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What’s the Difference Between a Reference List and a Bibliography?

  • Posted on August 16, 2023

Two terms often come to the fore when researching and writing: reference list and bibliography. The difference between the bibliography and references may appear minimal. 

However, they serve distinct purposes. A reference list comprises items specifically supporting ideas referred to and cited within the main body of a paper. In contrast, a bibliography collects all works consulted during the research process, whether directly quoted or not. 

While the reference list vs. bibliography debate is subtle, understanding these terms is crucial for students, teachers, and literature professionals.

Differences: Reference Lists vs Bibliographies

Reference lists and bibliographies play pivotal roles in academic and professional writing. However, distinguishing between them is essential to maintain the integrity of one’s work and adequately credit sources. Here’s a breakdown of their fundamental differences:

Nature of Listing:

Reference List: Comprises sources that are directly cited within the content.

Bibliography: Encompasses all the sources referred to during the research, regardless of whether they are cited in the text.

Reference List: Ensures readers can locate the sources of information and ideas mentioned in the paper.

Bibliography: Offers readers an overview of the breadth and depth of the research conducted, including sources that may provide further reading.

Reference List: Appears at the end of the paper, following any in-text citations.

Bibliography: Typically found at the end of the document, sometimes with an accompanying annotation, known as an annotated bibliography.

Citation Style:

Reference List: Often follows specific citation styles such as APA (American Psychological Association), which has guidelines for listing references.

Bibliography: While it can also adhere to styles like APA, the listing may be more comprehensive, including works that don’t strictly adhere to a specific style guide.

Reference List: Common in research papers, journal articles, and other academic writings where direct citations are made.

Bibliography: Often used in broader research projects, thesis work, or books where the author wants to showcase their research journey.

When conducting academic or professional research, understanding the distinction between a bibliography and references is crucial. It’s not merely a matter of semantics, but of ensuring appropriate credit, demonstrating the breadth of research, and offering readers avenues to further explore subjects.

Whether following the APA style for citations, arranging an alphabetical list of sources, or compiling a comprehensive list in Harvard’s author-date system, the difference between a bibliography vs. endnotes or referencing remains integral to accountable, clear, and impactful writing.

Examples of Reference Lists and Bibliographies

Both reference lists and bibliographies are essential components of academic and research writing. They ensure the writer properly credits the sources they consulted or cited, allowing readers to explore the subject further. 

The format for each varies based on the citation style. Here, we’ll explore examples in the APA (American Psychological Association) style.

Reference List: APA Style

A reference list in APA style comprises all the sources directly cited within the paper’s content. It’s important to note that every in-text citation must have a corresponding complete reference in the reference list. Here’s a brief example:

Smith, J. (2019). The Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Life. Environmental Journal, 45(2), 23-45.

Miller, L., & Brown, R. (2020). Solar Energy: Future Prospects. Renewable Resources, 12(5), 15-29.

Green Technologies. (2018). Advancements in Renewable Energy. 

When citing a research paper, especially in multiple styles, using a guide like the one provided by us can be especially helpful.

Bibliography: APA Style

In contrast to the reference list, a bibliography in APA style will contain all the sources the writer referred to during their research process, regardless of whether they were directly cited in the main content. 

A bibliography might include additional readings or sources that offer more insight into the topic, even if they weren’t explicitly referenced in the paper. Here’s an example:

Green, A. (2017). The Role of Oceans in Climate Regulation. Oceanography Today, 10(3), 45-58.

Renewable Energy Hub. (2016). The Rise of Wind Energy. 

It’s noticeable that while the first two entries appear in the reference list and bibliography, the latter two are unique. They represent additional readings or consulted sources not directly cited in the paper.

Importance of Correct Citation

Maintaining precise citations, whether through the author-date system or referencing a list of references, signifies more than mere avoidance of plagiarism. It demonstrates the depth and thoroughness of the research conducted. In the New York publication manual, FAQs highlight the key differences in citation styles, including how to indent on a reference page. 

These tools guide researchers and keen readers in their quest to understand the subject more profoundly.

Furthermore, the format of both lists can vary widely depending on the chosen citation style. The examples above use the APA style, but there are various other styles, such as MLA and Chicago. Each has its unique set of rules regarding citation. Guides like ours  provide step-by-step instructions on adhering to each format accurately.

In conclusion, understanding the nuances and adhering to the correct format is essential to create a reference list or a bibliography. They ensure the credibility and authenticity of the work and provide a roadmap for those wishing to explore the topic further.

The Critical Role of Formatting in Citations

Formatting goes beyond mere aesthetics; it’s about ensuring clarity and consistency. When a researcher, student, or reader encounters a web page or literature review, having a systematically formatted works cited page or reference list entry aids comprehension. This is vital, as your piece might serve as the foundational literature for another’s research.

Moreover, correct formatting ensures every detail is in its proper spot. For instance, in the Modern Language Association style, headings are used to separate sections, helping readers identify specific parts of the content. This organized approach allows readers to pinpoint where they can find particular information effortlessly.

Diversifying Sources in Bibliographies

In the world of research, relying solely on one type of source can limit the depth of your analysis. Bibliographies, in particular, provide an excellent opportunity to showcase various sources, from books and peer-reviewed articles to reliable online sources and interviews. 

For instance, while *Smith (2019)* might provide a comprehensive study on marine life, a documentary or an expert interview could offer practical insights or real-world observations that complement the data from Smith’s analysis. 

By including diverse sources in your bibliography, you enhance the richness of your research and demonstrate a holistic approach to your investigation.

