How To Write a Bibliography (Plus Printable Guide With Examples)

• What’s a bibliography?
• What does a bibliography entry embrace?
• What are the totally different bibliography types?
• APA Model Bibliography and Examples
• MLA Model Bibliography and Examples
• Chicago Handbook of Model Bibliography Examples
• Bibliography Guidelines
• Get your free printable bibliography information!

Writing a analysis paper includes plenty of work. College students must seek the advice of quite a lot of sources to assemble dependable info and guarantee their factors are nicely supported. Analysis papers embrace a bibliography, which generally is a little difficult for college students. Learn to write a bibliography in a number of types and discover primary examples under.

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IMPORTANT: Every fashion information has its personal very particular guidelines, they usually usually battle with each other. Moreover, every kind of reference materials has many doable codecs, relying on quite a lot of components. The overviews proven right here are supposed to information college students in writing primary bibliographies, however this info is under no circumstances full. College students ought to at all times refer on to the popular fashion information to make sure they’re utilizing probably the most up-to-date codecs and types.

What’s a bibliography?

Once you’re researching a paper, you’ll doubtless seek the advice of all kinds of sources. It’s possible you’ll quote a few of these immediately in your work, summarize a number of the factors they make, or just use them to additional the data it’s worthwhile to write your paper. Since these concepts usually are not your personal, it’s important to offer credit score to the authors who initially wrote them. This record of sources, organized alphabetically, is named a bibliography.

A bibliography ought to embrace all of the supplies you consulted in your analysis, even if you happen to don’t quote immediately from them in your paper. These sources may embrace (however aren’t restricted to):

• Books and e-books
• Periodicals like magazines or newspapers
• On-line articles or web sites
• Movies, podcasts, or social media posts
• Main supply paperwork like letters or official data

Bibliography vs. References

These two phrases are generally used interchangeably, however they really have totally different meanings. As famous above, a bibliography consists of all of the supplies you used whereas researching your paper, whether or not or not you quote from them or consult with them immediately in your writing.

An inventory of references solely consists of the supplies you cite all through your work. You would possibly use direct quotes or summarize the data for the reader. Both means, you need to make sure you give credit score to the unique creator or doc. This part could be titled “Listing of Works Cited” or just “References.”

Your trainer could specify whether or not it’s best to embrace a bibliography or a reference record. In the event that they don’t, contemplate selecting a bibliography to point out all of the works you utilized in researching your paper. This will help the reader see that your factors are nicely supported and permit them to do additional studying on their very own in the event that they’re .

Bibliography vs. Citations

Citations consult with direct quotations from a textual content which are woven into your personal writing. There are a number of how to jot down citations, together with footnotes and endnotes. These are usually shorter than the entries in a reference record or bibliography. Learn more about writing citations here.

What does a bibliography entry embrace?

Relying on the reference materials, bibliography entries embrace quite a lot of info meant to assist a reader find the fabric in the event that they wish to consult with it themselves. These entries are listed in alphabetical order and will embrace:

Usually, entries don’t require web page numbers until the supply is a journal article or journal article. In any other case, web page numbers are often solely wanted in a footnote or endnote quotation.

What are the totally different bibliography types?

In america, writers most frequently use considered one of three main fashion guides: APA (American Psychological Affiliation), MLA (Fashionable Language Affiliation), or The Chicago Handbook of Model. There are various others as nicely, however these three are the most typical selections for Ok–12 college students.

Many lecturers will state their desire for one fashion information over one other. In the event that they don’t, you may select your personal most well-liked fashion. Nonetheless, you also needs to use that information on your complete paper, following their suggestions for punctuation, grammar, and extra. It will guarantee you might be constant all through.

Beneath, you’ll learn to write a easy bibliography utilizing every of the three main fashion guides. We’ve included particulars for books and e-books, periodicals, and digital sources like web sites and movies. If the reference materials kind it’s worthwhile to embrace isn’t proven right here, refer on to the fashion information you’re utilizing.

APA Model Bibliography and Examples

Technically, APA fashion requires an inventory of references as a substitute of a bibliography. In case your trainer requires you to make use of the APA style guide, you may restrict your reference record to solely gadgets you cite all through your work.

How To Write a Bibliography (References) Utilizing APA Model

Listed below are some common notes on writing an APA reference record:

• Title your bibliography part “References” and middle the title on the highest line of the web page.
• Don’t middle your references; they need to be left-aligned. For longer gadgets, subsequent traces ought to use a dangling indent of 1/2 inch.
• Embody all varieties of sources in the identical record.
• Alphabetize your record by creator or creator, final identify first.
• Don’t spell out the creator/creator’s first or center identify—solely use their initials.
• If there are a number of authors/creators, use an ampersand (&) earlier than the ultimate creator/creator.
• Place the date in parentheses.
• Capitalize solely the primary phrase of the title and subtitle, until the phrase would in any other case be capitalized (correct names, and many others.).
• Italicize the titles of books, periodicals, and movies.
• For web sites, embrace the total website info, together with the http:// or https:// at first.

Books and E-Books APA Bibliography Examples

For books, APA reference record entries use this format (solely embrace the writer’s web site for e-books):

Final Title, First Preliminary. Center Preliminary. (Publication date). Title with solely first phrase capitalized (until there’s a correct identify/noun). Writer. Writer’s web site

• Wynn, S. (2020). Metropolis of London at battle 1939–45. Pen & Sword Army. https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Metropolis-of-London-at-Battle-193945-Paperback/p/17299

Periodical APA Bibliography Examples

For journal or journal articles, use the next format. In the event you considered the article on-line, embrace the URL on the finish of the quotation.

Final Title, First Preliminary. Center Preliminary. (Publication date). Title of article. Journal or Journal Title (Quantity quantity)Situation quantity, web page numbers. URL

• Bell, A. (2009). Landscapes of worry: Wartime London, 1939–1945. Journal of British Research (48)1, 153–175. https://www.jstor.org/secure/25482966

Right here’s the format for newspapers. For print editions, embrace the web page quantity/s. For on-line articles, embrace the total URL:

Final Title, First Preliminary. Center Preliminary. (Yr, Month Day) Title of article. Newspaper title. Web page quantity/s. URL

• Blakemore, E. (2022, November 12) Researchers observe down two copies of fossil destroyed by the Nazis. The Washington Publish. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/11/12/ichthyosaur-fossil-images-discovered/

Digital APA Bibliography Examples

For articles with a particular creator on an internet site, use this format:

Final Title, First Preliminary. Center Preliminary. (Yr, Month Day). Title. Website identify. URL or DOI

• Wukovits, J. (2023, January 30). A World Battle II survivor recollects the London Blitz. British Heritage. https://britishheritage.com/historical past/world-war-ii-survivor-london-blitz

When a web based article doesn’t embrace a particular creator or date, record it like this:

Title. (Yr, Month Day). Website identify. Retrieved Month Day, Yr, from URL

• Rising up within the Second World Battle. (n.d.). Imperial Battle Museums. Retrieved Could 12, 2023, from https://www.iwm.org.uk/historical past/growing-up-in-the-second-world-war

On-line Video and Podcast APA Examples

When it’s worthwhile to record a YouTube video, use the identify of the account that uploaded the video, and format it like this:

Title of Account. (Add Yr, Month Day). Title [Video]. YouTube. URL

• Battle Tales. (2023, January 15). How did London survive the Blitz throughout WW2? Cities at battle: London [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/uwY6JlCvbxc

Use this format for podcasts:

Host Final, First. (Yr, Month Day). Title of episode (No. episode quantity) [Audio podcast episode]. In Title of Podcast. Manufacturing Firm. URL or DOI

• Garcia, M. (2023, March 10). Exploring native historical past (No. 12) [Audio podcast episode]. In Neighborhood Tales. Group Podcast Community. https://www.communitypodcasts.org/episode12

Social Media APA Quotation Instance

Once you quote from a publish on Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, or different social media channels, use this format:

Writer’s Final Title, First Preliminary. [@username]. (Yr, Month Day). First sentence or description of the publish. Social Media Channel. URL

• Merriam-Webster. [@merriamwebster]. (2025, September 15). We hope you learn this with rapt consideration. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DO8mwRGDT1F/

For more information on writing APA bibliographies, see the APA Style Guide website.

APA Bibliography (Reference Listing) Instance Pages

MLA Model Bibliography and Examples

MLA fashion requires a Works Cited part, which incorporates all supplies quoted or referred to in your paper. You might also embrace a Works Consulted part, together with different reference sources you reviewed however didn’t immediately cite. Collectively, these represent a bibliography. In case your trainer requests an MLA Style Guide bibliography, ask if you happen to ought to embrace Works Consulted in addition to Works Cited.

How To Write a Bibliography (Works Cited and Works Consulted) in MLA Model

For each MLA Works Cited and Works Consulted sections, use these common pointers:

• Begin your Works Cited record on a brand new web page. In the event you embrace a Works Consulted record, begin that by itself new web page after the Works Cited part.
• Heart the title (Works Cited or Works Consulted) in the course of the road on the prime of the web page.
• Align the beginning of every supply to the left margin, and use a dangling indent (1/2 inch) for the next traces of every supply.
• Alphabetize your sources utilizing the primary phrase of the quotation, often the creator’s final identify.
• Embody the creator’s full identify as listed, final identify first.
• Capitalize titles utilizing the standard MLA format.
• Depart off the http:// or https:// at first of a URL.

Books and E-Books MLA Bibliography Examples

For books, MLA reference record entries use the next format. Add the URL on the finish for e-books.

Final Title, First Title Center Title. Title. Writer, Date. URL

• Wynn, Stephen. Metropolis of London at Battle 1939–45. Pen & Sword Army, 2020. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Metropolis-of-London-at-Battle-193945-Paperback/p/17299

Periodical MLA Bibliography Examples

Right here’s the MLA-style format for magazines, journals, and newspapers. For on-line articles, add the URL on the finish of the itemizing:

For magazines and journals:

Final Title, First Title. “Title: Subtitle.” Title of Journal, quantity quantity, challenge quantity, Date of Publication, First Web page Quantity–Final Web page Quantity.

• Bell, Amy. “Landscapes of Worry: Wartime London, 1939–1945.” Journal of British Research, vol. 48, no. 1, January 2009, pp. 153–175. www.jstor.org/secure/25482966

When citing newspapers, embrace the web page quantity/s for print editions or the URL for on-line articles:

Final Title, First Title. “Title of article.” Newspaper title. Web page quantity/s. Yr, Month Day. Web page quantity or URL

• Blakemore, Erin. “Researchers Observe Down Two Copies of Fossil Destroyed by the Nazis.” The Washington Publish. 2022, Nov. 12. www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/11/12/ichthyosaur-fossil-images-discovered/

Digital MLA Bibliography Examples

For articles with a particular creator on an internet site, use this format:

Final Title, First Title. Yr. “Title.” Month Day, Yr revealed. URL

• Wukovits, John. “A World Battle II Survivor Remembers the London Blitz.” British Heritage, 8 Nov. 2024, britishheritage.com/historical past/world-war-ii-survivor-london-blitz

When a web based article doesn’t embrace a particular creator or date, record it like this:

Web site. n.d. “Title.” Accessed Day Month, Yr. URL.

• Imperial Battle Museum. n.d. “Rising Up within the Second World Battle.” Accessed Could 9, 2023. www.iwm.org.uk/historical past/growing-up-in-the-second-world-war.

