits screen at the end of the video.

Websites you create:

• For images, include a citation under each image using this format “From: XXXX” and then make the image a link back to the original image ( example  - picture of little girl). Or list the citation at the bottom of the web page.
• For quotes or material from other sources, include an in-text citation that links back to the original material ( example  – second paragraph).

Images you create: 

If possible list your sources at the bottom or side of the image ( example ). Otherwise, include a list of citations alongside the image wherever it’s uploaded (e.g. Flickr, Blackboard).

**Please note that the above are recommendations only and your instructor may have a preference and directions for how and where you list your sources for your assignment.**

If you don't receive specific instructions from your instructor, try to include your citations in a way that doesn't impact the design of your digital assignment.

For more information please contact Seneca Libraries copyright team at  [email protected]

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• Last Updated: Apr 15, 2024 11:26 AM
• URL: https://columbiacollege-ca.libguides.com/apa

APA Style, 7th Edition

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APA for PowerPoint Presentations

Using powerpoint for beginners.

The APA manual does not have a section on how to format a PowerPoint presentation, but y ou can follow APA style guidelines within your PowerPoint . For example:

• Include the same information on your title slide that you would have on a title page. 
• Include in-text citations for any quote, paraphrase, image, graph, table, data, audio or video file that you use within your presentation. Please note that photographs are considered figures in APA style. 
• The last slide will be your References List. 
• “No citation, permission, or copyright attribution is necessary for clip art from programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint” (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020, p. 346).
• Do not reproduce images without permission from the creator or owner of the image. See section 12.15 of the APA manual for more information about this.

Resource: Goodwin University Library. 2019. How to format a PowerPoint presentation in APA Style. Goodwin University.   https://goodwin.libguides.com/apastyle   

• Citing Business Sources in APA Style Brock University's guide to citing business information sources according the the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition. Includes citing sources in presentations
• << Previous: Additional APA Resources
• Last Updated: Feb 14, 2024 12:39 PM
• URL: https://hallmark.libguides.com/apa7

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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In-Text Citation or Reference List?

Handouts distributed in class and presentation slides such as PowerPoint should be cited both in-text and on the Reference list.

Your own notes from lectures are considered personal communications in APA style. They are cited within the text of your assignment, but do not get an entry on the Reference list.

Presentation Slides from a Website

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title of presentation  [Lecture notes, PowerPoint Slides, etc.]. Publisher. URL

Kunka, J. L. (n.d.). Conquering the comma [PowerPoint presentation]. Purdue Online Writing Lab. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/pp/index.html#presentations

Presentation Slides from WebCampus (Canvas)

Instructor, I. I. (Year Presentation Was Created).  Title of presentation  [PowerPoint presentation]. WebCampus. URL

Graham, J. (2013).  Introduction: Jean Watson  [PowerPoint presentation]. WebCampus. https://unr.instructure.com/login/canvas

Note : The first letter of the word Watson is capitalized as it is part of a person's name.

Class Handouts from WebCampus (Canvas)

Instructor, I. I. (Year Handout Was Created if known).  Title of handout  [Class handout]. WebCampus. URL

Magowan , A. (2013).  Career resources at the library   [Class handout]. WebCampus. https://unr.instructure.com/login/canvas

Class Handout in Print

Instructor, I. I. (Year Handout Was Created if known).  Title of handout  [Class handout]. University Name, Course code.

Wood, D. (2013).  Laboratory safety overview  [Class handout]. University of Nevada, Reno,  BIO173.

Class Lectures (Notes from)

Note : Your own notes from a lecture are considered personal communications in APA style. They are cited within the text of your assignment, but do not get an entry on the Reference list. Put the citation right after a quote or paraphrased content from the class lecture.

(I. I. Instructor who gave lecture, personal communication, Month Day, Year lecture took place)

"Infections are often contracted while patients are recovering in the hospital" (J. D. Black, personal communication, May 30, 2012).

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources / How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA, MLA or Chicago

How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA, MLA or Chicago

Let’s be honest: Sometimes the best information for a paper comes straight from a professor’s PowerPoint presentation. But did you know that source needs to be cited?

Whether you’re making use of your instructor’s lecture materials or pulling information from a Powerpoint found online, you need to make sure to cite your sources if you use information from it in a project or paper.

Here’s a run -t hrough of everything this page includes:  

• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in MLA format
• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA format
• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in Chicago Style

By now, you’re probably familiar with how to cite websites, books or journal articles, but not as knowledgeable about how to cite a Powerpoint presentation. In actuality, citing PowerPoint presentations aren’t all that different from citing written materials, so don’t let yourself be phased! It’s not too hard and compiling an MLA works cited or APA reference page doesn’t take too long—each one should take just a few minutes to create.

To help you with the process, we’ve put together a handy guide demonstrating how to cite a PowerPoint presentation in three commonly used citation styles: MLA, APA and Chicago.

Let’s start by looking for basic information you’ll need for the citation.

Information you may need to cite a PowerPoint Presentation:

• Author or authors of the presentation
• Presentation title
• Date of publication/presentation
• Place of publication/where the presentation was given
• URL (if used to locate the presentation)

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in MLA format:

MLA format citation structure:

Author Last Name, First Name. Presentation Title. Month Year, URL. PowerPoint Presentation.

Example citation :

Park, Lisa. Effective Working Teams . Jan. 2011, https://www.company.meetings/teams. PowerPoint Presentation.

In-text citation structure:

(Last Name)

Example in-text citation:

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA format:  

APA reference structure:

Author or Presenter Last Name, Middle Initial. First Initial. (Date of publication). Title of presentation [PowerPoint presentation]. Conference Name, Location. URL

Example reference:

Park, L. (2011, March 24-28). Effective working teams [PowerPoint presentation]. Regional Dairy Workers National Conference, New York, NY, United States. https://www.company.meetings/teams

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in Chicago Style:

Chicago citation structure:

Author Last Name, First Name. “Presentation Title.” Lecture, Location of Lecture, Month Day, Year.

Example citation:

Park, Lisa. “Effective Working Teams.” Lecture, The Plaza Hotel, New York, NY, January 11, 2011.

Troubleshooting

Solution #1: how to cite a powerpoint that has multiple authors..

For a presentation with multiple authors, list the authors alphabetically by last name for the full reference citation. The citation will list each author by Last Name, First Initial.

If the PowerPoint has just two authors, separate them with a comma and an ampersand (&). If the PowerPoint has more than two authors, list the authors separated by commas.

Reference examples:

Felner, D., & Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Felner, D., Nguy, A., Becham, G. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

For an in-text citation for two authors, give both surnames separated by an ampersand (&) followed by a comma and the year of publication or presentation.

For an in-text citation for three or more authors, list the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” followed by a comma and the year of publication or presentation.

In-text citation examples:

(Felner & Nguy, 2021)

(Felner et al., 2021)

For a PowerPoint with two presenters or authors, include both names in the full works-cited citation. The names need to be written as follows: First presenter’s Last Name, First Name, and then the second presenter’s First Name and Last Name.

For an in-text citation, simply list the surnames of both presenters.

In-text citation example:

(Nguy and Felner)

Work-cited entry example:

Nguy, Anna and Dominic Felner. The History of Claymation. Apr. 2021. PowerPoint Presentation.

For a PowerPoint with three or more presenters, only list one presenter’s name followed by a comma and “et al.”

For an in-text citation for three or more authors or presenters , list the surname given in the full works-cited citation followed by “et al.”

(Nguy et al.)

Nguy, Anna et al. The History of Claymation. Apr. 2021. PowerPoint Presentation.