Potential Pitfalls in Creating Reference Lists and Bibliographies

While both reference lists and bibliographies are essential, they come with potential pitfalls that researchers must be wary of:

  • Incorrect Ordering : Especially in styles like APA, where alphabetical ordering is crucial, even a slight deviation can lead to mark deduction in academic settings.
  • Missing Information : Skipping crucial details like publication dates or page numbers can make it difficult for readers to trace back to the source.
  • Inconsistent Formatting : Using multiple citation styles in one document or not adhering to one type consistently can confuse readers.

These pitfalls can be avoided by regularly consulting citation guides, utilizing citation management tools, or referring to platforms like our Citation Generator or specific guidelines on diverse citation styles.

Deciphering the World of Citations

Navigating the intricate details of academic writing and research can be challenging, especially when understanding the nuanced differences between citations. However, understanding the difference between a bibliography and a reference list is paramount. 

While a reference list enumerates the sources you directly cited in your paper, a bibliography showcases every source you consulted during your research process. 

In today’s digital age, where information is abundant and easily accessible, maintaining the integrity of your research is vital. Avoiding plagiarism is not just about academic honesty; it’s about preserving the research community’s sanctity and recognizing fellow scholars’ hard work. 

Accidental plagiarism can happen, and it’s often a result of mismanaged citations or overlooking specific sources. Here at Quetext, our citation generator can be instrumental in ensuring your work is original and gives due credit. It streamlines the process, ensuring every source gets its rightful acknowledgment.

Moreover, familiarizing oneself with the various facets of plagiarism is equally critical. This understanding ensures you don’t unknowingly tread on dangerous grounds. For a deeper dive into recognizing and avoiding plagiarism in your research, visit this comprehensive guide on recognizing and avoiding plagiarism .

In conclusion, while the distinctions between bibliographies and reference lists may seem subtle, they are crucial in academic and professional writing. By mastering these differences and leveraging tools to maintain citation integrity, you fortify your work’s credibility and contribute meaningfully to the vast world of research and knowledge.

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Citing Sources - References vs Bibliography

References and Bibliographies - What's the difference?

When you write academic papers, you will need to include a list of sources you used to write the paper. There are two main ways to list your sources, with a reference list or a bibliography.

References include sources that have been directly cited in your paper. For each source, you will have at least one in-text citation in the body of your paper. The citation styles that use reference lists include APA citations, AMA citations, and MLA citations.

Bibliographies, on the other hand, contain all the sources that you have used for your paper, whether they are directly cited or not. In a bibliography, you should include all of the materials you consulted in preparing your paper. Chicago citations and Oxford citations are two citation styles that use bibliographies.

Both reference lists and bibliographies appear at the end of a written work and are usually organized alphabetically. A paper can have both a reference list and a bibliography.

For more information on how to cite your sources, check out the De Paul Library's Citation Guide .

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What is the difference between a reference list and a bibliography?

https://library.unimelb.edu.au/recite/help/faqs/choosing-a-referencing-style/what-is-the-difference-between-a-reference-list-and-a-bibliography

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Harvard: Reference List and Bibliography

A version of the Harvard (author-date) System of referencing has been adopted as the standard for the presentation of academic text at the University of Birmingham.  The examples on this page refer to this version, as found on the  Cite Them Right Online  website.  For detailed guides on how to reference and cite different sources see the right-hand side panel. 

How to list your references

In the Harvard (author-date) System the list of references is arranged alphabetically by author's surname, year (and letter, if necessary) and is placed at the end of the work.

A reference list is the detailed list of references that are cited in your work.   A bibliography is a detailed list of references cited in your work, plus the background readings or other material that you may have read, but not actually cited.  Different courses may require just a reference list, just a bibliography, or even both.  It is better to check with your tutor first.

Example of a reference list

Banerjee, A. and Watson, T.F. (2011)  Pickard’s manual of operative dentistry.  9th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Davidson, A. (2013) ‘The Saudi Marathon Man’,  The New Yorker,  16 April. Available at: http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-saudi-marathon-man (Accessed: 22 June 2015).

Guy, J. (2001)  The view across the river: Harriette Colenso and the Zulu struggle against imperialism.  Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia.

Hislop, V. (2014)  The sunrise.  Available at  http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindlestore  (Downloaded: 17 June 2015).

Homer (1997)  The Iliad.  Translated by J. Davies. Introduction and notes by D. Wright. London: Dover Publications.

Knapik, J. J., Cosio-Lima, L. M., and Reynolds, K. L. (2015) ‘Efficacy of functional movement screening for predicting injuries in coast guard cadets’,  The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research , 29 (5), pp. 1157-1162.  EDUC 1028: E-learning.  Available at:  http://intranet.bir.ac.uk  (Accessed: 25 June 2015).

Lucas, G. (2004)  The wonders of the Universe.  2nd edn. Edited by Frederick Jones, James Smith and Tony Bradley. London: Smiths.

Medicine in old age  (1985) 2nd edn. London: British Medical Association.

‘Rush (band)’ (2015)  Wikipedia.  Available at  https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Rush_(band)  (Accessed: 18 June 2015).

Example of a bibliography

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (1994)  Epi Info  (Version 6) [Computer program]. Available at  http://www.cdcp.com/download.html  (Accessed: 23 June 2015).

Gregory, S. (1970)  English military intervention in the Dutch revolt.  B.A. Thesis. University of Birmingham. Available at:  http://findit.bham.ac.uk/  (Accessed: 18 June 2015).

Jones, B., (1997) Methods in tumour research.  National Agency for Tumour Research,  volume. 7.

