-->
Learn and Generate Bibliographies, Citations, and Works Cited

CategoryCitations

Creating a bibliography is all about citing the works that you used in your essay to back up your research. However, depending on the type of work that you created or what it’s for, your citations are going to be a bit different.

Citation Formats, Styles and Examples

Generally, most of your writing will fall into the big three writing styles: APA, MLA or CMOS. But, other styles, like the Turabian and Harvard, are also available.

American Psychological Association

One of the most common styles, APA is used for essays or research papers in education, psychology, social sciences, etc. Citing sources will look different depending on the source. A printed book would be sourced in APA like:

Author last name, First initial. (year of publication) Title of work. City, State Publisher: Publisher.

Modern Language Association

If your essay falls into the area of humanities or liberal arts, you might opt for the MLA format for citations. While there are several ways to cite a source, citing a printed book will look like:

Last name, First name, Middle initial. Title of book. Publication place: Publisher, Publication date: Print

Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian

Business and fine arts writers might use a different approach. The CMOS is a professional style that offers a variety of different ways to list your sources in a bibliography. The Turabian is a form of the Chicago style that is designed for essays that will not be published. A print book citation in CMOS will look like:

Last name, First name. Title of book. Publication place: Publisher, publication date.

Harvard Referencing System

The Harvard style is designed for informational texts and can be used for liberal arts or social sciences. Referencing a book looks like:

Last name, First initial. (Year Publication). Title of work. Edition. Place published: Publisher.

How to Add or Insert Citations in Word Quickly
H

If you’re using Microsoft Word for writing your school project, you’ll benefit from some tricks to help you format your academic paper. For example, there is a very easy way to insert citations in a Word document. Follow along with the steps below and you’ll be adding in-text citations to your school paper with ease. Inserting Citations in Word, Step by Step Follow these steps to insert citations...

Setting Up Dictionary Citations for Your Essay and Paper
S

A good way to guide your reader to the exact definition of a word you’ve used in your essay is to include a dictionary citation. You should keep in mind, however, that reference works, like dictionaries and encyclopedias, are secondary sources. You should use primary sources as much as possible in your essay instead. Setting up dictionary citations for your essay depends on the type of style used...

APA Image Citations for Photos and Digital Pictures
A

Adding images, such as photos and digital pictures, to your sources helps your reader better visualize your research. Several sites provide access to historical photos, for example. A quick web search using the keyphrase “free historical images archive” can yield quite a few sites. Narrow your search to find a more specific image. Then, you’ll need to learn how to properly...

How to Do Citations in Google Docs in Simple Steps
H

Often, students work in teams to create research papers. Google Docs is a popular way to work on shared documents, as it is free and easy to use. As each team member edits, adds comments and reviews the final paper, they can add citations to the Google Docs file. Then, all it takes is one final review before submitting your paper to your teacher. Using Google Docs to Insert Citations As you write...

Why Are Proper Citations Important in Academic Writing?
W

As students begin writing papers for English and history classes, they learn about citing sources. At first, writing proper citations in academic writing seems confusing and strange. You might even think it’s a waste of time! However, as you continue to write your papers, it becomes clear why you must include citations in your research papers and essays. Understanding Style Guides When your...

Define What In-Text Citations Are for Academic Writing
D

As you start writing for your English and history classes, you learn many new terms. You learn you need to cite your research sources, but you may not understand exactly what each term means. Learning the terms used in academic writing helps you understand the process. To define what in-text citations are for academic writing, we’ll first start by defining citations in general. What Are Citations...

How to Do In-Text Citations in APA Format
H

As you start writing your paper, you realize you need to include in-text citations in the proper APA format. In-text citations are sometimes called “parenthetical” citations because they are placed inside parentheses within a sentence. You may also place them within a sentence directly. Purpose of In-Text Citations Writing a research paper usually means you’re referencing other...

Easy MLA Style Guide for Students
E

As you enter middle and high school English classes, you will be asked to write papers in the MLA style. Using MLA may seem confusing at first; however, as you gain skills, you’ll realize that writing in this style actually helps you organize your paper, do research and avoid plagiarism. Understanding MLA style is the first step to a successful research writing experience. Overview of MLA...

Et al. and Other Latin Abbreviations
E

Although we see abbreviated Latin words in articles, they can still be confusing. Sometimes, the way people use them is incorrect. Many Latin abbreviations have fallen out of common use, but are still used in scholarly writing – ibid., et al., and i.e. are frequently used in text and reference citations. Definition of et al. Et al. means “and others” in Latin. Actually, it’s an abbreviation...

