How to Write a Bibliography: Basic Rules

Before you start writing your essay, make sure that you set aside a page in your document for the bibliography. This will help you list each source as you use it and avoid forgetting to include it before submitting the essay.

For each source, you are going to need to record a few details. Check with your institution how many sources you are required to use and whether it specifies a particular type of source.

For print publications (including those that are scanned and uploaded to the web), you will need to gather:

• The author’s first name and last name
• The title of the publication/journal
• The title of the article or chapter
• The date of the publication
• The place of publication and publishing company
• The volume or edition of the publication
• The page number(s)

For online publications, try to find as many of the details specified above. It is best to use online databases that provide scholarly articles with full references. These resources offer up-to-date and trustworthy sources. Make sure to gather the web address of the page and the date you retrieved it. If a detail is unavailable, do not guess; follow the required style’s guidance for handling missing information. For a webpage that changes over time, recording the retrieval date can help clarify which version you consulted.

Most of the information is located either on the first or home page, on the last pages, or in sections titled “About”.

You can create the full reference for each source as you go (recommended), or gather all the details and craft the references before submitting.

Most institutions will use either APA or MLA styles. Make sure to check which one you are required to use, as they differ significantly.

• The APA citation for a book will follow this rule:

Author, A.A. (Year of Publication). Title of work. Publisher City, State: Publisher.

Example: Smith, C. (1999). The magical book. Chicago, IL: Barnes & Heff

• The APA citation for a website will follow this rule:

Author, A.A. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title. Retrieved from URL

Example: Hopkins, C. (2001, March 8). Extraordinary life. Retrieved from www.CNN.com

In APA style, the bibliography page should be titled “References”, and each entry must use a hanging indentation. This means that the second and subsequent lines of each reference must be indented. Use the edition of the style guide required by your institution, and apply its rules consistently throughout the list.

As you will see, MLA style differs slightly from APA style, but you are still required to use the same details for each source.

The MLA citation for a book will follow this rule:

Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Publisher City: Publisher Name, Year Published. Medium.

• Example: Smith, Christopher. The Magical Book. Chicago: Barnes & Heff, 1999. Print.

Notice that the book title must have each word capitalized.

The MLA citation for a website will follow this rule:

Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Website Title. Sponsoring Institution/Publisher. Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.

• Example: Hopkins, Carl. “Extraordinary Life”. CNN.com. Cable News Network, 8 March 2001. Web. 5 June 2016.

Unlike APA, the bibliography page must be titled “Works Cited”. Sources must also be listed with hanging indentation. Check the required MLA edition for details such as access dates and formatting, and use the same rules throughout.

There you have a basic introduction to bibliographies. Keep this article close whenever you need a quick revision for your next academic paper.

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