Peart, N. (1976)  Something for Nothing.  Toronto: Toronto Sound Studios.

Rush (2015) [Bishopthorpe Social Club. 29 March].

The University of Birmingham (2010)  The University of Birmingham experience.  Available at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLxV5L6IaFA  (Accessed: 18 June 2015).

Style notes

  • The date of publication always follows the author(s) name(s).
  • All authors’/editors’ names are given in the reference list (not matter how many there are).
  • If submitting a manuscript for publication, formatting conventions may be stipulated by the publisher. Always check with the publisher before submitting your work. 

Further help

  • If in doubt, consult the  Cite Them Right Online  website.

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Reference list vs. bibliography

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Reference lists (in MLA style this is called Works cited) contain a complete list of all the sources (books, journal articles, websites, etc.) that you have cited directly in a document. That means that if there are in-text citations for a source there is a reference list entry, and vice versa.

Bibliographies, on the other hand, contain all sources that you have used, whether they are directly cited or not. A bibliography includes sources that you have used to generate ideas or read around a topic, but have not referred to directly in the body of the document.

Which to use

For most assignments at Massey University, you will be expected to provide only a reference list. If you have used any source in your assignment you are expected to say where you have used it by citing it directly.

Some assignments may require a reference list and a bibliography, or a bibliography in place of a reference list. If this is the case, you will be instructed to in your course materials. Some referencing styles (for example, Oxford style ) always use a bibliography in place of a reference list. Some lecturers may use the term “bibliography” to mean a reference list, so if there is any uncertainty it's best to ask your lecturer.

Styles of reference list and bibliography

  • APA reference list
  • MLA list of works cited
  • Oxford bibliography
  • Harvard reference list
  • Chicago bibliography

Annotated bibliographies

An annotated bibliography is a type of assignment that involves a list of sources, but also a summary and evaluation of each source's content and purpose. For more information, see annotated bibliography .

In publications

Books and other publications often distinguish between selected bibliographies and full bibliographies. Selected bibliographies only list a few of the most important works cited. Full bibliographies list every work cited and potentially other relevant sources. Again, you will be told directly if you need to do this.

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Write it Right - A guide to Harvard referencing style

  • Referencing
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The Reference List

Differences between a reference list and a bibliography, compiling your reference list or bibliography.

  • Elements in References
  • Journal articles
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  • The reference list is a detailed list of all the sources that you have cited within your work, including books, eBooks, journal articles, theses, webpages etc. 
  • Items are listed in alphabetical order in the reference list according to the main author/editor’s surname.
  • This means that regardless of the order in which the in-text citations appear within your work, these items are all listed alphabetically by author/editor in the reference list. 
  • This explains why the Harvard referencing style is also known as the ‘author-date’ style.
  • The reference list is an alphabetical list of all the sources that you cited in the text of your assignment. 
  • A bibliography is a separate list, presented in the same format as a reference list, however, it includes all the sources you consulted in the preparation of your assignment, not just those you cited. 
  • In other words, a bibliography presents the same items as a reference list, but it also includes references to all the additional research you carried out, so it shows your extra effort. 
  • All in-text references must be included in an alphabetical list, by author/editor’s surname, at the end of the work. As stated earlier, this is known as the reference list. A bibliography is a list of all works you used in preparation of the work, but which were not necessarily cited/referred to.
  • This list must not be numbered.
  • When there is no author/editor, use the title (book, journal, newspaper etc.)
  • References in your reference list must be a full description of the in–text citations.
  • If there is more than one publication by the same author, arrange the works in chronological order.
  • In your reference list/bibliography the following abbreviations are accepted:

- (ed.) editor  - (eds) editors  - col. column - comp(s). compiler/compilers - edn. edition - et al. and others - n.d. no knowledge of the date - no. number - par. paragraph - s.l. no place of publication - s.n. publisher unknown - vol. volume

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How do I write a reference list or bibliography?

Check your style Make sure you know what style you need to use to make sure you have the right information

Look for missing information You need your references to be complete, so check that there are no gaps

Use referencing software This will make the whole process easier and quicker

Referencing is a two-part process. In addition to the citations within the text, you also need a list with a full reference for each source you have used. This list should contain all the information needed to find each piece of research. Correct citing and referencing should guide your reader to the sources of your information and evidence .

What's the difference between a reference list and a bibliography?

Reference list.

A reference list is a list of everything that you have cited in your work.

The list will be drawn from everything that you have either paraphrased or quoted in your assignment.

Bibliography

This is a list of everything that you have cited in your work and any other sources that you might have consulted during your research but have chosen not to cite in the assignment.

Whether you are asked to provide a reference list or a bibliography, both should provide accurate and full references. You need to give enough information that people can easily find your reference. It will vary depending on the type of material you need to reference, but you will always need to include the author, date of publication and title.

For books, you’ll need to include information on the publisher. For journals you’ll need to include facts on the journal itself - journal title and volume, issue and page numbers. For other types of reference you’ll need different pieces of information.

The more academic work you read, the more you will get used to recognising different types of reference.

The easiest thing to do is use some reference management software. For undergraduates, we suggest RefWorks . RefWorks is available online and free for you to use. It will manage the references for you but you’ll still need to make sure that the information that you put in is accurate.

The information you need to include in your reference will vary according to the style you’re using – make sure you know which style your department uses.

In the Library we support two styles, Harvard and Vancouver.

