How to Write a Bibliography in Different Formatting Styles with Examples
In a research paper, the bibliography is a list of all the works you consulted during your research. It includes not only the works cited in your paper but also other relevant sources that contributed to your understanding of the topic.
Purpose of a Bibliography
Why is a bibliography important? Including a bibliography offers several benefits:
- It demonstrates that your research is based on reliable and authentic sources, enhancing its credibility and quality.
- It provides transparency about the sources you use, allowing readers to cross-reference and access the referenced materials.
- It enables others to build upon your research, fostering academic collaboration and knowledge advancement.
Bibliography vs. Works Cited
A common question that often comes up is, “Are Works Cited and a bibliography the same?” The simple answer—No.
A Works Cited page includes only the sources that are directly cited in the main text of your paper. By contrast, a bibliography lists all the materials you consulted while researching, even if they are not directly referenced in your work. Think of a bibliography as a “works consulted” list—it provides a broader record of the sources that contributed to your understanding of the topic.
How to Write a Bibliography: Examples in Different Formats
Bibliography is written in different formats depending on the citation style prescribed by various style guides. Let’s explore the most popular formats: MLA, APA, and Chicago style citations.
MLA Style Bibliography
The MLA style uses parenthetical citations within the text, and references are usually listed on a Works Cited page. Not all MLA papers require a bibliography, but when included, it should list all sources consulted during research, even if they are not directly cited in the paper. Each entry follows a hanging indent format and typically includes the author’s name, the title of the work, the publication date, and other relevant details.
Examples:
Allen, Thomas B. Vanishing Wildlife of North America. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1974.
Sirpa Salenius. “Transatlantic Interracial Sisterhoods: Sarah Remond, Ellen Craft, and Harriet Jacobs in England.” Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, vol. 38, no. 1, 2017, pp. 166–96. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5250/fronjwomestud.38.1.0166.
Joshi, Yateendra. “Using past and present tenses in research writing.” Editage Insights, Editage Insights, 30 October 2013, https://www.editage.com/insights/using-past-and-present-tenses-in-research-writing?refer-type=article
APA Style Bibliography
In APA, the bibliography is called the “Reference list.” The heading “References” should be centered at the top of the page followed by the works listed in alphabetical order. Here too, all entries must be formatted with a hanging indent. In-text citation can be either narrative [e.g., Hamilton (2024)] or parenthetical [e.g., (Hamilton, 2024)].
Examples:
Davis, N. S., & McCormick, J. C. (1960). Design of catalyst packs for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. American Rocket Society paper, (1246-60).
Sirpa Salenius. (2017). Transatlantic Interracial Sisterhoods: Sarah Remond, Ellen Craft, and Harriet Jacobs in England. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 38(1), 166–196. https://doi.org/10.5250/fronjwomestud.38.1.0166
Das, A, (2013, October 17). Plagiarism in academic publishing. Plagiarism in Research, Editage. https://www.editage.com/insights/plagiarism-in-academic-publishing?refer-type=article
Chicago Style Bibliography
The Chicago citation style allows for two formats:
1. Author-date format: Includes author’s name, publication year, and page number.
2. Notes-bibliography: Uses superscript numerals to indicate citations, which are then referenced in footnotes or endnotes.
Similarly, the reference formats in the Chicago style vary depending on the chosen citation method:
a) Reference list: Used for author-date citations.
b) Bibliography: Used for the notes-bibliography format (footnotes and endnotes).
The bibliography is placed at the end of the paper, with the heading Bibliography centered and written in boldface at the top of the page. Unlike the rest of the paper, the bibliography in a Chicago style paper is NOT double-spaced; instead, a single blank line should be added between entries in the list.
Examples:
Weast, Robert C., and Melvin J. Astle. “CRC handbook of chemistry and physics, 64 edn.” CRC, Boca Raton (1984).
Sirpa Salenius. “Transatlantic Interracial Sisterhoods: Sarah Remond, Ellen Craft, and Harriet Jacobs in England.” Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 38, no. 1 (2017): 166–96. https://doi.org/10.5250/fronjwomestud.38.1.0166.
N.I.S.T. Nist, “Chemistry Webbook.” 2005. https://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/
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