Solution #2 How to cite a slideshow that wasn’t made with PowerPoint

If making a full works-cited citation for a slideshow that was made with another program other than PowerPoint, include the medium in brackets instead of PowerPoint.

If the presentation is not in PowerPoint, and you can’t determine what software was used, include the word “slideshow” in brackets in place of PowerPoint.

Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Prezi presentation]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

The in-text citation will be formatted like any other APA in-text citation (author last name, year).

(Nguy, 2021)

At the end of your full works-cited citation, include the program the slideshow was made with, formatted as:  ______ Presentation.

If you are uncertain of the program used, end your citation with “slideshow” followed by a period. Nguy, Anna. The history of Claymation. Apr. 2021. Prezi Presentation. Nguy, Anna. The history of Claymation . Apr. 2021. Slideshow.

The in-text citation will be formatted like any other MLA in-text citation (author last name).

Hello all paper writers! Take a moment to try our spell checker , or refresh your knowledge on English basics with our EasyBib grammar guides ! Discover a determiner definition , learn what is an adverb , review an interjection list , and more.   

Updated April 26, 2021.

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To cite PowerPoint presentation slides, include the author name, year/date of presentation, the title, the source description, the website and/or university name, and the URL where the source can be found.

If the PowerPoint presentation is not accessible to the reader, cite the slides as personal communication.

If you want to cite a PowerPoint in MLA or APA style, you need to have basic information including the name of the author(s), title of the presentation, date and place of publication, and URL. For in-text citations, you need to include only the author name(s) in MLA style and author name(s) and year in APA style.  

APA in-text citations

(Author Surname, publication year)

(Dhanalakshmi, 2004)

MLA in-text citations

(Author Surname)

(Dhanalakshmi)

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How to Cite References to Make Your Presentation More Polished

We all know we should cite references when we write a paper, whether for a blog, a professional office or for our lecturers. However, when it comes to presentations, the need to include references becomes less clear. Is it appropriate to cite references to your presentation? And if so, how do you go about it?

Should a presentation contain references? Whether your presentation is oral or visual, you should always cite your references. This shows your audience that you have done extensive research and that you are giving credit to the sources that were cited instead of engaging in plagiarism.

When it comes to presentations, most presenters are unsure whether to cite references and where to put them. This article will explain why including references in any presentation is essential. It will also show you how to cite references in both visual and oral presentations.

Does a presentation need to cite references?

Before we begin discussing how to cite references in your presentation, you should understand why. If you don’t understand why you should include your sources, you may feel that it is an unnecessary component of the presentation, taking up more of your time than you would like.

You should always include references in your presentations for three reasons:

1. It shows your audience that you have done extensive research.

If you are listening to a presentation and the presenter does not have any sources, you will wonder if the presenter n telling the truth. However, if the presenter cites numerous sources, you know that they have done an extensive research to get the most accurate and truthful information available.

2. It gives credit where credit is due.

When you choose to use a source, it is because that source is good. It is loaded with information that you must place in your presentation because you want everyone to hear it. Therefore, when you mention this information, you should give credit where credit is due.

3. It avoids plagiarism.

Plagiarism is an offense in any type of information presentation. Stealing someone else’s work is not only illegal but also unprofessional. Nobody respects plagiarism, no matter where they see it, and your presentation is no exception. Do the right thing and avoid plagiarism by including references in your presentations at all times.

Adding references to your presentation is critical for several different reasons. However, trying to decide when and where to place your references can be challenging. Having the right placement and writing it correctly can make all the difference between a high-quality presentation and one that looks a little incomplete.

How to include references in your presentation

Whether you choose a visual or oral presentation, it is always a good idea to provide references. Some references, however, may appear more untidy and unprofessional than others. You must familiarize yourself with the best ways to cite references in both oral and visual presentations.

Oral presentation

Adding a reference to an oral presentation is a bit trickier than a visual presentation. But it is not impossible. Here are some great tips from “ Citing Sources in an Oral Presentation ” that you can use.

1. Cite your reference during your oral presentation.

The easiest way to quote a reference during an oral presentation is to say the name of the author or the source before you mention their comment or sentence. You may also want to say ‘quote’ when starting the quote and ‘end quote’ immediately when finished. Always keep things simple, brief, and to the point.

For example: if you are citing something a professor from a particular university said, you would say “According to James X from X University, quote (content) end quote.” This gives your listeners a clear and straightforward view of where you got the quote from.

2. Include a printed list of references.

It can be difficult to remember all the different references you get your information from during an oral presentation. To make it easier for your listeners, you can print out a list of references to give credit to those whom you have referenced.

This list can be used with your oral citing, although your listeners may not know which quote is accompanied by which source. You can make it easier by presenting your information in the order your sources are listed on your printed list.

Visual presentation

It is easier to add references to a visual presentation than it is to an oral one, but it is no less important. With the assistance of Brock University’s Citing Business Sources in APA Style, we have prepared a list of techniques to add citations and references to your PowerPoint.

1. Add references at the bottom of the page.

The best way to add references to your PowerPoint presentation is to add them at the bottom of the page. This way, your viewers can see exactly where your quotes are coming from. If you have multiple references on one page, you can divide them up by using numbers at the end of the sentence. Remember, they should directly correlate with the number and names listed.

2. Add the references next to the information.

You can also put your references immediately next to the information, although too much of this can look sloppy. However, it does make it easier for your viewers to see your references.

3. Type the reference information in smaller text.

Making the text of the information smaller but still legible is an easy way to show your viewers that this information was gathered by someone other than you. Just remember to place the actual reference somewhere on your PowerPoint.

4. Add a list of references at the end of your presentation.

Finally, you can always add a page at the end of your PowerPoint solely for references. With this option, you will want to pinpoint where the citation was used in your PowerPoint, so viewers have a better understanding of who said what.

5. When working with images, videos, and other media, put the references in parentheses near the material.

Even visual aids used in your presentation should be referenced. This can be done by adding the reference in parentheses underneath or next to the media. You may also want to include the publication date and title of the media to give your viewers more information.

As you can see, there are many options when it comes to citing references. Choose the best option that is right for you and your PowerPoint presentation. Consider watching How to Cite Sources in PowerPoint (YouTube video) for more information on how to cite references in your PowerPoint presentation. You may also want to read How to Cite Images in PowerPoint (Wikihow article).

Any presentation that uses information from someone else should have cited sources. Citing references is incredibly important for many reasons. When you cite references, you give credit where credit is due, avoid plagiarism, and ultimately, make your presentation more polished and professional.

Latest Posts

How to Cite References in PowerPoint

When creating PowerPoint presentations, it is essential to include references to any outside sources used in your research. This not only gives credit to the original authors but helps with maintaining credibility and authority in the eyes of your audience. In this article, we will explore the importance of citing references in PowerPoint and provide a detailed guide on how to do so correctly.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Importance of Citing References in PowerPoint Presentations

Citing references is vital in PowerPoint presentations as it helps to avoid plagiarism, which is the act of using someone else’s work without their permission and passing it off as your own. Plagiarism is a serious offense that can lead to legal consequences and a loss of credibility with your audience. Additionally, citing references shows that you have done thorough research and have taken the time to credit the original authors properly.

Another important reason to cite references in PowerPoint presentations is to provide your audience with additional resources for further reading and research. By citing your sources, you are giving credit to the authors and acknowledging their contribution to your presentation. This can also help to build your own credibility as a presenter, as it shows that you have done your due diligence in researching the topic.