Referencing styles

Harvard referencing style

Harvard style

Vancouver referencing style

Vancouver style

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The reference list or bibliography

A  reference list  contains the full details of the material you have referred to in your assignment. It is a required part of your coursework. It is  one list in alphabetical order  (A-Z order). It goes at the end of your piece of work. It is not counted in the word count for your assignment.

A  bibliography  is a list of background material, used to gather ideas or generally inform your work, but not specifically referred to in your assignment. It is not usually required so you will be specifically told if you need to add one. It is listed in alphabetical order.

Some departments may use the word “bibliography” in the way this document uses the words “reference list”. In that case, simply name the reference list “Bibliography”.

Sample Reference List/Bibliography

@NHSChoices (2014)  High-salt diet linked to 1.6 million heart deaths.  NHS Choices. 15 Aug 2014. https://twitter.com/NHSChoices/status/500201489168875520 Accessed 15 Aug 2014.

3 Sided Cube (2014)  Eye Check by Boots Opticians.  [Mobile app] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cube.bec&hl=en_GBand iTunes Store.Accessed 20 March 2015.

ACI Committee (2008)  Report on measurements of workability and rheology of fresh concrete ,  238. Farmington Hills: American Concrete Institute.

Barnes, A. (2006)  Enzyme could help Celiac Disease patients tolerate gluten:10 September.  The Dermatitis Herpetiformis Online Community Blog. http://www.dermatitisherpetiformis.org.uk/dhocblog/2006/09/enzyme-could-help-celiac-disease.html Accessed 28 June 2014.

Blane, D. (2006) The life course, the social gradient, and health. In Marmot, M. and Wilkinson, R.G. (editors)  Social determinants of health . Oxford: Open University Press. 54-77.

Blazer-Riley, J. (2000)  Communication in nursing.  4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby. Cited in: McCabe, C. and Timmins, F. (2006)  Communication skills for nursing practice . Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan:126.

BNF 71  (2016) London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press.

British Standards Institution (2013)  BS ISO/IEC 27001:2013: Information technology: security techniques: information security management systems: requirements . http://bsol.bsigroup.com Accessed 22 July 2014.

Blizzard Entertainment (2007)  World of Warcraft.  [Computer game] http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/games/wow Downloaded 12 December 2012.

Boud, D. and Walker, D. (2003) Barriers to reflection on experience. In Downie, C. M. and Basford, P. (editors)  Mentoring in practice . University of Greenwich. 261-273.

Fergus, H.A. (2004)  Montserrat: History of a Caribbean colony.  2nd edition. Oxford: Macmillan/Kindle.

Foreman, J. L. and Gubbins, E. J. (2015) Teachers see what ability scores cannot: predicting student performance with challenging mathematics.  Journal of advanced academics  26(1), 5-23.

Host Organisation (2007)  Ward procedures for the paediatric wards . [Hospital policy document] Host Organisation.

Hrafnkel's saga and other Icelandic stories  (no date) Translated Palsson, H. (1971) Harmondsworth: Penguin Classics.

Janaway, R.C., Percival, S.L. and Wilson, A.S. (2009a) Decomposition of human remains. In Percival, S.L. (editor)  Microbiology and Aging.  Humana Press, 313-334.

Janaway, R.C., Wilson, A.S., Díaz, G.C. & Guillen, S. (2009b) Taphonomic changes to the buried body in arid environments: An experimental case study in Peru. In Ritz, K., Dawson, L. and Miller, D. (editors)  Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics.  Bradford: Springer, 341-356

Johnes, M. (2008) A prince, a king, and a referendum: rugby, politics, and nationhood in Wales, 1969–1979.  Journal of British studies  47, 129-148.

Kim, C.Y., Rizvan, A., Mirza, M.D., Joshua, A. and Bryant, M.D. (2008) Central veins of the chest: evaluation with time-resolved MR angiography.  Radiology  http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.2472070790 Accessed 27 March 2014.

King’s Fund (2013)  An alternative guide to the new NHS in England.  [Video] King’s Fund. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CSp6HsQVtw Accessed 15 August 2014.

Levi-Strauss, C. (1977)  Anthropologie structural  [Structural anthropology]. Translated Layto, M. London: Allen Lane.

Lovelock, J. (1996)  The Common Cold Unit recordings . [Audio file] http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=021M-C1038X0016XX-0100V0.xml Accessed 3 May 2014.

Meijer. J.H. and Robbers, Y. (2014) Wheel running in the wild.  Proceedings of the Royal Society B  281(1786):20140210. Cited in: Something About Science (2017)  A picture is worth a thousand words . Something About Science http://www.somethingaboutscience.com/index.php/nggallery/slideshow?page_id=1165 Accessed 12 February 2017.

NHS England (2016)  NHS standard contract 2017/18 and 2018/19: service conditions (shorter form).  NHS England. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/5-service-conditions-sf-v2.pdf Accessed 13 February 2017.

Nishimura, Y., Saito, M., Kamei, H. and Cobb, A. (1996) An applied survey on buried mounded tombs by using 3-component magnetometer and earth radar system.  Annales geophysicae  14(S1), c164.

Ordnance Survey (1999)  Anglesey East , sheet 263, 1:25,000. (Landranger series). Southampton: Ordnance Survey.

Paul, J., Stechele, W., Kroehnert, M. and Asfour, T. (2014) Improving efficiency of embedded multi-core platforms with scratchpad memories. In  27th International Conference on Architecture of Computing Systems (ARCS ), Luebeck, Germany, 25-28 February .  VDE Verlag. 371-378. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6775075 Accessed 13 March 2015.

