There are 65,100 search results on Bing for the misspelling 'Referance'. 'Referance' ranks in the top 160 of most common errors caught by TripleChecker, with at least 39 websites containing this mistake.¹
The word 'reference' can function as a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the act of mentioning or alluding to something, or a source of information. As a verb, it means to mention or allude to something.
Reference
The word 'reference' originates from the Latin word 'referentia', which means "the act of bringing back" or "a bringing back." It evolved through Old French 'referens' before entering the English language in the late Middle Ages.
The word 'reference' is pronounced as "REF-er-uhns." The stress is on the first syllable.
The word 'reference' can be used in a sentence like this: "She included several important references in her research paper to support her arguments." To ensure correct spelling and usage, it is important to note that 'reference' can be confused with similar words like 'referencing' or 'referenced,' which denote different forms of the verb, and care should be taken to use the word in the appropriate context to avoid ambiguity.