Furthermore, citing references can also help to strengthen your argument and support your claims. By including credible sources, you are providing evidence to back up your statements and making your presentation more persuasive. This can be especially important in academic or professional settings, where your audience may be looking for evidence-based information to inform their own decisions or research.

The Different Citation Styles Used in PowerPoint Presentations

There are three primary citation styles used in PowerPoint presentations: APA, MLA, and Chicago. Each style has its own set of rules for citing sources, and it is essential to choose the one that best fits your presentation’s requirements.

It is important to note that the citation style you choose can also depend on the subject matter of your presentation. For example, if you are presenting on a topic in the humanities, MLA may be the best choice, while APA may be more appropriate for a presentation on a scientific subject. Additionally, it is crucial to ensure that you are citing your sources correctly to avoid plagiarism and give credit where it is due.

Tips for Choosing the Right Citation Style for Your PowerPoint Presentation

When choosing a citation style, you need to consider the type of sources you will be citing, the length of your presentation, and the requirements of your audience. For example, if you are presenting to an academic audience, you may want to use the APA style since it is commonly used in the social sciences, whereas the MLA style is commonly used in the humanities.

It is also important to note that some citation styles may require more detailed information than others. For instance, the Chicago style may require you to include the publication date, publisher, and place of publication, while the Harvard style, which is a commonly used author-date referencing style, may only require the author’s name and year of publication. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a citation style that is appropriate for the sources you are using and the level of detail required by your audience.

How to Create In-Text Citations in PowerPoint Presentations

In-text citations are used to give credit to the original sources within the body of your presentation. They usually consist of the author’s last name and the publication date enclosed in parentheses, e.g., (Smith, 1995). To create an in-text citation in PowerPoint, you will need to manually insert the relevant details in the text box where you want the citation to appear.

It is important to note that in-text citations should be used whenever you are presenting information that is not your own. This includes direct quotes, paraphrased information, and even ideas that are not common knowledge. Failure to properly cite your sources can result in accusations of plagiarism, which can have serious consequences.

Another helpful tip when creating in-text citations in PowerPoint is to make sure that the citation is easily visible to your audience. This can be achieved by using a larger font size or a different color for the citation text. Additionally, you may want to include a reference slide at the end of your presentation that lists all of the sources you used, in order to provide your audience with a complete list of references.

Understanding the Basics of Bibliography and Reference List Creation

A bibliography or reference list is used to provide the full details of all the sources used in your presentation. The reference list is usually placed at the end of the presentation and is organized alphabetically, according to the author’s last name. Each reference entry includes information about the author, the publication date, the title of the work, and the source’s publication information.

It is important to note that there are different citation styles that may be used for creating a bibliography or reference list. The most commonly used citation styles include APA, MLA, and Chicago. Each style has its own set of rules and guidelines for formatting and citing sources. It is important to check with your instructor or supervisor to determine which citation style should be used for your presentation.

How to Create a Reference List in PowerPoint Presentations

Creating a reference list in PowerPoint is relatively simple. You can manually add new sources to a dedicated slide at the end of your presentation. Be sure to double-check your entries for accuracy and completeness of information.

It is important to note that the style of your reference list should match the style of your presentation. If you are using APA style, for example, your reference list should follow the guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Association. Similarly, if you are using MLA style, your reference list should follow the guidelines set forth by the Modern Language Association.

Another important consideration when creating a reference list in PowerPoint is to make sure that you are citing your sources correctly. This means including all necessary information, such as the author’s name, publication date, and title of the work, as well as properly formatting the citation according to the style you are using. Failure to do so can result in plagiarism or other ethical violations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Citing References in PowerPoint Presentations

While citing references is relatively straightforward, there are some common mistakes that you should avoid. These include using incorrect citation styles, failing to provide complete and accurate information, and using outdated or unreliable sources. Always take the time to double-check your references to ensure that they are correct and up-to-date.

Another common mistake to avoid when citing references in PowerPoint presentations is not citing sources at all. It is important to give credit to the original authors of any information or ideas that you use in your presentation. Failure to do so can result in accusations of plagiarism and damage to your credibility as a presenter. Make sure to include proper citations for all sources used, including images and graphs.

Best Practices for Citing Online Sources in PowerPoint Presentations

When citing online sources, you need to pay close attention to the source’s date of publication and the URL or DOI address. Additionally, you should ensure that the website you are citing is reliable and authoritative. When in doubt, consider using other sources or consulting with a subject expert to verify the information.

It is also important to properly format your citations in your PowerPoint presentation. Use a consistent citation style, such as APA or MLA, and include all necessary information, such as the author’s name, title of the article or webpage, and date of publication. You can use in-text citations or footnotes to provide additional information about your sources.

How to Use Footnotes and Endnotes in PowerPoint Presentations for Proper Referencing

Footnotes and endnotes are alternative methods of citing references within a presentation. These are often used when the citation information is too long to fit within the body of the slide or when the presentation’s style requires it. To use footnotes or endnotes, you need to manually insert the citation at the bottom of the slide and use a number or symbol to link it to the relevant text.

It is important to note that when using footnotes or endnotes in a PowerPoint presentation, you should keep them concise and relevant to the information being presented. Overuse of footnotes or endnotes can distract the audience from the main content of the presentation. Additionally, it is recommended to use a consistent style for citing references throughout the presentation to maintain a professional and organized appearance.

The Role of Plagiarism Checkers when Citing References in PowerPoint

Plagiarism checkers can help to ensure your presentation’s originality and quality by detecting any instances of plagiarism. Many online tools are available that can quickly analyze your presentation’s content and provide a report on any potential plagiarism issues. While these tools are not foolproof, they are an excellent way to double-check your work and ensure that all sources have been cited correctly.

How to Format Your Citations and References Correctly in PowerPoint

Proper formatting is essential when citing references in PowerPoint presentations. Your citations should be consistent, accurate, and follow the guidelines of the chosen citation style. Additionally, your reference list should be well-organized and presented in a clear and readable format that allows your audience to access the sources easily.

Understanding Copyright Laws and Citation Requirements When Creating Content for PowerPoint

When creating content for your PowerPoint presentation, it is crucial to ensure that you comply with all relevant copyright laws and citation requirements. This includes obtaining permission to use any copyrighted material and citing all sources accurately and fully. Failure to do so can result in legal consequences and damage to your professional reputation.

How to Use High-Quality Graphics and Images as Visual References in Your Presentation

Visual aids such as graphics and images can be incredibly beneficial in PowerPoint presentations, not only to illustrate your points effectively but also to provide visual references to the sources used in your research. When using graphics or images, be sure to cite them correctly within the body of your presentation and provide a caption or source note to ensure your audience knows where the image came from.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Citing References in Your PowerPoint Presentations

Citing references is an essential part of creating high-quality and credible PowerPoint presentations. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that your presentations are professional, well-researched, and meet all required citation standards. Take the time to master the art of referencing, and your audience will appreciate the effort you put into your work.

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Open Access

Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliation Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America

• Kristen M. Naegle

Published: December 2, 2021

• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009554
• Reader Comments

Citation: Naegle KM (2021) Ten simple rules for effective presentation slides. PLoS Comput Biol 17(12): e1009554. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009554

Copyright: © 2021 Kristen M. Naegle. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding: The author received no specific funding for this work.

Competing interests: The author has declared no competing interests exist.

