Having adequate and appropriate references is a key part of any academic or professional writing. References serve several important purposes – they back up claims, provide context, and show that you have conducted thorough research. But is it ever acceptable to only have 2 references in a paper or report? The quick answer is that it depends on the context. For some short pieces of writing like blog posts, 2 references may be sufficient if they are high quality and directly support the main points. However, for most college papers, professional reports, and journal articles, having only 2 references would generally be considered inadequate. In the following sections, we’ll explore this issue in more depth.
Why are references important?
References serve three key functions in academic and professional writing:
Backing up claims
When you make an important point or factual claim in a piece of writing, you need to back it up with evidence. References allow you to cite reputable sources that provide verification for your claims. This boosts your credibility and demonstrates that you have done thorough research.
Providing context
References situate your work within the broader field or within relevant research. Citing seminal works or studies that are related to your topic helps provide context for readers. This allows them to better understand how your piece fits into the bigger picture.
Demonstrating thorough research
The number and quality of references included in a piece of writing is an important factor in demonstrating how much research the author has done. Including multiple relevant references signals to readers that you have thoroughly researched your topic. Just 1 or 2 references suggests limited research.
So in summary, references are important because they lend authority and credibility to your work, situate it within the broader scholarly conversation, and demonstrate the extent of your research. This is why having too few references is generally problematic.
When is 2 references acceptable?
While most academic and professional writing requires more than 2 references, there are some cases when just 1 or 2 quality references may be acceptable:
Very short pieces of writing
For very brief pieces of writing, such as a 300-500 word blog post, 2 strong references may provide sufficient support. Blog posts are often written for general audiences and are not held to the same standards as scholarly works. However, any key factual claims should still be backed up.
Opinion pieces
For opinion editorials or commentary pieces, references are less important than for research-based writing. The author’s own views and perspectives are the focus, rather than objective facts and data. However, if any statistics or other factual information are cited, they should still be referenced.
Articles using primary data
Some articles present new primary data, such as research studies, surveys, or experiments. In these cases, the data itself provides substantiation, reducing the need for many additional references. However, some background references are still advised.
Pieces with strict length limits
In some instances, extremely tight length restrictions limit the ability to provide more than 1 or 2 references. For example, a 300-word newspaper article may only have room for the most essential sourcing. However, context still matters – an article on a controversial political issue would require stronger sourcing than a light piece on decor trends, for example.
So in very limited circumstances, just 1 or two references may be acceptable for certain types of writing with tight restrictions. However, this should be the exception – in general, making substantive claims without citing sources to back them up significantly weakens the credibility of a piece.
When are more references essential?
For most forms of academic and professional writing, more than 2 references are required for the work to be considered well-researched and authoritative. Specifically, more references are essential for:
College research papers
College papers at all levels (high school, undergraduate, graduate) require multiple references. Even short 5-page papers generally need at least 5-8 quality sources. Longer research papers of 15-20 pages normally have 15-20 references or more. College students need to demonstrate thorough research of existing literature on their topic.
Journal articles
Scholarly articles published in academic journals are expected to have extensive referencing, with a bare minimum of 10-20 citations. High-quality articles often have 30+ references. Journal articles build on existing knowledge, so they must situate within previous research.
Literature reviews
Literature reviews, whether published as scholarly articles or written as graduate theses, require the most extensive referencing. Good literature reviews summarize and synthesize conclusions from dozens of existing studies and papers on a topic, so citing sources is essential.
Reports and proposals
In workplace settings, reports, proposals, memorandums and other professional communications likewise require multiple references to factual data, statistics, expert opinions, etc. to be credible. While the number varies based on length and purpose, 2 is generally inadequate except for very short pieces.
Books
Full-length nonfiction books also require substantial referencing, although styles vary by discipline. A history book may have 200+ references while a popular psychology self-help book may have only 10-20. But very few nonfiction books have fewer than 5 references, except for some memoirs/personal essays.
In summary, the majority of academic and professional writing requires more than 2 references to be considered well-researched and authoritative. The number varies based on length and discipline but having only 1-2 sources is rarely adequate except for very short or opinion-focused works.
Factors influencing the acceptable number
While no universal rule exists for how many references are enough, some key factors impact acceptability:
Length and scope
Longer pieces generally require more references than shorter ones. An 8,000 word dissertation literature review will need more references than a 1,500 word undergraduate history essay. Broader research topics also often require more references than narrow, focused ones.
Purpose and audience
Highly technical pieces will have more specialized sourcing for an expert audience than an introductory guide for general readers. Academic journals require more references than popular magazine articles. Know your purpose and audience expectations.
