word choice - "Referenced in" or "referenced from"?


Which of these sentences is more correct?



ABC should not be referenced from file X.


ABC should not be referenced in file X.


ABC should not be referenced by file X.




Answer



They're both correct and the meaning is essentially the same. I'd say that the preposition choice depends on how you intend to communicate the message.


If you think of the reference as an arrow in a diagram coming from file X to ABC, then from works better as the preposition, as it indicates movement and direction:



ABC should not be referenced from file X.



If you think of the reference to ABC within the boundaries of file X, then it is in that works better as the preposition, as it indicates inclusion within a space:



ABC should not be referenced in file X.



I would probably write the sentence with from in a technical document, as I usually think of arrows and direction when I'm thinking of references between files or objects.


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