Introduction

The “presentation slide” is the building block of all academic presentations, whether they are journal clubs, thesis committee meetings, short conference talks, or hour-long seminars. A slide is a single page projected on a screen, usually built on the premise of a title, body, and figures or tables and includes both what is shown and what is spoken about that slide. Multiple slides are strung together to tell the larger story of the presentation. While there have been excellent 10 simple rules on giving entire presentations [ 1 , 2 ], there was an absence in the fine details of how to design a slide for optimal effect—such as the design elements that allow slides to convey meaningful information, to keep the audience engaged and informed, and to deliver the information intended and in the time frame allowed. As all research presentations seek to teach, effective slide design borrows from the same principles as effective teaching, including the consideration of cognitive processing your audience is relying on to organize, process, and retain information. This is written for anyone who needs to prepare slides from any length scale and for most purposes of conveying research to broad audiences. The rules are broken into 3 primary areas. Rules 1 to 5 are about optimizing the scope of each slide. Rules 6 to 8 are about principles around designing elements of the slide. Rules 9 to 10 are about preparing for your presentation, with the slides as the central focus of that preparation.

Rule 1: Include only one idea per slide

Each slide should have one central objective to deliver—the main idea or question [ 3 – 5 ]. Often, this means breaking complex ideas down into manageable pieces (see Fig 1 , where “background” information has been split into 2 key concepts). In another example, if you are presenting a complex computational approach in a large flow diagram, introduce it in smaller units, building it up until you finish with the entire diagram. The progressive buildup of complex information means that audiences are prepared to understand the whole picture, once you have dedicated time to each of the parts. You can accomplish the buildup of components in several ways—for example, using presentation software to cover/uncover information. Personally, I choose to create separate slides for each piece of information content I introduce—where the final slide has the entire diagram, and I use cropping or a cover on duplicated slides that come before to hide what I’m not yet ready to include. I use this method in order to ensure that each slide in my deck truly presents one specific idea (the new content) and the amount of the new information on that slide can be described in 1 minute (Rule 2), but it comes with the trade-off—a change to the format of one of the slides in the series often means changes to all slides.

• PPT PowerPoint slide
• PNG larger image
• TIFF original image

Top left: A background slide that describes the background material on a project from my lab. The slide was created using a PowerPoint Design Template, which had to be modified to increase default text sizes for this figure (i.e., the default text sizes are even worse than shown here). Bottom row: The 2 new slides that break up the content into 2 explicit ideas about the background, using a central graphic. In the first slide, the graphic is an explicit example of the SH2 domain of PI3-kinase interacting with a phosphorylation site (Y754) on the PDGFR to describe the important details of what an SH2 domain and phosphotyrosine ligand are and how they interact. I use that same graphic in the second slide to generalize all binding events and include redundant text to drive home the central message (a lot of possible interactions might occur in the human proteome, more than we can currently measure). Top right highlights which rules were used to move from the original slide to the new slide. Specific changes as highlighted by Rule 7 include increasing contrast by changing the background color, increasing font size, changing to sans serif fonts, and removing all capital text and underlining (using bold to draw attention). PDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptor.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009554.g001

Rule 2: Spend only 1 minute per slide

When you present your slide in the talk, it should take 1 minute or less to discuss. This rule is really helpful for planning purposes—a 20-minute presentation should have somewhere around 20 slides. Also, frequently giving your audience new information to feast on helps keep them engaged. During practice, if you find yourself spending more than a minute on a slide, there’s too much for that one slide—it’s time to break up the content into multiple slides or even remove information that is not wholly central to the story you are trying to tell. Reduce, reduce, reduce, until you get to a single message, clearly described, which takes less than 1 minute to present.

Rule 3: Make use of your heading

When each slide conveys only one message, use the heading of that slide to write exactly the message you are trying to deliver. Instead of titling the slide “Results,” try “CTNND1 is central to metastasis” or “False-positive rates are highly sample specific.” Use this landmark signpost to ensure that all the content on that slide is related exactly to the heading and only the heading. Think of the slide heading as the introductory or concluding sentence of a paragraph and the slide content the rest of the paragraph that supports the main point of the paragraph. An audience member should be able to follow along with you in the “paragraph” and come to the same conclusion sentence as your header at the end of the slide.

Rule 4: Include only essential points

While you are speaking, audience members’ eyes and minds will be wandering over your slide. If you have a comment, detail, or figure on a slide, have a plan to explicitly identify and talk about it. If you don’t think it’s important enough to spend time on, then don’t have it on your slide. This is especially important when faculty are present. I often tell students that thesis committee members are like cats: If you put a shiny bauble in front of them, they’ll go after it. Be sure to only put the shiny baubles on slides that you want them to focus on. Putting together a thesis meeting for only faculty is really an exercise in herding cats (if you have cats, you know this is no easy feat). Clear and concise slide design will go a long way in helping you corral those easily distracted faculty members.

Rule 5: Give credit, where credit is due

An exception to Rule 4 is to include proper citations or references to work on your slide. When adding citations, names of other researchers, or other types of credit, use a consistent style and method for adding this information to your slides. Your audience will then be able to easily partition this information from the other content. A common mistake people make is to think “I’ll add that reference later,” but I highly recommend you put the proper reference on the slide at the time you make it, before you forget where it came from. Finally, in certain kinds of presentations, credits can make it clear who did the work. For the faculty members heading labs, it is an effective way to connect your audience with the personnel in the lab who did the work, which is a great career booster for that person. For graduate students, it is an effective way to delineate your contribution to the work, especially in meetings where the goal is to establish your credentials for meeting the rigors of a PhD checkpoint.

Rule 6: Use graphics effectively

As a rule, you should almost never have slides that only contain text. Build your slides around good visualizations. It is a visual presentation after all, and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. However, on the flip side, don’t muddy the point of the slide by putting too many complex graphics on a single slide. A multipanel figure that you might include in a manuscript should often be broken into 1 panel per slide (see Rule 1 ). One way to ensure that you use the graphics effectively is to make a point to introduce the figure and its elements to the audience verbally, especially for data figures. For example, you might say the following: “This graph here shows the measured false-positive rate for an experiment and each point is a replicate of the experiment, the graph demonstrates …” If you have put too much on one slide to present in 1 minute (see Rule 2 ), then the complexity or number of the visualizations is too much for just one slide.

Rule 7: Design to avoid cognitive overload

The type of slide elements, the number of them, and how you present them all impact the ability for the audience to intake, organize, and remember the content. For example, a frequent mistake in slide design is to include full sentences, but reading and verbal processing use the same cognitive channels—therefore, an audience member can either read the slide, listen to you, or do some part of both (each poorly), as a result of cognitive overload [ 4 ]. The visual channel is separate, allowing images/videos to be processed with auditory information without cognitive overload [ 6 ] (Rule 6). As presentations are an exercise in listening, and not reading, do what you can to optimize the ability of the audience to listen. Use words sparingly as “guide posts” to you and the audience about major points of the slide. In fact, you can add short text fragments, redundant with the verbal component of the presentation, which has been shown to improve retention [ 7 ] (see Fig 1 for an example of redundant text that avoids cognitive overload). Be careful in the selection of a slide template to minimize accidentally adding elements that the audience must process, but are unimportant. David JP Phillips argues (and effectively demonstrates in his TEDx talk [ 5 ]) that the human brain can easily interpret 6 elements and more than that requires a 500% increase in human cognition load—so keep the total number of elements on the slide to 6 or less. Finally, in addition to the use of short text, white space, and the effective use of graphics/images, you can improve ease of cognitive processing further by considering color choices and font type and size. Here are a few suggestions for improving the experience for your audience, highlighting the importance of these elements for some specific groups:

• Use high contrast colors and simple backgrounds with low to no color—for persons with dyslexia or visual impairment.
• Use sans serif fonts and large font sizes (including figure legends), avoid italics, underlining (use bold font instead for emphasis), and all capital letters—for persons with dyslexia or visual impairment [ 8 ].
• Use color combinations and palettes that can be understood by those with different forms of color blindness [ 9 ]. There are excellent tools available to identify colors to use and ways to simulate your presentation or figures as they might be seen by a person with color blindness (easily found by a web search).
• In this increasing world of virtual presentation tools, consider practicing your talk with a closed captioning system capture your words. Use this to identify how to improve your speaking pace, volume, and annunciation to improve understanding by all members of your audience, but especially those with a hearing impairment.