What Endnotes Are and How to Use Them in a Research Paper
W

The Chicago notes-biblio style uses endnotes and footnotes. An endnote and a footnote serve the same purpose. The difference is placement: a footnote is at the bottom of the page, whereas an endnote belongs at the end of a paper, book or chapter. These notes are short additions, clarifications or copyright information. By placing them outside of the text, you can provide the reader with a better...

Difference Between a Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography
D

As students enter the research writing world, they have to learn a whole new language about theses, bibliographies, secondary sources, and other new terms. Some students may not understand the difference between an abstract, an annotated bibliography entry, and a literature review. The confusion is understandable as there are many similarities in these aspects of report writing. First of all...

Abstracts vs. Annotated Bibliographies With Examples
A

Sometimes students are assigned to write annotated bibliographies as standalone assignments. This is a good exercise to learn how to research and evaluate sources. Some students may wonder if abstracts are the same as annotated bibliographies. Others may wonder if they need to include an abstract with the annotated bibliography. Although the two appear similar on the surface, each serves a...

Understanding Primary and Secondary Sources
U

No matter what editorial style you use for your school essay — APA, Chicago, or MLA — you will need to understand the difference between primary and secondary sources. Indeed, most papers include a combination of both. It’s important to learn how to evaluate sources, so you can be sure you’re only using material and data prepared by authoritative sources. Examples of...

Writing a Literature Review for a College Research Paper
W

When you write an APA research paper, you will follow the introduction with a brief recap of the previous literature on your topic. This literature review helps guide your reader through your research process and backs up your research strategy and thesis. Literature Review Section A literature review can be a research paper on its own. The author will critically evaluate published material on a...

Copyright and Fair Use for Students
C

Copyright law allows for fair use by students of copyrighted permissions, but only under certain conditions. It’s important to understand how copyright law affects you as it’s a serious business. Publishers and companies spend a lot of money and legal time to protect their copyrights, trademarks and patents. With so much information available online, it’s easy to think it’s all open for your use...

How to Find Credible Sources for School Essays
H

One of the most important parts of researching your school paper topic is making sure you are using credible sources for your research. There is so much information available online that it can be overwhelming at first. However, if you follow these tips, you will learn to recognize authoritative sources quickly. What Is a Source? Let’s start at the beginning. First, you’ll need to understand...

Finding Public Domain Sources for Your Class Essay
F

Are you looking for primary sources for your humanities or social studies school projects? Primary sources are original materials or research. By comparison, secondary sources are those materials that talk about primary sources. For example, an autobiography is a primary source and a biography is a secondary source. Public domain sources be very useful as primary sources. For example, websites...

How to Write a History or Social Studies Essay
H

Social studies classes are required in high school and college. In fact, you’ve probably taken several social studies courses throughout your school years. As you graduate into higher level courses, you will be required to prepare research papers about various subjects. Most instructors require either MLA style or Chicago style for your social studies essay. What Does Social Studies Mean...

Works Cited vs. Bibliography vs. APA References Differences
W

As we have learned in other articles on this site, there is a difference between the way you cite references in your school paper, including using a reference list or a works cited list. It all depends on what citation style your teacher asks you to use while you’re preparing your school project bibliography. Differences of Style Many people use the terms “works cited,”...

Works Cited Page Example
W

Your paper is perfect! All your in-text quotes have a citation, the formatting is top-notch and you’re now breathing a sigh of relief. Until you realize you don’t have a works cited. Don’t lose your cool. You have the research and the paper. Now, just follow the works cited page example below as guide to create your own. How to Do a Works Cited Page A works cited page is the last page of your MLA...

Easy APA Citation Guide to Generate Your Own APA Reference Pages
E

Your professor requested APA format and your paper is done. Time to breathe easy, right? What about your references page? You didn’t think to create that while you were writing your paper and now you are staring at it in horror. You have your references, but what should they look like? How should they be formatted? Check out a few examples and you’ll find that formatting an APA citation is...

Turabian Style Citations and Bibliography
T

Your professor has told you to write your paper in Turabian style, but you’re clueless. You keep seeing this style and Chicago combined. Now you are really confused. Find your answers to what Turabian is and how it’s created. What Is Turabian Style? Turabian is a style covered under the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). The difference in these styles is who they are created for...

