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Ibidem for Dummies

adverb

pronunciation: ɪ'bidɛm

What does Ibidem really mean?

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Teacher: Hey there! I see you're curious about the word "ibidem." Well, don't worry, I'm here to help you understand it! Now, have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to talk about a book or an article, and you needed to refer back to something you read before?

Student: Yeah, that happens a lot!

Teacher: Great! So, "ibidem" is a word that helps us refer to the same source or reference in a document. It's like a super handy shortcut when you want to mention a source again without repeating all the details. We use it in academic writing, research papers, and even legal documents. It's like a little helper that keeps things tidy and saves us time!

Student: Oh, I get it! It's like when you're talking about a book, and instead of writing the whole title every time, you just say "Ibidem."

Teacher: Exactly! You're catching on fast! When we use "ibidem," it means "in the same place" in Latin. It's often abbreviated as "ibid." or written in italics. So, whenever you see "ibidem" or "ibid." while reading, it's telling you that the reference being mentioned is from the same source as the one mentioned previously. Think of it as a little signpost that points you back to the same book, article, or source.

Student: That makes a lot of sense! But, how does it work in a written document?

Teacher: A great question! Let's say you're writing an essay, and you're using a book as a source. You mention the author's name, the book's title, and the page number in your essay. When you need to cite the same book with a different page, instead of repeating the whole author and title, you can simply write "ibid." or "ibidem," followed by the new page number. It helps the reader understand that the reference is from the same source as the previous one. So, you maintain the credibility of your writing while making it easier for your reader to follow along!

Student: Ah, got it! So, it's like giving directions to a friend. Instead of telling them the whole address every time, I can just say "ibidem," and they'll know I'm talking about the same house!

Teacher: Spot on, my friend! Your analogy is perfect! Just like giving directions, using "ibidem" allows you to refer back to a specific point or location easily, without repeating yourself. It keeps things organized and helps readers navigate through your writing smoothly.

Student: I really like this word, "ibidem"! It sounds so cool, and it's a really handy tool when writing!

Teacher: I'm thrilled to hear that, and I totally agree! "Ibidem" is indeed a cool and useful word. I'm glad I could help you understand its meaning and how it can make your writing more efficient. Remember, when you come across "ibidem" in your readings or need to use it in your own writing, you'll now know that it's like a friendly signpost pointing you back to the same source. Keep exploring, my friend, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions!

Revised and Fact checked by Sarah Anderson on 2023-10-27 23:38:58

Ibidem In a sentece

Learn how to use Ibidem inside a sentece

  • When you are doing a research project and you want to refer to the same source again, you can simply write 'Ibidem' instead of writing out the whole source again.
  • In a bibliography, if you have cited a book and then you want to cite the same book again, you can use 'Ibidem' instead of writing all the details again.
  • Imagine you are writing an essay and you mention a specific idea on one page, and then on the next page you want to refer to that same idea again. Instead of repeating everything, you can just write 'Ibidem'.
  • Suppose you are reading a book and you want to point out an interesting fact on a certain page, and then on the next page you want to talk about the same fact again. You can simply use 'Ibidem' to refer back to that first page instead of repeating everything.
  • When you are writing a report and you cite a source in one paragraph, but then in the next paragraph, you want to reference the same source again, you can just write 'Ibidem' instead of going through all the citation details again.

Ibidem Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.