Rule 8: Design the slide so that a distracted person gets the main takeaway

It is very difficult to stay focused on a presentation, especially if it is long or if it is part of a longer series of talks at a conference. Audience members may get distracted by an important email, or they may start dreaming of lunch. So, it’s important to look at your slide and ask “If they heard nothing I said, will they understand the key concept of this slide?” The other rules are set up to help with this, including clarity of the single point of the slide (Rule 1), titling it with a major conclusion (Rule 3), and the use of figures (Rule 6) and short text redundant to your verbal description (Rule 7). However, with each slide, step back and ask whether its main conclusion is conveyed, even if someone didn’t hear your accompanying dialog. Importantly, ask if the information on the slide is at the right level of abstraction. For example, do you have too many details about the experiment, which hides the conclusion of the experiment (i.e., breaking Rule 1)? If you are worried about not having enough details, keep a slide at the end of your slide deck (after your conclusions and acknowledgments) with the more detailed information that you can refer to during a question and answer period.

Rule 9: Iteratively improve slide design through practice

Well-designed slides that follow the first 8 rules are intended to help you deliver the message you intend and in the amount of time you intend to deliver it in. The best way to ensure that you nailed slide design for your presentation is to practice, typically a lot. The most important aspects of practicing a new presentation, with an eye toward slide design, are the following 2 key points: (1) practice to ensure that you hit, each time through, the most important points (for example, the text guide posts you left yourself and the title of the slide); and (2) practice to ensure that as you conclude the end of one slide, it leads directly to the next slide. Slide transitions, what you say as you end one slide and begin the next, are important to keeping the flow of the “story.” Practice is when I discover that the order of my presentation is poor or that I left myself too few guideposts to remember what was coming next. Additionally, during practice, the most frequent things I have to improve relate to Rule 2 (the slide takes too long to present, usually because I broke Rule 1, and I’m delivering too much information for one slide), Rule 4 (I have a nonessential detail on the slide), and Rule 5 (I forgot to give a key reference). The very best type of practice is in front of an audience (for example, your lab or peers), where, with fresh perspectives, they can help you identify places for improving slide content, design, and connections across the entirety of your talk.

Rule 10: Design to mitigate the impact of technical disasters

The real presentation almost never goes as we planned in our heads or during our practice. Maybe the speaker before you went over time and now you need to adjust. Maybe the computer the organizer is having you use won’t show your video. Maybe your internet is poor on the day you are giving a virtual presentation at a conference. Technical problems are routinely part of the practice of sharing your work through presentations. Hence, you can design your slides to limit the impact certain kinds of technical disasters create and also prepare alternate approaches. Here are just a few examples of the preparation you can do that will take you a long way toward avoiding a complete fiasco:

• Save your presentation as a PDF—if the version of Keynote or PowerPoint on a host computer cause issues, you still have a functional copy that has a higher guarantee of compatibility.
• In using videos, create a backup slide with screen shots of key results. For example, if I have a video of cell migration, I’ll be sure to have a copy of the start and end of the video, in case the video doesn’t play. Even if the video worked, you can pause on this backup slide and take the time to highlight the key results in words if someone could not see or understand the video.
• Avoid animations, such as figures or text that flash/fly-in/etc. Surveys suggest that no one likes movement in presentations [ 3 , 4 ]. There is likely a cognitive underpinning to the almost universal distaste of pointless animations that relates to the idea proposed by Kosslyn and colleagues that animations are salient perceptual units that captures direct attention [ 4 ]. Although perceptual salience can be used to draw attention to and improve retention of specific points, if you use this approach for unnecessary/unimportant things (like animation of your bullet point text, fly-ins of figures, etc.), then you will distract your audience from the important content. Finally, animations cause additional processing burdens for people with visual impairments [ 10 ] and create opportunities for technical disasters if the software on the host system is not compatible with your planned animation.

Conclusions

These rules are just a start in creating more engaging presentations that increase audience retention of your material. However, there are wonderful resources on continuing on the journey of becoming an amazing public speaker, which includes understanding the psychology and neuroscience behind human perception and learning. For example, as highlighted in Rule 7, David JP Phillips has a wonderful TEDx talk on the subject [ 5 ], and “PowerPoint presentation flaws and failures: A psychological analysis,” by Kosslyn and colleagues is deeply detailed about a number of aspects of human cognition and presentation style [ 4 ]. There are many books on the topic, including the popular “Presentation Zen” by Garr Reynolds [ 11 ]. Finally, although briefly touched on here, the visualization of data is an entire topic of its own that is worth perfecting for both written and oral presentations of work, with fantastic resources like Edward Tufte’s “The Visual Display of Quantitative Information” [ 12 ] or the article “Visualization of Biomedical Data” by O’Donoghue and colleagues [ 13 ].

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the countless presenters, colleagues, students, and mentors from which I have learned a great deal from on effective presentations. Also, a thank you to the wonderful resources published by organizations on how to increase inclusivity. A special thanks to Dr. Jason Papin and Dr. Michael Guertin on early feedback of this editorial.

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• 11. Reynolds G. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. 2nd ed. New Riders Pub; 2011.
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Does A Presentation Need References?

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation

The importance of including references is pretty obvious while you’re writing a research paper or article, be it for handing over to your teacher or publishing online by yourself. 

But what about a presentation? Do you still need to include references in your presentation? Are references in a presentation a necessity or merely a redundancy? If they’re an important part of the presentation, just how do you go about including them? 

Confusing, I know.

But that’s what this article is for! 

Now, time to answer the big questions…

Should A Presentation Contain References? 

Yes, absolutely. 

Referencing is a way to add credence to the claims and statements in your presentation by providing evidence of where you’ve sourced them from. There are millions and millions of places from which you can discover the references you wish to include in your presentation. 

If you’re going to be delivering a presentation in a professional or formal setting like a school or workplace, you should try to always include references in your presentation. This shows your audience that you have done your research and that you are crediting the source of your hard work instead of plagiarized stuff.

By citing the work of another author, you acknowledge and respect the hard work and intellectual property of another writer. This is a marker of trust and respect not just for the author you’re citing, but also for yourself. So to sum it up, adding references to your presentation, especially if it’s a formal one, is a good idea. 

Why You Need To Add References To Your Presentation 

Now that we know that referencing is an important part of any presentation, let’s move onto the next big question: why is it so important to include references in your presentation? There are many reasons for this, some of which I’ve listed below. 

1. Proof That You’ve Done Your Research 

As mentioned above, adding references to a presentation lets the audience know that you know what you’re talking about and that you’ve done your research on the topic. If you’re listening to a presentation that offers no sources at all, you might find yourself wondering: just how does this person know so-and-so to be true? Where did they get this information from? Is the information they’re giving true and reliable? 

By adding references to your presentation, you prevent this seed of doubt about your information’s authenticity from creeping into your audience’s mind. 

Now that the source of your presentation is on the table, they can turn their attention to more important stuff: your actual presentation. 

