The bibliographic databases, even databases from the same software vendor do not present the descriptive elements of the reference or citation in the same order. Nor is the punctuation, used to separate the different elements, used consistently. Imported references will therefore need to be edited to match individual personal databases. Those involved in research must keep records of the documents they read or would like to read. These records then form the basis of the lists of references and bibliographies which accompany their own publications.
Many authors find themselves having to produce references in more than house style.
One house style may require, for example, that journal titles are abbreviated, while another requires them to be written out in full. These are a very few examples of the differences which may occur between the different house styles. Examples of different house styles may be seen by examining the references in a few journals, e.g. Nature , Philosophical magazine, British journal of psychology, Business ethics, etc. A personal bibliographic database, even a small one, needs to be controlled and managed if it is to be useful. It is for example, desirable to avoid adding duplicate records.