no reference

USAGE SUMMARY

"no reference" is correct and usable in written English.
Example: We could not find a reference for the spelling of this word, so we had to go with "no reference".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

No reference, no recognition.

The New York Times - Books

No reference was given.

The Guardian - Opinion

With no reference?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

No reference to it.

The New York Times

Note, no reference to Islam.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was no reference to the Sussex.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

2. No-reference or NR: Blind or no-reference quality assessment is a more difficult problem as there is no reference image for comparison.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

No-reference methods rely only on the degraded video.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

For these cases, no-reference (NR) models are more appropriate.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

No-reference quality metrics are applied to the source image.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Finally, we model and validate the no-reference bitstream model.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, use it to indicate the absence of a control or standard, such as a "no reference standard".

Common error

Do not use "no reference" to mean a lack of reason or logic. While something may have "no reference" in a text (meaning it isn't mentioned), this does not necessarily mean there is no rationale for it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no reference" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the direct object of a verb (e.g. "make no reference") or following an existential construction (e.g. "there was no reference"). In specialized scientific contexts, it can also act as an attributive modifier, such as in "no-reference quality assessment", where it is often hyphenated. Ludwig AI confirms its versatility in both general and technical English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Social Media

3%

Informal Conversation

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "no reference" is a robust and highly frequent phrase in formal English. It is most effectively used to pinpoint the absence of information or the lack of a standard. Data from Ludwig indicates that it is a staple in high-quality journalism for calling out what was left unsaid, as well as in the sciences for defining technical constraints. Whether you are describing a document that fails to cite its sources or a scientific model lacking a baseline, "no reference" provides a clear, professional way to express total omission.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without reference

Uses a prepositional structure instead of a determiner

no mention

Focuses on the lack of verbal or written acknowledgment

zero reference

Adds emphasis to the total absence

not referenced

Uses a passive verbal form

without citation

More specific to academic or legal contexts

no allusion to

Implies a lack of even indirect suggestion

no baseline

Specific to scientific contexts where a starting point is missing

no indicator

Focuses on the lack of a sign or clue

no footnote

Specific to a particular type of academic reference

no bibliography

Refers to the absence of an entire list of sources

FAQs

How to use "no reference" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an omission, such as: "The report made <a href="/s/no+reference" target="_blank" rel="alternative">no reference to the previous findings".

What can I say instead of "no reference"?

Depending on your intent, you can use "<a href="/s/no+mention" target="_blank" rel="alternative">no mention", "<a href="/s/without+citation" target="_blank" rel="alternative">without citation" or "<a href="/s/lack+of+reference" target="_blank" rel="alternative">lack of reference".

Which is correct, "no reference" or "without reference"?

Both are grammatically correct. Use "no reference" as a noun phrase (e.g. "there was <a href="/s/no+reference" target="_blank" rel="alternative">no reference") and "<a href="/s/without+reference" target="_blank" rel="alternative">without reference" as an adverbial or prepositional phrase.

Does "no reference" mean the same as "no citation"?

In academic contexts, they are nearly synonymous. However, "no reference" is broader and can refer to a lack of any kind of mention or comparison point, not just a formal academic <a href="/s/citation" target="_blank" rel="alternative">citation.