2. Helps You Filter Illegitimate Sources 

For any given topic, there are millions of articles or blogs, or other information sources on the internet that you can turn to. A common question that pops up while dealing with such a vast storehouse of resources is: how do I pick which information to include and which not to include? 

Most often, people tend to include the information that is the easiest to understand and access. However, just because an article is easy to access doesn’t necessarily mean that the information it contains is legitimate or true or based on a solid source of research work itself.

Most people often don’t bother to check the legitimacy of a source.

However, when you realize that you have the onus of providing your audience with the source of your information, the pressure to filter through all your sources and check whether they’re legit or not increases. 

After all, now you’re not the only person who’s going to know where your information is coming from. The audience will, too. 

This added responsibility works to make you more prudent while selecting which information to include in your presentation, and which to discard. 

3. Avoids Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own. If done deliberately, plagiarism is unprofessional and immoral. And even if you’re not doing it deliberately, nobody likes to see plagiarized stuff, doesn’t matter whether it’s for a project or article or in a presentation.

Indulging in plagiarism is not just morally bad, but it can also have real-life, legal repercussions, as plagiarizing someone else’s work is a legal offense. So, it’s better to stick to the safe side and add references wherever you feel it’s necessary to include them in your presentation. 

4. Gives Due Credit To The Source 

Nobody picks a source that doesn’t make sense or doesn’t add value to your presentation in any way. If you’re picking a source, it means that the source is good.

It means that they’re probably well-versed or even experts in their field, and have spent a lot of time doing their research on the topic at hand. Mentioning the source of your information, thus, is a way of acknowledging the hard work and efforts of the person behind it. It is a way of offering credit to the source where the credit is due.  

5. Helps Distinguish Your Own Ideas From Your Research 

Another reason why adding citations in a presentation is so essential is because it helps the audience distinguish between the original ideas provided by you, the presenter, and the ones that belong to someone else. 

This distinction is important, as not every piece of information that you choose to include in your presentation necessarily reflects your own point of view about the topic.

Sometimes, in fact, you might not agree with the ideas presented by a source, but you might need to provide different perspectives on a topic or simply explain something. 

Besides, another reason why it’s important to distinguish the original ideas of the presentation is because sometimes they can be unique and remarkable, and help you stand out from other presentators in terms of creativity and originality.

When the audience or the judges realize that a particular point or topic that they really like is coming from you , the person in front of them, and not some distant sources off of the internet, their opinion of you improves. 

And who doesn’t want that, right? 

When To And When Not To Include References In Your Presentation 

Now that we’ve wrapped up with the importance of adding references in a presentation, let’s move into the next commonly asked question:  when should you add references to a presentation? 

There are a few guidelines to keep in mind when you’re attempting to determine whether or not to add references to a presentation. 

A reference or citation should be used when you’re employing to support your point content that did not originate with you. 

Following are a few scenarios in which you might want to add references in your presentation: 

You Need To Add References…

1. when you’re paraphrasing or summarizing someone else’s words.

When you’re summarizing or paraphrasing what someone else said, it’s always good practice to add references for the same. That is because, even though you’re explaining their research in your own words, it is their research, after all. 

2. When you’re introducing information that is not common knowledge 

Another scenario where it’s wise to add references is when the information you’re introducing is not commonly known. So, if you’re saying something about, say, the theories of microeconomics, it’s important to cite where these theories are coming from. 

3. When you’re directly quoting someone else

  It’s essential to add a reference if you’re directly quoting what someone else said. If you’re saying word-to-word what someone else said, make sure to put those words in quotes and to give due credit to the original source or speaker. 

4. When you’re using facts that you’ve discovered in another source

  It’s always wise to mention clearly to the audience if the facts and/or statistics you’re using in your presentation are something that you assembled from another source. If the research is original (for eg: if you’ve carried out a survey yourself and are quoting the results of the same) then you don’t need to cite yourself.  

Confused how to add facts to your speech? Check out our article on 11 Steps To Add Facts In A Speech Without Making It Boring for some tips.

5. When you’re introducing something that’s highly debatable

Make sure to add references if you’re providing multiple points of view on topics that are highly debatable. It’s important for the listener to be able to distinguish what opinions and beliefs are held by you i.e their speaker and which ones are derived from other sources. 

Now, let’s move onto the next part: when should you not include references in your presentation? 

You do not need to include references if…

1. what you’re saying is your own insight.

You don’t need to include references when what you’re saying is something that you came up with on your own. While it’s important to use a vast array of resources to support your point, equally imperative is to include in the presentation your own thoughts and opinions on the topic. 

2. What you’re saying is common knowledge

There are many things that are common knowledge, and including citations for the is not necessary. For instance, if you’re staying something like, say, Mahatma Gandhi believed in non-violence, you don’t need to include a reference for your statement–after all, that’s a pretty well-known fact. 

However, while you’re ascertaining whether or not to include a reference for a statement in your presentation, it’s important to determine whom the piece of information is common knowledge for. Something that is popularly known in a particular field might not be that well known to common people. So, make sure to tread carefully. 

3. When You’re Using Your Own Artwork, Video, etc. :

You don’t need to include references when the image or other piece of media is something that you’ve created on your own. However, if you’re using someone else’s audio clip, image etc. make sure to add references for the same. 

4. When You’re Using Your Own Research 

As mentioned above, if you’re using your own research to support/contradict something, you don’t need to add references for the same. After all, the research is a product of your own effort and not someone else’s. 

How To Include References In Your Presentation

So now that you know the importance of adding references in your presentation and have filtered through what kind of information you need or don’t need to add references for, the next step is to figure out how to add the references in your presentation. 

A few guidelines for the same are as follows: 

In-Text Citations In A Presentation

You can use references within the text of your presentation slide itself. For this, you can follow the APA format for in-text citations (Author, Date) that is used in regular, written essays and research papers.

Or you can also go with any other format that you’re familiar and comfortable with. In-text citations are a great way to cite quotes, facts, statistics etc. However, while using in-text citations, don’t forget that you need to include the cited sources in your slide in your reference list as well. 

Using Reference Lists 

Reference lists are generally added at the end of the presentation to provide a summary of all the sources you’ve cited in the rest of your presentation. 

Make sure that both; your in-text citations and reference lists follow the same format. That is, if you’re using an APA format for your in-text citations, don’t use an MLA format for your reference list. Stick to the same format for your in-text citations and reference list. 

Don’t begin your presentation with a reference list–the list should be placed in a separate slide–or slides–at the end of your presentation. If you feel like your reference list is quite exhaustive, then you can skip adding it to your presentation and pass out a reference list handout to your audience instead. 

Adding References For Media 

If you wish to snag your audience’s attention and keep it with you during your presentation, it’s important to add visual stimuli like photographs, GIFs, etc. to your presentation. However, while using visual elements like photographs in your presentation, it’s important not to plagiarize them. Don’t just pick a random image off of Google. Instead, select pictures from sources that are open for “public use”. For example, Flickr. 

Also, since images are treated as figures in the APA style, you also need to add citations for them. 

You can do this by adding a footnote including the figure number and a description in the caption beneath the photograph. You could also create a separate slide with the title “Media Sources” or something similar and make a list of your image sources. 

How To Cite References In A Presentation With APA Format?  

Although the APA manual does not have a separate section on how to format a PowerPoint presentation, you can structure your presentation slides in such a way that they follow APA style guidelines.  To do this, keep in mind the following points: 

• On your title slide, include the same information that you would have on the title page of your research.  
• In-text citations are to be used if you’ve included any of the following in your presentation: quote, paraphrase, image, graph, table, data, audio, or video file. The following format is to be used for the in-text citations: Author, A. A. (year). Title of presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Website Name.  https://xxxxx
• Do not use copyrighted images, as photographs are considered figures in APA style. If you’re using photographs produced from an outside source, make sure to cite it. 
• Place the reference list on the last slide of your presentation.  