Discipline and field norms
Acceptable styles for referencing can vary a lot between different academic disciplines and professional fields. Become familiar with the norms and expectations for your specific area of writing.
Nature of claims being made
The more controversial, novel, complex or critical your claims and conclusions are, the more references you will likely need to substantiate them. Routine or descriptive claims require less sourcing than bold arguments.
Quality vs quantity
A few very high-quality, authoritative references from reputable sources may provide more value than a higher quantity of questionable sources. But single references cannot substitute for demonstrating breadth of research.
So while there are no universal rules on ideal numbers of references, assessing the factors above can help determine what is expected and appropriate for a given work. Likely though, having only 1-2 references is insufficient for most writing.
Problems with having too few references
Including too few references can undermine the scholarly value of a piece of writing in several ways:
Lack of credibility
With few citations, it is much easier to question the veracity and accuracy of information, statistics, and other factual claims made in the work. Unsupported claims often lack credibility.
Not demonstrating breadth of research
A couple references suggests only surface-level research, rather than an extensive literature review. This undermines the author’s credibility as knowledgeable about the topic.
Failure to acknowledge other viewpoints/ideas
Too few references makes it seem like the author is either unaware of other perspectives or is ignoring them. This can come across as biased or narrow-minded.
Not situating work within broader conversations
Part of relevant research is acknowledging how your piece fits within the bigger context of discussions happening on your topic. Too few references isolates your work.
Questionable significance of work
Limited references raise the question of whether the work contributes anything new or valuable to existing knowledge. New works should build on what came before.
Self-plagiarism concerns
Some instances of inadequate referencing stem from authors relying too much on their own previous publications and failing to incorporate enough outside sources. This type of self-plagiarism is frowned upon.
In summary, failing to include enough supporting references casts doubt on the validity, originality, significance, and thoroughness of the author’s work. While the acceptable number varies, 2 references are generally insufficient for most writing.
When might 2 references be okay?
While less than ideal, 2 references may be considered sufficient in a handful of scenarios, assuming they are of high quality and directly relevant:
– A very short blog post on a non-controversial topic (e.g. 2 references on coffee brewing tips)
– A brief column article giving the author’s opinion on a current event
– An obituary or anniversary tribute referencing details about the subject’s life
– A how-to article or tutorial providing simple technical instructions (e.g. how to change settings, use basic features of a software program, etc.)
– A short profile piece focused primarily on interview content from the subject
– Personal essays and creative memoir pieces citing a few relevant works for context
– Trade publication articles referencing proprietary data or industry reports
– Internal communications that reference statistics from within an organization
– Student journals and diaries summarizing learning from just 1 or 2 sources
– Very short technical/scientific reports on experimental results using primary data
– Abstracts summarizing specific papers which are directly referenced
So in limited cases, brevity, purpose, audience, and practicality may justify relying on just 1 or 2 quality references. But any factually substantive claims still require proper sourcing. And longer works, complex topics, and novel arguments call for more extensive referencing.
Best practices with limited references
If you have a scenario where using only 1-2 references is unavoidable or practical, you can employ some strategies to make the best of limited sourcing:
Choose references carefully
Carefully select the 1 or 2 most authoritative, credible, relevant sources available for your topic and focus.
Reference judiciously
Only make claims that can be directly supported using your limited references. Avoid overstating what you can substantiate.
Quote selectively
Quote directly from your references in strategic places to back up key points. Full context direct quotes add value.
Explain relevance
Take time to explain why you selected the particular references cited and how they relate to your central purpose.
Link to broader research
Acknowledge that your limited references are not exhaustive and point readers to where they can find more extensive information on the topic.
Use high-quality writing
Polished, high-quality writing goes a long way towards establishing credibility, even with limited sourcing.
With care and selectivity, 1-2 well-chosen references can provide adequate support for very specific short-form writing circumstances. But it is not considered good practice for substantiative works.
Conclusion
In summary, while no definitive rules exist dictating how many references are needed, most academic and professional works require more than 2 sources except for very specific circumstances involving brief pieces written for general audiences. Going below 5-10 references quickly raises concerns about inadequate substantiation for claims, limited research, failure to synthesize other viewpoints, lack of context, and questions about the significance of the work. While sometimes practically unavoidable, having 2 or fewer references undermines credibility and acceptability for all but the shortest and least critical writings aimed at non-expert readers. With this understanding, students and authors should ensure they have conducted sufficient research and can cite appropriate sources before creating any substantive written work intended for publication, academia, or professional settings.
