How do you know when to label your references “works cited” or “bibliography”? Is a works cited page for MLA or APA? In this blog post, we discuss the differences between works cited pages and bibliographies. As always, you should ask your instructor which style to use for your assignment.
Works cited
Typically, you’ll want to label your references “works cited” when you are using MLA style. This style pairs in-text, parenthetical citations with a works cited list at the end of the paper that includes full bibliographic references for all of the sources cited in the text.
MLA style is primarily used in the humanities. You might encounter this style in English or history classes. MLA is the only style that uses the works cited label for the reference list at the end of a paper.
Works cited lists should be alphabetized by the authors’ last names. Each entry should feature a hanging indent for the second, and subsequent, lines.
Bibliography
Several citation styles prefer the term “bibliography” for the final list of references, including Chicago or Turabian style. APA style typically uses the label, “references,” rather than “bibliography.”
Like a works cited page, a bibliography lists the full bibliographic references for all of the sources that were cited in a paper. Chicago style generally combines either footnotes or author-date parenthetical citations with a full bibliography.
Bibliographies are organized alphabetically by the authors’ last names. Entries should utilize a hanging indent for second and subsequent lines.
The bottom line
No matter what citation style you’re using for your paper, you need to be sure that you cite your sources correctly. Use BibGuru’s citation generator to instantly create full bibliographic references for your next works cited page or bibliography.
Frequently Asked Questions about works cited vs bibliography
🥦 Does MLA use a bibliography or works cited?
MLA style uses “works cited” to label the final list of references.
🌯 Is works cited and bibliography the same?
Works cited pages and bibliographies are essentially the same. They both should list the full references for any sources that are cited in the main body of the paper.
🍇 Does APA use works cited?
No. APA style prefers the label, “references,” for the reference list at the end of a paper.
🍔 How do you format a works cited?
Begin your works cited list on a new page. Center the title (Works Cited), but left justify the rest of the page. Then, add your full bibliographic references, alphabetizing them by the authors’ last names. Double-space the entire list and and indent the second, and subsequent, lines of each entry.
🍕 How do you format a bibliography?
Begin your bibliography on a new page. Center the title (Bibliography), but left justify the rest of the page. Then, add your full bibliographic references, alphabetizing them by the authors’ last names. Double-space the entire list and and indent the second, and subsequent, lines of each entry.