To sum up, it’s important to add references in your presentation, as they not only avoid any unintentional plagarism on your part, but also act as proof of your research, help you filter illegitimate sources, and also distinguishes your original ideas from those that belong to someone else. Whether you need to include reference for a particular piece of information or not, however, depends on a variety of factors. Still, it is better to err on the side of caution. Over-referencing is better than under-referencing. 

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Article Contents

Introduction, case report, conflict of interest statement, ethical approval.

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Unusual initial presentation of prostate adenocarcinoma with inguinal lymph nodes metastases: a case report

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Maja Sofronievska Glavinov, Rubens Jovanovic, Venjamin Majstorov, Jovo Burneski, Andrej Nikolovski, Unusual initial presentation of prostate adenocarcinoma with inguinal lymph nodes metastases: a case report, Oxford Medical Case Reports , Volume 2024, Issue 4, April 2024, omae027, https://doi.org/10.1093/omcr/omae027

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The presence of lymph node metastases in prostate adenocarcinoma is a poor prognostic sign, and mortality rates are often high. Inguinal lymph node metastases are an unusual presentation of advanced disease, and they can be easily misinterpreted with other diseases. We present a case of a 63-year-old patient with no previous symptoms and signs of prostate disorder with a right-sided inguinal lump and abdominal pain. The CT scan showed right inguinal and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Elevated PSA serum levels, digital rectal examination, and skeletal scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP favored the diagnosis of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. Since the patient denied prostate biopsy, a dissection of the right inguinal nodes was performed. Histopathological findings confirmed metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. The treatment was hormonal and bisphosphonate therapy, with objective posttreatment improvement. Based on this case, it can be concluded that inguinal and generalized lymphadenopathy are potential initial manifestations of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma in male patients.

Prostate adenocarcinoma is the most common cancer in men, with the highest incidence rate in eight decades. It is usually clinically diagnosed through symptoms and routine total PSA serum level measurements, but in some cases, patients may not present with symptoms or signs of the disease. The local spread of prostate adenocarcinoma follows extra-capsular spread to adjacent structures such as the seminal vesicles and/or the bladder. The presence of lymph node metastases is a poor prognostic sign, and mortality rates are often higher in those with nodal involvement [ 1 ].

The incidence of enlarged non-regional lymph nodes in patients presenting with prostate adenocarcinoma is the highest of the medial external iliac (obturator) nodes (75%), followed by nodes in the para-aortic region (26%) and anterior internal iliac region (24%). The incidence of enlarged lymph nodes in the lateral external iliac group is 18%, and the incidence of inguinal lymph node involvement is 9% [ 2 ]. This unique lymphatic spread of prostate carcinoma can be explained by the involvement of the rectum below the dentate line, which can be the source of metastasis to inguinal lymph nodes [ 3 ].

Inguinal adenopathy is most often the result of sexually transmitted diseases, non-venereal infections, and malignancies (lymphoma, melanoma, genital) [ 4 ]. Generalized lymphadenopathy with no urinary symptoms can be misinterpreted as malignant lymphoma [ 1 , 5 ].

We present a case of a 63-year-old patient with no symptoms and signs of prostate disorder presenting with right-side inguinal lymphadenopathy as the first and unusual presentation of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma.

A 63-year-old patient with diffuse abdominal pain and a lump in the right groin was admitted to the digestive surgery ward. The groin lump was present for one month before hospital admission and abdominal pain was sudden and a reason for emergency assessment. He never had urinary problems, never visited a urologist before, and had a negative family history of cancer. The patient has never had surgery on either the abdomen or the right groin. Biochemical analyses of blood and urine were performed, which showed an elevation in the CRP value (10 mg/l) and serum tumor marker assessment showed an increase in CEA (5.87 ng/ml) and total serum PSA (>400 ng/ml). Findings from the physical examination included a hard, immobile mass in the inguinal region and a soft, painful abdominal wall when deeply compressed. The digital-rectal examination showed hardening of the prostate, especially the right lobe, and the absence of sulci, but the patient declined prostate biopsy. An enhanced CT scan of the abdomen showed generalized lymphadenopathy with enlarged retroperitoneal, para-aortic, para-caval, mesenteric, peripancreatic, iliac, and especially right-sided inguinal lymph nodes ( Fig. 1 ).

( A ) Enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis, axial view, showing right inguinal lymphadenopathy (arrow). ( B ) Coronal view of the enhanced CT scan of the abdomen showing retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (arrow).

Skeletal scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP showed multiple focal pathological accumulations of the radiotracer in the frontoparietal left and parietal calvaria, in the right zygomatic bone, in both clavicles, in the central diaphysis of the left humerus, in the left scapula, in the 5 th , 6 th and 9 th ribs from left hemithorax, in 7 th , 8 th and 9 th ribs from right hemithorax, in Th-8, Th-11 and L-3 vertebrae, sacroiliac left, in left iliac bone in the crista anterior, in the right and left ischial bones and in the distal meta diaphysis of the right femur ( Fig. 2 ).

Skeletal scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP showing bone metastases (marked dark with concentrated radiotracer).

A surgical dissection of the right inguinal lymph nodes was performed to establish the final diagnosis. Histopathological analysis revealed a metastasis of prostate adenocarcinoma in the right inguinal lymph nodes ( Fig. 3 ). According to the TNM classification, the patient was in stage IVb (T3N1M1b).

( A ) Hematoxylin-eosin stain of lymph node metastasis. ( B ) Immunohistochemical staining positivity for PSA. ( C ) Immunohistochemical staining positivity for PAP.

The patient underwent treatment by an oncologist with hormonal and bisphosphonate therapy (Goserelin 10.8 mg once daily, Bicalutamide 50 mg once daily, and Zoledronic acid 4 mg once monthly) immediately after surgery discharge. Three weeks after oncological treatment, total PSA serum levels decreased to 43 ng/ml and 5 ng/ml after two months. Post radiation the patient expressed lower urinary symptoms of dribbling and hesitancy, which were treated with alpha one blocker and after two weeks the symptoms were improved. The patient’s oncological treatment is ongoing, and an enhanced abdominal CT scan is the further follow-up after 6 and 12 months, and skeletal scintigraphy after 12 months.

In the case presented, right-side inguinal node enlargement with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, including the absence of lower urinary tract symptoms, is the uncommon initial presentation of advanced prostate cancer. The manifestation of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma is seldom associated with metastases to soft tissue or non-regional lymph nodes [ 1 ].

The first of three common lymphatic routes of prostate cancer spread is through the lateral route to the obturator nodes (the medial chain of the external iliac) and the middle and lateral chains of the external iliac nodes. The second-line spread is the internal iliac (hypogastric) route. Seldom lymphatic drainage can also occur along an anterior way via nodes located anterior to the urinary bladder and a presacral course anterior to the sacrum and the coccyx [ 6 ].

