Bibliography vs Reference List vs Works Cited

These are the end-of-paper source lists of different citation styles. APA and Harvard use a reference list, MLA uses a Works Cited page, and Chicago uses a bibliography. A reference list or Works Cited lists only sources you cited; a bibliography can also include works you read but did not cite. Follow your assignment's style.

What is the difference?

The names change with the citation style, and in some styles the scope changes too.

• A reference list (APA, Harvard) lists every source you cited in the text, and nothing else.
• A Works Cited page (MLA) does the same: only works you cited.
• A bibliography (Chicago, and a general term) lists the sources behind your work. In Chicago notes-bibliography style it normally lists the sources cited in your notes, and some instructors also accept works you consulted but did not cite. In everyday use, "bibliography" is the broad word for any list of sources.

If you are unsure which to use, follow the style your instructor names. Never mix the headings and formats of two styles in one paper.

Which style uses which term?

Harvard is not one single official style: universities publish their own versions, so check your institution's guide. The authorities for the others are the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), the MLA Handbook from the Modern Language Association, The Chicago Manual of Style from the University of Chicago Press, and the IEEE reference guide. Style guides are revised, so use the edition your department requires. The table reflects APA 7, MLA 9 and the 18th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style (2024) as of 2026-11-01; the Chicago patterns shown here are the same in the 17th edition.

One source in four styles

Take a real book: Carol S. Dweck's Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, published by Random House in 2006 in New York.

APA 7 (reference list)

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.

MLA 9 (Works Cited)

Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House, 2006.

Chicago notes-bibliography (bibliography)

Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House, 2006.

Harvard (reference list; a common university form, such as Cite Them Right)

Dweck, C.S. (2006) Mindset: the new psychology of success. New York: Random House.

Spot the differences in the same data:

How to format the list

Start on a new page and use the right heading

Put the list on its own page after the main text. Center the heading in APA and MLA (the APA heading is bold), and use the exact word for your style: References, Works Cited, Bibliography or Reference list.

Order alphabetically (except IEEE)

Sort by the first author's surname. Ignore "A", "An" and "The" at the start of a title when you sort works without an author. When one author has several works, order them by year in APA (oldest first) and by title in MLA and Chicago. Authors with the same surname are ordered by initial.

Use a hanging indent

In APA, MLA, Chicago and most Harvard guides, the first line of each entry sits at the margin and the following lines are indented, normally by 0.5 inches (1.27 cm). In Word or Google Docs, select the list and set Special indentation to Hanging. Do not make the indent with the space bar or the Tab key.

Spacing

Double-spacing is the default in APA and MLA student papers, with no extra space between entries. Chicago often single-spaces within an entry and leaves a blank line between entries. Your department may change this, so check the assignment.

What belongs in each list

Include a source if you quoted it, paraphrased it, or used its data, figures or specific claims. Do not list a source you only skimmed, unless your style or instructor asks for a bibliography of works consulted.

Each entry must be traceable by a reader. Typical elements are author, date, title, container (journal or website), publisher and a URL or DOI. A DOI is a permanent identifier for a journal article; in APA 7 and MLA 9 it is given as a link (for example, https://doi.org/...). Check each source for the elements your style requires.

Every in-text citation must lead to an entry, and every entry must be cited at least once. In APA, an in-text citation such as (Dweck, 2006) should find "Dweck, C. S. (2006)" in the list. In MLA, (Dweck 45) should find "Dweck, Carol S." under Works Cited.

Annotated bibliographies

An annotated bibliography adds a short paragraph under each entry, usually 100 to 200 words, though your instructor sets the length. The annotation normally summarizes the source, evaluates its reliability and explains how it fits your project. Entries are formatted in your chosen style and sorted the same way. Our guide to the annotated bibliography shows how to write one.

A quick checklist

• ☐ I used the heading of the style my instructor named.
• ☐ Entries are in alphabetical order (or numbered order for IEEE).
• ☐ The first line of each entry is flush left, later lines indented.
• ☐ Every in-text citation has a matching entry, and every entry is cited.
• ☐ Author names, years, titles and DOIs are copied from the source itself.
• ☐ Capitalization and italics follow one style throughout.
• ☐ I checked the finished list against the style guide.

Common mistakes

• Calling every list a bibliography. In APA the heading is References, in MLA it is Works Cited.
• Listing sources you did not cite in a reference list. APA and MLA expect only cited works.
• Mixing formats. A year in brackets after the author (APA) next to a year at the end (MLA) in one list looks careless.
• Sorting by first name. Sort by surname.
• Citing a secondary source as if you read the original. Cite what you actually read; our guide to primary and secondary sources explains the difference.
• Forgetting the hanging indent. Format it with the paragraph settings.

Build the list with AdeptWrite

The Citation Generator creates citations in APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago, Harvard and IEEE from a form you fill in. It runs in your browser. Treat the output as a draft and verify it against your style guide, in particular capitalization, the DOI form and the edition your department requires. Use the Grammar Checker (up to 6,000 characters per run) to proofread annotations. To understand citations in the body of your paper, read about in-text citations, and see the Harvard referencing guide for that style's details.

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