1

I have reached the maximum paper length and already shortened everything as possible. I use 4 different github repositories, which I mention in my paper. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no room left to add a citation for each repository.

What options are there to solve this problem?

Would it be a good idea to create a new own repository that references the 4 different repositories and only cite my own repository?

Improve this question
6
  • 1
    Are the repositories your work, or the work of others?
    – origimbo
    Jan 16, 2019 at 21:58
  • All repositories are of different people
    – methus
    Jan 18, 2019 at 5:43
  • Are you sure references are included in the maximum length? For many conferences references are excluded from the page count, precisely to avoid authors removing relevant references.
    – Erwan
    Feb 16, 2019 at 12:28
  • Unfortunately, references were added to the page limit. I've added the github links as a footnote. So they are still in the paper, but do not take up so much space.
    – methus
    Feb 16, 2019 at 13:57
  • How much are you over? Perhaps you can ask the editors for a nominal break on the word limit (e.g., "I've cut as much as I can, can I exceed the word limit by 42 words?")
    – anonymous
    Feb 16, 2019 at 19:30

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
1

There are really only two solutions to this problem, and which is appropriate depends on the customs of your field:

  1. Name the repositories (and possibly give their URLs), but do not formally cite them. In some fields this will be unacceptable, others it's up to the author, and in yet while others it is considered unacceptable to cite a non-peer-reviewed source like a repository (I have had journals force me to de-formalize software citations before!).
  2. Shrink something else to make space for the repository citations. You may think this is not possible, but I promise you that you can get the few lines you need without significantly affecting content through minor tweaks in wording, layout, and such (including in reference contents!)
Improve this answer
-1

You could create a DOI for each repository with Zenodo and then put all the DOI's in a single reference. Note that you can connect your github account to Zenodo, making the whole procedure really straightforward (see here for a how-to).

Not very elegant, but I don't see any other "simple" solution.

Improve this answer
-2

URLs (including those for Github repositories) needn't be cited, they can (and commonly should) be included as footnotes.

Improve this answer
3
  • 12
    Strongly disagree. References are references, and all references should be cited.
    – JeffE
    Jan 17, 2019 at 9:55
  • Agree with @JeffE and remember that if someone needs to cite a repository, then it means they actually used the work in their own research.
    – anonymous
    Feb 16, 2019 at 19:29
  • 1
    On the other hand, this is typical in my field.
    – Azor Ahai -him-
    Oct 6, 2019 at 3:09

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .