Bibliography vs. works cited vs. references

All three are lists of sources at the end of a paper, and people often use the words loosely. In a class, though, the title at the top of your list signals which citation style you are following, so it should match the style the assignment asks for. Here is what each term means, how the lists differ and how one source looks in each style.

The short answer

What is a Works Cited page?

Works Cited is the MLA name for the list of sources. As the title says, it includes only the works you actually cited: every source you quote, paraphrase, summarize or refer to in your paper, and nothing else. Each entry matches an author-page citation in your text, such as (Rivera 45). If you cite only one source, the title becomes Work Cited. See the full MLA Works Cited guide.

What is a References page?

References is the APA name, and many scientific and technical styles use it too. Like Works Cited, it lists only the sources you cite, and each entry matches an author-date citation in the text, such as (Rivera, 2019). APA is strict about the match: every in-text citation needs a reference entry, and every reference entry needs at least one in-text citation. The main exception is personal communication, such as an interview you conducted or an email, which is cited in the text only. See the APA reference page guide.

What is a bibliography?

In Chicago's notes-bibliography style, the list at the end is called the Bibliography. It holds the sources cited in your footnotes and may also include important works you consulted but did not cite. In everyday speech, bibliography is also the general word for any list of sources, which is why teachers sometimes say "bibliography" when they mean a Works Cited or References page. If the assignment names a style, use that style's title. See Chicago style citation.

The same source in all three styles

Here is one invented journal article cited three ways. Compare the author names, the position of the year, the capitalization of the article title and the punctuation around the volume and issue.

The MLA version names the library database where the article was found as a second container; APA and Chicago usually leave the database out when there is a DOI. APA also skips the final period after a DOI, while MLA and Chicago end the entry with one.

Key formatting differences

Which one should you use?

• Follow the assignment. If it names a style, use that style's list title and format.
• If the assignment says "bibliography" but asks for MLA or APA, use Works Cited or References. Your teacher is using the word in its general sense.
• If no style is given, ask. If you cannot ask, pick the style common in the subject: MLA for literature, APA for social sciences and education, Chicago for history.
• Use one style for the whole paper. Never mix MLA entries with APA entries on the same list.

Can you list sources you did not cite?

Not on a Works Cited or References page. Those lists are limited to sources that appear in your text. If your teacher wants credit for background reading, there are two common options. In MLA, add a separate list titled Works Consulted, or use that title instead of Works Cited if your teacher prefers. In Chicago, the bibliography itself can include works you consulted. APA has no equivalent: if a source matters enough to list, cite it in your text.

What about an annotated bibliography?

An annotated bibliography adds a paragraph under each citation that summarizes and evaluates the source. It can follow MLA, APA or Chicago formatting. It is usually a separate assignment written before the paper, not a replacement for the Works Cited or References page at the end of the paper. See annotated bibliography for examples and a template.

Common mistakes

• Titling an APA list Bibliography or an MLA list References.
• Listing every source you looked at on a Works Cited or References page.
• Putting entries in the order they appear in the paper. MLA, APA and Chicago all alphabetize; only numbered styles, common in engineering and medicine, list sources by number.
• Bolding the MLA title, or forgetting to bold the APA title.
• Mixing formats, such as APA initials with MLA punctuation.
• Forgetting the hanging indent, which all three styles use.
• Citing a source in the text that never appears on the list, or the reverse. Check both directions before you submit.