What is a reference?

We explain what is a reference? the areas in which it is used and its different uses. In addition, some synonyms for this term.

1. What is a reference?

It is understood by reference to the relationship that exists between a linguistic expression, such as a word or phrase, with its correlation in the real world, that is, its referent. It is a fundamental relationship for language , which operates by substituting things for words , which is why we can talk about what is not or what does not exist, instead of having to point everything out with gestures.

The references are also the indications, the signs, which provide people who know how to interpret them from a framework (precisely: “frame of reference” or “system of reference”) that serves as a guide to something. This is widely used in relativistic physics, for example, since a reference system is necessary to be able to determine certain characteristics of a physical phenomenon: its position, its speed, etc.

This also applies to other knowledge production systems, such as academic and bibliographic, for which it is essential to clarify to the reader where the exposed information came from

 or what are the sources that were consulted. Thus, a thesis or an academic report presents at the end a section of “bibliography” or “references” (like this article) where it is detailed where the information came from.

The latter can be easily checked in the reference databases, such as those that have libraries and information retrieval institutes. In these sites there is an enormous amount of organized data, which can be accessed by means of a reference or password, that is, by means of some partial data that allows finding the correct source (s) of the information. wanted.

In conclusion, the term reference can have many uses, but it usually implies an action to allude, mention, point or provide context with respect to something . Referring, therefore, is more or less synonymous with mentioning, mentioning, relating.