Differences Between Bibliography, Works Cited, and References
D

Is your head spinning over the difference? Don’t let the terminology get to you. In their most basic form, references, works cited and a bibliography are all essentially the same thing. They’re a page (or pages) at the end of your paper where you cite the sources you used to form your essay. Learn when to use a list of references, a bibliography or a works cited list, along with how they’re...

How to Make a Citation in MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian
H

In high school, college and even during your professional career, knowing how to make a citation within your writing is important. The citation lets the reader know where you found the information and where they can find the information. It also makes it clear that these aren’t your thoughts. Citation is all about giving credit where credit is due. Citation is All About Style Whether it’s...

Understanding Citations vs. References
U

References and citations are the apples and oranges of the writing world. While it might seem like these two words are interchangeable. They are distinctly different within a scholarly writing piece. Learn what they are and how to use each one. Citations or References No matter what writing style that you use, you’ll come across the reference or citation dilemma, especially if you’re a...

How to Write and Create Footnotes in MLA, APA, and Chicago
H

The time has come. You need to write footnotes as part of your paper. The sweat is beading. You’re starting to wonder if there is a way around it. Formatting footnotes isn’t the end of the world, if you know what you’re doing. When to Use Footnotes in APA Before you dive head first into the world of footnotes, it is important to realize that APA format doesn’t generally recommend that you...

How to Cite the Bible in APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago
H

The Bible is a formidable opponent when it comes to writing. How are you supposed to cite the different elements in the Bible? How does it vary with each citation style? The list of questions goes on and on. However, don’t sweat it. Breaking down how to cite Bible verse is as easy as A, B, C. First In-Text Citation or Parenthetical Reference There are different places that you might choose to...

How to Cite a PDF in MLA, APA, and Chicago
H

You’ve found the best source ever, but it is a PDF. Don’t overlook it just because you are unsure of how to cite this type of document. Find out how to cite a PDF in your references, no matter which style you are using. Cite a One Author PDF Setting up the citation in your references for a PDF is similar to an e-book or another digital document. However, depending on different variables, like...

How to Cite a Picture in MLA
H

Images add diversity and visual information that sometimes just isn’t possible with words alone. But, how do you cite a picture and add it to your MLA works cited list? Learn the ins and outs of citing a picture in your work and a little about the legalities. Adding a Reproduced Image in Text Sometimes, it makes sense to reference images visually to prove a point. This is especially true if you...

How to Cite YouTube and Other Videos in MLA and APA
H

With the advent of YouTube, Vimeo and other great sites, you can find short videos and how-to-videos online from a wide range of experts. This means, you might need to cite a video as part of your essay. Make your video citations “fabulous” by following a few simple tricks. Style Matters Of course, style matters. This is professional writing, after all. However, basically each style...

Correct Blog Citations Using APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago
C

You thought that your citation game was strong. But, you’ve hit a blog. Don’t stress. Blog style citations typically break down the who, when, what and where of the blog you used. Just so you are prepared for anything that comes your way, learn the formats for APA, MLA, Harvard and Chicago. How to Cite a Blog in APA Listen up social science, education or psychology writers. Because, this is for...

APA Style Citations for Direct Quotes, Paraphrasing, and References
A

You think citing quotes in your APA paper is going to be simple. But, suddenly you have one book with multiple authors and another book with no date. You’re trying to add a citation for a website quote with no author or date. Plus, you have an interview. Simple citations have become a mess. Break down citations for books, websites and even interviews in even the most difficult of situations...

APA Citations for Personal Interviews and Transcripts
A

Interviews can add a personalized touch to your paper, since this information is not found anywhere else and comes from an expert. Interviews are primary sources. Since you’ve done all the hard work and conducted these interviews, make sure you format your citations correctly in APA style. Give your paper the polished look it deserves. Adding an Interview in APA APA is a style set forth by the...

How to Cite a Wikipedia Page in 4 Easy Ways
H

Wikipedia is a great starting point for research. Some will caution using it as a source because the content is user generated and plagiarism issues can come into play. But, it’s usually backed up with additional sources that can improve your writing. If you’re adding it to your bibliography, reference list or works cited, there are a few easy ways to cite Wikipedia no matter what format...

Tips on Citing a Poem in MLA Style
T

Hath thou ever cited a poem before? Citing a poem in MLA format isn’t life or death; it’s simply a matter of knowing the format. Not only will your writing be flawless, but your poem quotations will be impeccable too. Citing a Poem In-Text Poems come in all shapes and sizes. They can be the size of a novel or as few as two lines. Therefore, it makes sense that citing a poem in the text of an MLA...