Science Museum (2017)  Shadow Biped robot . [Photograph] https://www.instagram.com/p/BQFjpS5Dd7a/ Accessed 15 February 2017. 

Senogles, H. (1938) The standing stones of Anglesey . Anglesey antiquarian society and field club transactions . 38, 24 – 29.  Cited in: Dyer, J. (1990)  Ancient Britain.  University of Philadelphia Press: 58.

Sterne, J.A.C., Egger, M. and Smith, G.D. (2001) Systematic reviews in health care: Investigating and dealing with publication and other biases in meta-analysis.  BMJ  323(7304), 101-105.

Student, A. (2015)  Survey of 15 local video game designers about their workflow.  Work undertaken as part of Indie Games: Concept, Design and Development module 2015-6. School of Media Design and Technology, University of Bradford.

Verhoeven, J. (2006)  Wetlands and natural resource management . Ecological studies 190. Berlin: Springer.

Welles, O. (1941)  Citizen Kane  [Film] USA: RKO Radio Pictures.

Wells, C. (no date)  Notes on the cremation burials at North Elmham: B 0532 CAL/4 . University of Bradford, JB Priestley Library Special Collections.

Yulei, W. (2010)  Performance modelling and evaluation of heterogeneous wired / wireless networks under Bursty Traffic: analytical models for performance analysis of communication networks in multi-computer systems, multi-cluster systems, and integrated wireless systems . PhD thesis. University of Bradford http://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/handle/10454/4423 Accessed 22 July 2014.

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bibliography vs reference list

Bibliography

a list of references to sources cited in the text of an article or book, or suggested by the author for further reading, usually appearing at the end of the work. Strictly speaking, a systematic list or enumeration of written works by a specific author or on a given subject, or that share one or more common characteristics (language, form, period, place of publication, etc.). When a bibliography is about a person, the subject is the bibliographee. A bibliography may be comprehensive or selective. Long bibliographies may be published serially or in book form. The person responsible for compiling a bibliography is the bibliographer.

Source: Reitz, J. M. (2016). Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science . [Web site]. Retrieved from http://www.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_w.aspx

Reference List

Cites works that specifically support a particular article.

Source: American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Visual Examples:

bibliography vs reference list

For Further reading:

  • Reference List or Bibliography: What’s the Difference? Did you know that there’s no such thing as a bibliography in APA Style? It’s a fact!
  • Reference list vs. bibliography If you have used any source in your assignment you are expected to say where you have used it by citing it directly.
  • Reference List: Basic Rules Your reference list should appear at the end of your paper. It provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and retrieve any source you cite in the body of the paper. Each source you cite in the paper must appear in your reference list; likewise, each entry in the reference list must be cited in your text.
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Reference List: Basic Rules

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This resourse, revised according to the 7 th  edition APA Publication Manual, offers basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper. Most sources follow fairly straightforward rules. However, because sources obtained from academic journals  carry special weight in research writing, these sources are subject to special rules . Thus, this page presents basic guidelines for citing academic journals separate from its "ordinary" basic guidelines. This distinction is made clear below.

Note:  Because the information on this page pertains to virtually all citations, we've highlighted one important difference between APA 6 and APA 7 with an underlined note written in red.  For more information, please consult the   Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , (7 th  ed.).

Formatting a Reference List

Your reference list should appear at the end of your paper. It provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and retrieve any source you cite in the body of the paper. Each source you cite in the paper must appear in your reference list; likewise, each entry in the reference list must be cited in your text.

Your references should begin on a new page separate from the text of the essay; label this page "References" in bold, centered at the top of the page (do NOT underline or use quotation marks for the title). All text should be double-spaced just like the rest of your essay.

Basic Rules for Most Sources

  • All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented one-half inch from the left margin. This is called hanging indentation.
  • All authors' names should be inverted (i.e., last names should be provided first).
  • For example, the reference entry for a source written by Jane Marie Smith would begin with "Smith, J. M."
  • If a middle name isn't available, just initialize the author's first name: "Smith, J."
  • Give the last name and first/middle initials for all authors of a particular work up to and including 20 authors ( this is a new rule, as APA 6 only required the first six authors ). Separate each author’s initials from the next author in the list with a comma. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name. If there are 21 or more authors, use an ellipsis (but no ampersand) after the 19th author, and then add the final author’s name.
  • Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work.
  • For multiple articles by the same author, or authors listed in the same order, list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to most recent.
  • Note again that the titles of academic journals are subject to special rules. See section below.
  • Italicize titles of longer works (e.g., books, edited collections, names of newspapers, and so on).
  • Do not italicize, underline, or put quotes around the titles of shorter works such as chapters in books or essays in edited collections.

Basic Rules for Articles in Academic Journals

  • Present journal titles in full.
  • Italicize journal titles.
  • For example, you should use  PhiloSOPHIA  instead of  Philosophia,  or  Past & Present   instead of  Past and Present.
  • This distinction is based on the type of source being cited. Academic journal titles have all major words capitalized, while other sources' titles do not.
  • Capitalize   the first word of the titles and subtitles of   journal articles , as well as the   first word after a colon or a dash in the title, and   any proper nouns .
  • Do not italicize or underline the article title.
  • Deep blue: The mysteries of the Marianas Trench.
  • Oceanographic Study: A Peer-Reviewed Publication

Please note:  While the APA manual provides examples of how to cite common types of sources, it does not cover all conceivable sources. If you must cite a source that APA does not address, the APA suggests finding an example that is similar to your source and using that format. For more information, see page 282 of the   Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7 th  ed.