Video and Podcast MLA Citations

For movies from YouTube and different websites:

Creator, if obtainable. “Title of Video.” Web site. Uploaded by Username, Day Month Yr. URL.

• “How did London survive the Blitz throughout WW2?” Cities at battle: London | Battle tales.” YouTube. Uploaded by Battle Tales, 15 Jan. 2023. youtu.be/uwY6JlCvbxc.

For podcasts:

Host Final, First. “Title of Episode.” Title of Podcast, season #, episode #, Writer/Manufacturing Firm, Day Month Yr. URL.

• Garcia, Maria. “Exploring Native Historical past.” Neighborhood Tales, episode 12, Group Podcast Community, 10 Mar. 2023, www.communitypodcasts.org/episode12

Social Media MLA Citations

When citing from a social media channel, use this MLA format:

Writer’s Final Title, First Title [@username]. “First sentence or description of the publish.” Social Media Channel, Day Month Yr, URL.

• Merriam-Webster [@merriamwebster]. “We hope you learn this with rapt consideration’.” Instagram, 15 Sept. 2025, https://www.instagram.com/p/DO8mwRGDT1F/.

For more information on writing MLA-style bibliographies, see the MLA Style website.

MLA Bibliography (Works Cited) Instance Pages

Chicago Handbook of Model Bibliography Examples

The Chicago Handbook of Model (generally known as “Turabian”) truly has two choices for citing reference materials: Notes and Bibliography and Writer-Date. No matter which you employ, you’ll want an entire detailed record of reference gadgets on the finish of your paper. The examples under reveal how one can write that record.

How To Write a Bibliography Utilizing The Chicago Handbook of Model

Listed below are some common notes on writing a Chicago-style bibliography:

• It’s possible you’ll title it “Bibliography” or “References.” Heart this title on the prime of the web page and add two clean traces earlier than the primary entry.
• Left-align every entry, with a dangling half-inch indent for subsequent traces of every entry.
• Single-space every entry, with a clean line between entries.
• Embody the “http://” or “https://” at first of URLs.

Books and E-Books Chicago Handbook of Model Bibliography Examples

For books, Chicago-style reference record entries use the next format. (For print books, depart off the details about how the ebook was accessed.)

Final Title, First Title Center Title. Title. Metropolis of Publication: Writer, Date. How e-book was accessed.

• Wynn, Stephen. Metropolis of London at Battle 1939–45. Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Army, 2020. Kindle version.

Periodical Chicago Handbook of Model Bibliography Examples

Right here’s the fashion format for magazines, journals, and newspapers. For on-line articles, add the URL on the finish of the itemizing.

For journal and journal articles, use this format:

Final Title, First Title. Yr of Publication. “Title: Subtitle.” Title of Journal, Quantity Quantity, challenge quantity, First Web page Quantity–Final Web page Quantity. URL.

• Bell, Amy. 2009. “Landscapes of Worry: Wartime London, 1939–1945.” Journal of British Research, 48 no. 1, 153–175. https://www.jstor.org/secure/25482966.

When citing newspapers, embrace the URL for on-line articles:

Final Title, First Title. Yr of Publication. “Title: Subtitle.” Title of Newspaper, Month Day, Yr. URL.

• Blakemore, Erin. 2022. “Researchers Observe Down Two Copies of Fossil Destroyed by the Nazis.” The Washington Publish, November 12, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/11/12/ichthyosaur-fossil-images-discovered/.

Digital Chicago Handbook of Model Bibliography Examples

For articles with a particular creator on an internet site, use this format:

Final Title, First Title Center Title. “Title.” Website Title. Yr, Month Day. URL.

• Wukovits, John. “A World Battle II Survivor Remembers the London Blitz.” British Heritage. 2023, Jan. 30. britishheritage.com/historical past/world-war-ii-survivor-london-blitz.

