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From: "Audrey Bennett" <>
Subject: RE: op. cit., idem, and ibid
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 13:36:33 -0700


Hi,

Source: Lester, James D. "Writing Research Papers, A Complete
Guide." Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1971

Page 115-116: "As an alternative to repeating the title or author's
name, you may use the Latinate abbreviation 'Ibid.' ('in the same
place') if it refers to the source in the immediately preceding
footnote and if it appears on the same page. For example, when you
refer to the identical page(s) of the preceding note, insert only
'Ibid.,' capitalized and followed by a period ('Ibid.'). If your
reference is to the same book as the preceding note but to a
different page, insert 'Ibid.,' followed by a comma, followed by the
page number ('Ibid., p. 16.').

"You should find it unnecessary to employ the Latinate abbreviations
'op. cit.' and 'loc. cit.' 'Op. cit.' is an abbreviation for opere
citato, which means 'in the work cited.' It is sometimes employed
when nonconsecutive references are made to the same work (for
example, 'Jones, op. cit., p. 65.') But a simple reference to
"Jones, p. 65' serves the same purpose and is less confusing. 'Loc.
cit.' is an abbreviation for loco citato, which means 'in the place
cited.' Since this footnote names the exact source listed
immediately preceding it, the author's name and a page reference are
omitted (for example, 'Loc. cit.') But the use of 'Ibid,' without a
page refernce serves the same purpose (see above)."

I couldn't find 'idem' in any of my textbooks, though.

Audrey Ann Bennett

Bellevue, Washington USA
(near Seattle, home of Starbucks, Pearl Jam, Boeing, and Microsoft)

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