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Works Cited v. References v. Bibliography

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Works Cited vs. References vs. Bibliography

Knowing the proper term for your paper’s list of citations can be confusing. Do I call it a works cited page? Should it actually be called a bibliography? How is it different from a reference list? In this article, we explain what these three terms mean and how they are different or related to one another.

To begin, each citation style has its own way of naming the list of sources you used in your paper. Here we break down the differences in these list types, so that you can better understand which option works best for your work.

Works Cited

A “Works Cited” list is an alphabetical list of works cited, or sources you specifically called out while composing your paper. All works that you have quoted or paraphrased should be included. Works Cited is generally used when citing sources using MLA format (Modern Language Association) style, and sources should be listed in alphabetical order by author’s last name.

Example Works Cited entry :

Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution. Oxford UP, 2007.

References or “Reference List”

A “Reference List” is very similar to a Works Cited list, and is a term used when citing sources using APA format (American Psychological Association) style. The page should be titled “References,” and is arranged alphabetically by author last name.

Example References entry :

Middlekauff, R. (2007). The glorious cause: The American Revolution . Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Bibliography

Bibliographies, on the other hand, differ greatly from Works Cited and References lists. In Works Cited and References, you only list items you have actually referred to and cited in your paper. A Bibliography, meanwhile, lists all the material you have consulted in preparing your essay, whether you have actually referred to and cited the work or not. This includes all sources that you have used in order to do any research. Bibliographies are often used in Chicago and Turabian citation styles. They usually contain a long reference that has a corresponding footnote within the body of the paper.

Example Bibliography entry :

Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2007.

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  • Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Reference and Bibliography

reference vs bibliography

Reference and Bibliography is an important part of any project under study because it helps in acknowledging other’s work and also help the readers in finding the original sources of information. It not only prevents plagiarism but also indicates that the writer has done good research on the subject by using a variety of sources to gain information.

Read out the article to know the differences between reference and bibliography.

Content: Reference Vs Bibliography

Comparison chart, definition of reference.

Reference can be understood as the act of giving credit to or mentioning the name of, someone or something. In research methodology, it denotes the items which you have reviewed and referred to, in the text, in your research work. It is nothing but a way to acknowledge or indirectly showing gratitude, towards the sources from where the information is gathered.

While using references, one thing is to be noted that you go for reliable sources only, because it increases credence and also supports your arguments. It may include, books, research papers, or articles from magazines, journals, newspapers, etc., interview transcripts, internet sources such as websites, blogs, videos watched, and so forth.

These are used to inform the reader about the sources of direct quotations, tables, statistics, photos etc. that are included in the research work.

Definition of Bibliography

At the end of the research report, bibliography is added, which contains a list of books, magazines, journals, websites or other publications which are in some way relevant to the topic under study, that has been consulted by the researcher during the research. In finer terms, it comprises of all the references cited in the form of footnotes and other important works that the author has studied.

The bibliography is helpful to the reader in gaining information regarding the literature available on the topic and what influenced the author. For better presentation and convenient reading, the bibliography can be grouped into two parts, wherein the first part lists out the names of books and pamphlets consulted, and the other contains the names of magazines and newspapers considered.

Types of Bibliography

  • Bibliography of works cited : It contains the name of those books whose content has been cited in the text of the research report.
  • Selected Bibliography : As it is evident from the name itself, selected bibliography covers only those works which the author assumes that are of major interest to the reader.
  • Annotated Bibliography : In this type of bibliography, a small description of the items covered is given by the author to ensure readability and also improve the usefulness of the book.

Key Differences Between Reference and Bibliography

The difference between reference and bibliography can be drawn clearly on the following grounds:

  • Reference implies referring to someone or something, that means it provides the list of sources, whose text is used in the assignment or research work. Conversely, bibliography represents the list of all the sources, from which the research has gained some information about the topic, irrespective of the work cited or not.
  • References are based on primary sources, whereas bibliography is created on the basis of primary and secondary sources.
  • References used in the assignment can be arranged alphabetically or numerically. On the contrary, list of sources used in the bibliography is arranged numerically.
  • The bibliography is used to list out everything you go through to obtain the information relating to the assignment, no matter if you specifically cite it in your assignment or not. Now coming to references, it only takes into account those sources which have been cited in the assignment.
  • The main objective of adding a reference at the end of the document is to improve credence or support an idea or argument. As against, the bibliography is not used for supporting an argument.
  • While reference is used in thesis and dissertation. On the other hand, bibliography is used in case of journal paper and research work.

To sum up, references and bibliography are almost same, but there are only subtle differences between the two, which lies in the items which are included in them. The primary use of references is to get recognition and authentication of the research work, whereas bibliography is appended with the aim of giving the reader the information on the sources relating to the topic.

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footnote vs endnote

manjitha says

October 5, 2019 at 9:56 am

It was so helpful to study easily. Easy to understand. Gud job

November 5, 2019 at 6:41 am

Thanks for the work.

Amirjan Samim says

November 11, 2019 at 11:22 pm

All of the descriptions and information about the “reference and bibliography” and the difference between them are useful for the readers. Since both terms are closely related, this is why both terms are sometimes confusing for some people. Thanks for the helpful explanations you have given about the two terms mentioned above.

Chiranjit Singha says

January 20, 2020 at 8:01 pm

This webpage is very helpful and easy to understand, Thanks all of you sir.

Maya Zita says

February 10, 2020 at 2:19 pm

Very helpful for my studies… Best explained, thank you very much for this upload.

Amit Kumar Das says

May 6, 2020 at 8:07 pm

Excellent..