The literature assessment was performed to find similar cases of this unusual presentation of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. Using the keywords ‘prostate adenocarcinoma,’ ‘inguinal lymphadenopathy,’ and ‘initial presentation,’ an advanced search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Medline revealed six reports in English ( Table 1 ). In two published cases, there was a bilateral inguinal metastatic lymphadenopathy [ 7 , 8 ], and two of the published cases had isolated left inguinal node metastases [ 4 , 9 ]. Lower urinary tract symptoms are not obliged in all cases of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. Some patients complain of mild obstructive symptoms [ 7 ] and frequency [ 8 , 9 ] or do not initially present any lower urinary tract symptoms [ 5 , 10 ]. Besides urinary symptoms assessment, measuring total PSA serum levels and digital rectal examination remains a ‘gold standard’ in diagnosing prostate adenocarcinoma. In similar reported cases the total PSA serum levels were not equally significantly raised; some patients have had a ‘grey zone’ PSA [ 10 ] and others have had extremely elevated PSA [ 5 , 8 ] as did the patient in this case report.

Literature review of reported cases of inguinal lymphadenopathy as initial presentation in prostate adenocarcinoma

LUTS—lower urinary symptoms; PSA -prostate specific antigen.

Inguinal metastases in prostate adenocarcinoma are unusual initial presentations of metastatic disease, suggesting poor prognosis in which early detection is a favorable factor in patient survival.

The reported case is significant and emphasizes the importance of a thorough clinical search in elderly male patients by a complete physical examination, including palpation of the inguinal region and measuring serum PSA levels. Prostate adenocarcinoma can be initially presented only with inguinal lymphadenopathy in adult male patients that can be easily misinterpreted with other conditions.

No conflict of interest.

The publishing of the case report was approved by the Ethical Board of the institution where the patient was referred.

A written consent of participation and publishing was obtained from the patient.

Andrej Nikolovski (AN), Department of Visceral Surgery, University Surgery Hospital ‘St. Naum Ohridski’, 11 Oktomvri 53, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia. E-mail: [email protected] ; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5286-3532 .

Dattani   SMT , Yamada   ML , Dhoot   NM , Ghazala   G , Levene   A , Somsundaram   R . Metastatic prostate cancer presenting as incidental pelvic lymphadenopathy—a report of three cases with literature review . Radiol Case Rep   2022 ; 17 : 2247 – 52 .

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Jackson   ASN , Sohaib   SA , Staffurth   JN , Huddart   RA , Parker   CC , Horwich   A . et al.    Distribution of lymph nodes in men with prostatic adenocarcinoma and lymphadenopathy at presentation: a retrospective radiological review and implications for prostate and pelvis radiotherapy . Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol)   2006 ; 18 : 109 – 16 .

Shah   VA , Rixey   A , Dusing   R . Prostate cancer metastases to inguinal lymph nodes detected by attenuation-corrected 11 C-acetate PET/CT . J Nucl Med Technol   2016 ; 44 : 46 – 8 .

Elsaqa   M , Sharafeldeen   M , Elabbady   A . Metastatic prostate cancer presenting with bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy . Clin Genitourin Cancer   2019 ; 17 : e1185 – 7 .

Tunio   M , Hashmi   A , Raza   SS . Metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma presenting with bilateral inguinal adenopathy . J Surg Pak   2011 ; 16 : 85 – 7 .

Doreswamy   K , Karthikeyan   VS , Nagabhushana   M , Shankaranand   B . Prostatic adenocarcinoma presenting as isolated inguinal lymphadenopathy . BMJ Case Rep   2015 ; 2015 : bcr2015210825 .

Slavis   SA , Golji   H , Miller   JB . Re: carcinoma of the prostate presenting as inguinal adenopathy . Cleve Clin J Med   1990 ; 57 : 97 – 7 .

Huang   E , Teh   BS , Mody   DR , Carpenter   LS , Butler   EB . Prostate adenocarcinoma presenting with inguinal lymphadenopathy . Urology   2003 ; 61 : 463 .

Rosa   M , Chopra   HK , Sahoo   S . Fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of metastatic prostate carcinoma to inguinal lymph node . Diagn Cytopathol   2007 ; 35 : 565 – 7 .

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April 26, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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CRISPR is promising to tackle antimicrobial resistance, but bacteria can fight back

by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

In his presentation "How to use CRISPR-Cas to combat AMR" at the ESCMID Global Congress , Assistant Prof. Ibrahim Bitar, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Plzen, Charles University in Prague, Plzen, Czech Republic, will give an overview of the molecular biology of CRISPR technology in explaining how it can used to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR associated genes (cas) are widespread in the genome of many bacteria and are a defense mechanism against foreign invaders such as plasmids and viruses. The CRISPR arrays are composed of a repeated array of short sequences, each originating from and exactly matching a nucleic acid sequence that once invaded the host.

Accompanying CRISPR sequences, there are 4-10 CRISPR-associated genes (cas), which are highly conserved and encode the Cas proteins. Cas proteins conduct adaptive immunity in prokaryotes (bacteria) based on immunological memories stored in the CRISPR array.

The CRISPR/Cas system integrates a small piece of foreign DNA from invaders such as plasmids and viruses into their direct repeat sequences and will recognize and degrade the same external DNA elements during future invasions.

As the CRISPR/Cas systems integrate DNA from invading pathogens in chronical order, genotyping can be used to trace the clonality and the origin of the isolates and define them as a population of strains that were subjected to the same environmental conditions including geographic location (region) and community/hospital settings and eventually further extended to track pathogenic bacteria around human society.

CRISPR/Cas systems can also be employed for developing antimicrobial agents: introduction of self-targeting crRNAs will effectively and selectively kill target bacterial populations. Due to the shortage of available effective antimicrobial agents in treating multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, researchers started to search for alternative methods to fight MDR infections rather than going through the process of developing new antimicrobial agents which can go on for decades.

As a result, the concept of CRISPR/Cas-based selective antimicrobials was first developed and demonstrated in 2014. Vectors coding Cas9 and guide RNAs targeting genomic loci of a specific bacterial strain/species can be delivered to the target strain via bacteriophages or conjugative bacterial strains.

In theory, delivery of the engineered CRISPR/Cas systems specifically eliminates target strains from the bacterial population, yet it is not that simple.

While these systems can seem a target for manipulation/intervention, all bacteria are regulated by multiple pathways to ensure the bacteria retains control over the process. Therefore, there remain several major challenges in using this system as an antimicrobial agent.

Most methods require delivery of the re-sensitized system by conjugation; the vector is carried by a non-virulent lab strain bacteria that is supposed to go and share the vector/plasmid through conjugation. The conjugation process is a natural process that the bacteria do which results in sharing plasmids among each other (even with other species).

The percentage of conjugated (successfully delivered) bacteria in the total bacterial population is critical to the re-sensitized efficiency. This process is governed by several complicated pathways.

Bacteria also possess built-in anti-CRISPR systems, that can repair any damage caused by CRISPR-Cas systems.

Defense systems that the bacteria uses to protect itself from foreign DNA often co-localize within defense islands (genomic segments that contain genes with similar function in protecting the host from invaders) in bacterial genomes; for example: acr (a gene that acts, with other similar variants, as a repressor of plasmid conjugative systems) often cluster with antagonists of other host defense functions (e.g., anti-restriction modification systems) and experts hypothesize that MGEs (mobile genetic elements) organize their counter defense strategies in "anti-defense" islands.

Assistant Professor Bitar concludes, "In summary, this method seems very promising as an alternative way of fighting antimicrobial resistance. The method uses the concept of re-sensitizing the bacteria in order to make use of already available antibiotics—in other words, removing their resistance and making them vulnerable again to first-line antibiotics.

"Nevertheless, the bacterial pathways are always complicated and such systems are always heavily regulated by multiple pathways. These regulated pathways must be studied in depth in order to avoid selective pressure favoring anti-CRISPR systems activation, hence prevalence of resistance in a more aggressive manner."

Provided by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

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