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RefWorks

NU Library's preferred research management tool.

Using Write-N-Cite to Write and Format Your Paper

Write-N-Cite is a utility that allows users to run an abbreviated version of  RefWorks in Microsoft Word. You can access your references by folder (or sub-folder), by quick search or by all references with the ability to sort by author, title or year.

With Write-N-Cite, you can cite references in a manuscript with just a click and watch your paper format instantly including in-text citations, footnotes and your bibliography.  The utility installs a RefWorks tab in the MS Word ribbon or you can access it from the References tab in Microsoft Word.

Working online or offline is seamless – no need to be connected to the internet – and you can share documents between the Windows and Mac versions of Write-N-Cite seamlessly.

Information on getting started with Write-N-Cite is listed below and the functionality applies to both online and offline usage.

Write-N-Cite for Windows version 4.4.1376 System Requirements:

  • Windows Operating System
  • Windows 8 or later 
  • 256 MB of RAM
  • 20 MB of available hard-disk space
  • Internet connectivity (for downloading of tool and periodic database synchronization)

Write-N-Cite for Windows works best with Word 2013 and 2016 (32 bit versions). This version will NOT work with Word 2007 or Win 7, both which are no longer supported by Microsoft. Word 2007 and/or Win 7 users should use our Quick Cite feature or our Google Docs Add-on. Write-N-Cite will not work with Office 365 users using cloud-based app.  Word must be installed locally.

 
  XP, Vista, Win 7 (32 bit) Win 7 (64 bit) Win 8 (32 bit) Win 8 (64 bit) Win 10 (64 bit)
Office 2007 (32 bit) No No No No No
Office 2010 (32 bit) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Office 2010 (64 bit) No Yes, but may encounter install errors.Contact RefWorks Tech Support for help. No Yes, but may encounter install errors. Contact RefWorks Tech Support for help. No
Office 2013 (32 bit) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Office 2013 (64 bit) No Yes No Yes Yes
Office 2016 (32 bit) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Office 2016 (64 bit) No Yes No Yes Yes

 

Write-N-Cite version version 4.4.1237 for Mac:
 

  • Works with OS X 10.11 ( El Capitan), 10.10 (Yosemite), 10.9 (Mavericks), 10.6 (Snow Leopard), 10.7 (Lion) and 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
  • Word 2011 and  2008.
  • Mac OX 10.9 and 10.10 users must download Java 6 from Apple's support site replacing any previously installed versions: http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1572


Note:  Write-N-Cite for Mac does NOT work with Word 2016 at this time.

Working with Write-N-Cite

You can get started with Write-N-Cite easily and view the formatting of your in-text citations, footnotes and bibliography – all while you are writing your paper.

To get started

  • Click "RefWorks” in your MS Word ribbon to launch Write-N-Cite
  • Select an output style
  • Insert in-text citations or footnotes and your bibliography
  • Save your paper

 Step 1. Launch Write-N-Cite

Note:  The first time you launch Write-N-Cite, you must be connected to the internet in order to log in to your RefWorks library and sync it with Write-N-Cite.

Tip:  In most cases, there is no need to log out of Write-N-Cite when you are not using it.  If you are using Write-N-Cite on a public computer without a personal login, you should log out of Write-N-Cite when you complete your work.  If someone does gain access to a system with your RefWorks library logged in to Write-N-Cite, they will not be able to change anything in your account since Write-N-Cite doesn’t have any features to edit your items.

Logging In To Write-N-Cite:

1. Click RefWorks from the Microsoft Word ribbon. 

Microsoft Word screenshot with the RefWorks ribbon tab highlighted.

2. Click Log In.
Microsoft Word screenshot with the RefWorks Log In link highlighted.

 3. Enter your RefWorks email address and password and click "Login". NOTE: Choosing an alternate password for your account will allow you to login to RefWorks for Google Docs and RefWorks for Microsoft Word using your NU school email and this password. Currently, these integrations do not sync with NU's institutional sign-in page. For more information, see the Introduction to RefWorks & Account Creation page.
Screenshot of the RefWorks login page.

The first time you log in to Write-N-Cite, it will automatically “sync” with your RefWorks library.  This may take a few seconds. It is downloading your references and collections.  Any time you make changes to your RefWorks items you can click Sync my Database your new and edited items will be added to Write-N-Cite.

During this period, you can still access all of Word’s functionality, but the Write-N-Cite functions will not become active until syncing has finished.

Step 2.  Selecting Your Output Style

The first thing you will want to do is select an output style for your document.  Any in-text citations or footnotes and your bibliography will be displayed in your document while you write your paper – in the output style you have selected.  You can always change the style later if you need to.

1. Click the Style drop down. You will see a list of RefWorks' recent styles.

2. Click on the style name.

3. You can change your output style and the formatting of your paper at any time by clicking on another Style in the list and selecting a new output style. Access to other Styles can be gained by using Select Other Style at the bottom of the list.
Microsoft Word screenshot with an arrow pointing to the RefWorks output style.


Step 3.  Write Your Paper and Inserting Citations or Footnotes and Your Bibliography

Note:  You may want to sync your RefWorks library with Write-N-Cite if you have recently added items you want to use in your paper.  Click the Sync my database icon to download new or updated items.

When you are ready to insert an in-text citation or footnote into your paper:

1.  Click the Insert Citation and Insert New option to launch the insert/edit citation box.  If you have previously used Write-N-Cite, you may see some recently selected citations listed above the Insert New option.   You can select citations displayed from this list or access all your references from the Insert New option. 
Microsoft Word screenshot with an arrow pointing to the RefWorks "Inser New" link.

2. Once the Insert/Edit Citation box displays, you can access your items by Collection or by searching.  The Search box will search every field.
Write-N-Cite Insert/Edit Citation screenshot.


Tip: Use the horizontal scroll bar to see the full title.  Right-click on the item and select Show Full Reference Detail to display all fields of information (file attachments are not displayed).
Write-N-Cite Insert/Edit Citation screenshot with an arrow pointing to Show Full Reference Detail.

 
Full Reference View:
Write-N-Cite Full Reference Data screenshot.

3.  Click on the item you wish to insert into your paper.  You will see a preview of the formatted citation in your current Output Style.
Write-N-Cite Insert/Edit Citation screenshot with an arrow pointing to the Preview Citation area.

Tip:  Add more references to the citation using the plus icon, remove them by using the minus icon, or reorder the references with the up and down arrows in the Compose Citation area.
Write-N-Cite Insert/Edit Citation screenshot with an arrow pointing to the plus and minu buttons.

4. Click OK to insert your formatted citation into your paper.

5. To insert a footnote instead of an in-text citation, click the Make Footnote checkbox in the Edit References area.  Once you make a footnote and finish editing the citation, you will not be able to undo this action.  However, you can always add a new in-text citation.
Write-N-Cite Insert/Edit Citation screenshot with an arrow pointing to the Make Footnote checkbox.

6. You can insert your bibliography anywhere in your paper while you are writing.  Click Bibliography Options, Insert Bibliography.  Note: the bibliography will be inserted wherever the cursor is in your paper. 
Microsoft Word screenshot with an arrow pointing to the RefWorks Bibliography Options link.

Screenshot of a bibliography in Microsoft Word.

You can click Remove Bibliography and re-insert if it you need to change the location.
Microsoft Word screenshot with an arrow pointing to the RefWorks Remove Bibliography link.

Step 4. Save your formatted paper (you should really save it periodically while you are writing!).  

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