Nidhi Suhag says

June 27, 2020 at 9:40 am

very well explained. thanks for sharing such an informative upload.

Ishaka Ibrahim says

March 2, 2021 at 2:07 pm

Very interesting and educative write up but would like to see reference/source of the work.

hassan sakaba says

March 25, 2021 at 5:23 pm

April 8, 2021 at 3:29 pm

Very helpful However I had a doubt regarding the placement of bibliography. Usually references are placed after the main body and conclusion. But where is bibliography placed?

Aladuge says

August 28, 2021 at 1:39 pm

This is a wonderful piece. Thanks for a job well done

Darlington mwape says

September 8, 2022 at 2:17 pm

Thanks for this wonderful piece of information but iam going with S. N says

I had a doubt regarding the placement of bibliography. Usually references are placed after the main body and conclusion. But where is bibliography placed?

OMVITI NOBERT says

January 13, 2023 at 4:41 pm

The comparisons are very good. Thank you. Be blessed more in wisdom.

March 25, 2023 at 4:32 am

So for my podcast, which is mainly audio essays, which should I use?

Pias Hebal Karmakar says

June 9, 2023 at 2:50 pm

I am much more pleased with this work. I helped me a lot in my study. Thanks.

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  • Harvard Style Bibliography | Format & Examples

Harvard Style Bibliography | Format & Examples

Published on 1 May 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 7 November 2022.

In Harvard style , the bibliography or reference list provides full references for the sources you used in your writing.

  • A reference list consists of entries corresponding to your in-text citations .
  • A bibliography sometimes also lists sources that you consulted for background research, but did not cite in your text.

The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. If in doubt about which to include, check with your instructor or department.

The information you include in a reference varies depending on the type of source, but it usually includes the author, date, and title of the work, followed by details of where it was published. You can automatically generate accurate references using our free reference generator:

Harvard Reference Generator

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Table of contents

Formatting a harvard style bibliography, harvard reference examples, referencing sources with multiple authors, referencing sources with missing information, frequently asked questions about harvard bibliographies.

Sources are alphabetised by author last name. The heading ‘Reference list’ or ‘Bibliography’ appears at the top.

Each new source appears on a new line, and when an entry for a single source extends onto a second line, a hanging indent is used:

Harvard bibliography

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

Reference list or bibliography entries always start with the author’s last name and initial, the publication date and the title of the source. The other information required varies depending on the source type. Formats and examples for the most common source types are given below.

  • Entire book
  • Book chapter
  • Translated book
  • Edition of a book

Journal articles

  • Print journal
  • Online-only journal with DOI
  • Online-only journal without DOI
  • General web page
  • Online article or blog
  • Social media post

Newspapers and magazines

  • Newspaper article
  • Magazine article

When a source has up to three authors, list all of them in the order their names appear on the source. If there are four or more, give only the first name followed by ‘ et al. ’:

Sometimes a source won’t list all the information you need for your reference. Here’s what to do when you don’t know the publication date or author of a source.

Some online sources, as well as historical documents, may lack a clear publication date. In these cases, you can replace the date in the reference list entry with the words ‘no date’. With online sources, you still include an access date at the end:

When a source doesn’t list an author, you can often list a corporate source as an author instead, as with ‘Scribbr’ in the above example. When that’s not possible, begin the entry with the title instead of the author:

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference in meaning:

  • A reference list only includes sources cited in the text – every entry corresponds to an in-text citation .
  • A bibliography also includes other sources which were consulted during the research but not cited.

In Harvard referencing, up to three author names are included in an in-text citation or reference list entry. When there are four or more authors, include only the first, followed by ‘ et al. ’

In Harvard style referencing , to distinguish between two sources by the same author that were published in the same year, you add a different letter after the year for each source:

  • (Smith, 2019a)
  • (Smith, 2019b)

Add ‘a’ to the first one you cite, ‘b’ to the second, and so on. Do the same in your bibliography or reference list .

To create a hanging indent for your bibliography or reference list :

  • Highlight all the entries
  • Click on the arrow in the bottom-right corner of the ‘Paragraph’ tab in the top menu.
  • In the pop-up window, under ‘Special’ in the ‘Indentation’ section, use the drop-down menu to select ‘Hanging’.
  • Then close the window with ‘OK’.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2022, November 07). Harvard Style Bibliography | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 15 February 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/harvard-bibliography/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

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Home » Education » What is the Difference Between Bibliography and References

What is the Difference Between Bibliography and References

The main difference between bibliography and references is that references contain the sources that you have cited in your paper, whereas a bibliography includes all the sources that you have used for your paper, whether they are cited or not.

Both references and bibliographies appear at the end of a scholarly work and share the same information regarding a source of work. They help writers to avoid plagiarism and allow the readers to refer to the original sources and learn more information.

Key Areas Covered

1.  What is a Bibliography          – Definition, Features  2.  What are References      – Definition, Features 3.  Similarities Between Bibliography and References      – Outline of Common Features 4.  Difference Between Bibliography and References      – Comparison of Key Differences

Difference Between Bibliography and References - Comparison Summary

What is a Bibliography

A bibliography refers to a list of all of the sources you have studied in preparing your research work. A bibliography usually includes all the work you have used, whether they are referenced in in-text citations or not. Generally, a bibliography includes the authors’ names, the titles of the works, the names and locations of the institutes of publication, the dates on which the copies were published and the page numbers of your sources.

Compare Bibliography and References

An annotated bibliography , on the other hand, is an extended version of a bibliography where the bibliographic information includes a brief description of the content, quality, and the relevance of the source to your research work.