When a web based article doesn’t embrace a particular creator or date, record it like this:

“Title.” Website Title. URL. Accessed Month Day, Yr.

• “Rising Up within the Second World Battle.” Imperial Battle Museums. www.iwm.org.uk/historical past/growing-up-in-the-second-world-war. Accessed Could 9, 2023.

Video and Podcast Chicago Model Examples

Use this format for YouTube and different movies:

Creator or Username. “Title of Video.” Web site video, size. Month Day, Yr. URL.

• Battle Tales. “How Did London Survive the Blitz Throughout WW2? | Cities at Battle: London | Battle Tales.” YouTube video, 51:25. January 15, 2023. https://youtu.be/uwY6JlCvbxc.

For podcasts, use this format:

Host First Final. “Title of Episode.” Title of Podcast. Season #, episode #. Writer, Month Day, Yr. URL or DOI.

• Maria Garcia. “Exploring Native Historical past.” Neighborhood Tales. Episode 12. Group Podcast Community, March 10, 2023. https://www.communitypodcasts.org/episode12.

Social Media Chicago Handbook of Model Citations

Use this fashion when quoting from social media posts:

Writer’s First Title Final Title (@username). “First sentence or description of the publish.” Social Media Channel, Month Day, Yr. URL.

• Merriam-Webster (@merriamwebster). “We hope you learn this with rapt consideration.” Instagram, September 15, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DO8mwRGDT1F/.

For more information on writing Chicago-style bibliographies, see the Chicago Manual of Style website.

Chicago Handbook of Model Bibliography Instance Pages

Bibliography Guidelines

Preparation

• Decide required quotation fashion: MLA, APA, Chicago, or different: ________________
• All needed information famous: creator, title, writer, date, web page numbers, URL/DOI, and many others.

Entry Format

• Every entry begins with the creator’s identify (or title if no creator).
• Names are written within the right order for the fashion (e.g., Final, First usually).
• The date is in the precise place for the fashion (early in APA, later in MLA, and many others.).
• Titles are capitalized appropriately (sentence case for APA; title case for MLA and Chicago).
• Publishers included (ebook, web site, or group).
• On-line sources embrace a working hyperlink (URL or DOI).
• Required web page numbers, quantity/challenge numbers, or version particulars included.

Listing Format

• Bibliography is on a separate web page on the finish of the paper.
• The title (“References,” “Works Cited,” or “Bibliography”) is centered on the prime.
• Entries are in alphabetical order by creator’s final identify (or first vital phrase of the title if no creator).
• Every entry makes use of a dangling indent (first line flush left, following traces indented).
• The record is double-spaced (if required by the fashion).
• Identical font and dimension as the remainder of the paper.

Closing Examine

• All sources quoted, paraphrased, or summarized seem within the bibliography.
• Each merchandise within the bibliography can be cited within the textual content, until the task requires a broader “Works Consulted” record.
• Entries checked towards a dependable fashion information (or the printable information from class).
• Proofread for punctuation and elegance particulars (intervals, commas, italics, citation marks).
• Adopted teacher’s particular directions precisely.

10 Frequent Bibliography Errors To Keep away from

1. Mixing quotation types (MLA vs. APA vs. Chicago) in a single record
2. Not placing entries in alphabetical order
3. Forgetting uncommon sources like interviews, podcasts, or social media
4. Forgetting hanging indents
5. Incorrect punctuation or capitalization
6. Misspelling authors’ names, or mixing up first and final names
7. Forgetting citation marks or italics when wanted
8. Forgetting date or utilizing improper publication date
9. Leaving out URL or DOI for on-line sources
10. Utilizing damaged/shortened URLs, or forgetting “https://” when wanted

Get your free printable bibliography information!

Simply fill out the shape on this web page to seize our printable Bibliography Information for College students with examples from all three main fashion guides: APA (American Psychological Affiliation), MLA (Fashionable Language Affiliation), and The Chicago Handbook of Model.

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