If you refer to any books or articles writing your paper, you need to include a bibliography in order to avoid plagiarism, even if you don’t name them or quote them directly inside the content. This would further benefit the readers who read your work, as the bibliography would allow them to track down the original source material for themselves.

What are References

A reference list usually consists of the details of all the sources cited within your paper. We usually arrange a reference list alphabetically, and if any work has no author, we usually cite the work by the title. In such cases, we include that reference item into the alphabetical list using the most significant term of the title.

Bibliography vs References

Just like in a bibliography, we usually arrange the reference list at the end of a particular scholarly work. We use commas to set apart each item of a particular reference. In cases where we refer to more than one scholarly work by the same author, we list such work chronologically, indicating the earliest publication first. Moreover, the way we list the source and its detail would slightly differ according to the citation style we are using. In addition, Chicago citation and Oxford citations are two popular citation styles we use to write bibliographies.

Similarities Between Bibliography and References

  • Both bibliography and references consist of entries arranged alphabetically by the author.
  • They include the same basic information.
  • Similar to a bibliography, a reference list is also generally placed at the end of a scholarly work.
  • Both bibliography and reference list aim to avoid plagiarism and to give credit to the original author/s.
  • Furthermore, both allow the readers to refer to the original sources.

Difference Between Bibliography and References

A bibliography is a list of references you have cited in a scholarly work and background readings or other material that you have read but not actually cited. A reference list, on the other hand, is a list of references you have cited in your work.

A reference list only contains sources you have directly cited in your paper. However, a bibliography consists of all the sources that you have used for your paper in addition to the sources cited in the paper.

Citation Styles

APA citations, MLA citations and AMA citations are common citation styles to write reference lists while Chicago citations and Oxford citations are two popular citation styles we use in bibliographies.

In brief, the main difference between a bibliography and references is that a reference list contains the sources which you have directly cited in writing your paper, while a bibliography includes all the sources that you have used for your paper, whether they are directly cited or not. However, both references and bibliographies appear at the end of a work, share the same information regarding a source of work and include alphabetically arranged citations.

1. “ Annotated Bibliographies .” Purdue Writing Lab. 2. “ Reference List: Basic Rules .” Purdue Writing Lab.

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1. “ Zoonoses: The Lethal Gifts of Livestock: Bibliography slide ” By ILRI (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr 2. “ Reference list created from Wikidata ” By Egon Willighagen – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia

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Anuradha has a BA degree in English, French, and Translation studies. She is currently reading for a Master's degree in Teaching English Literature in a Second Language Context. Her areas of interests include Arts and Literature, Language and Education, Nature and Animals, Cultures and Civilizations, Food, and Fashion.

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Creating a Chicago Style Bibliography | Format & Examples

Published on September 23, 2019 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on December 5, 2022.

A Chicago style bibliography lists the sources cited in your text. Each bibliography entry begins with the author’s name and the title of the source, followed by relevant publication details. The bibliography is alphabetized by authors’ last names.

A bibliography is not mandatory, but is strongly recommended for all but very short papers. It gives your reader an overview of all your sources in one place. Check with your instructor if you’re not sure whether you need a bibliography.

Creating a Chicago Style Bibliography

Always make sure to pay attention to punctuation (e.g., commas , quotation marks , parentheses ) in your citations.

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Table of contents

Chicago style bibliography examples, formatting the bibliography page, author names in the bibliography, bibliography vs reference list, frequently asked questions about the chicago bibliography.

Bibliography entries vary in format depending on the type of source . Templates and examples for the most common source types are shown below.

  • Book chapter
  • Journal article
  • The edition is always abbreviated (e.g. 2nd ed. or rev. ed.).
  • Only include the URL for books you consulted online.
  • Use this format to cite a chapter in a multi-authored book. If all the chapters in a book were written by the same person, reference the whole book.
  • Begin the citation with the author of the chapter. The editor who compiled the book is listed later.
  • The page range identifies the location of the article within the journal issue.
  • For articles accessed online, include a DOI (digital object identifier) where available, and a URL if not.
  • If the author is unknown, list the organization or website name as author, and don’t repeat it later in the citation.
  • If no publication date is listed, include an access date instead.
  • The website name is not italicized, unless it is an online version of a newspaper or magazine .

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bibliography vs reference list

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The bibliography appears at the end of your text. The heading Bibliography is bolded and centred at the top of the page.

Unlike the rest of a Chicago format paper, the bibliography is not double-spaced. However, add a single line space between entries.

If a bibliography entry extends onto more than one line, subsequent lines should be indented ( hanging indent ), as seen in the example below. This helps the reader to see at a glance where each new entry begins.

Example of a Chicago Bibliography

There are further guidelines for formatting a Chicago style annotated bibliography , in which you write a paragraph of summary and source evaluation under each source.

Author names in the bibliography are inverted: The last name comes first, then the first name(s). Sources are alphabetized by author last name.

If a source has no named author, alphabetize by the first word of the title or organization name that starts the entry. Ignore articles (“the,” “a,” and “an”) for the purposes of alphabetization.

Sources with multiple authors

For sources with more than one author, only the first author’s name is inverted; subsequent names are written in the normal order.

For texts with up to 10 authors, all the authors’ names should be listed in the order they appear in the source, separated by commas .

If there are more than 10 authors, list the first seven, followed by “ et al. ”

Multiple sources by the same author

If you include multiple works from the same author, only include the author name in the first entry. In subsequent entries, replace the name with three em dashes , followed by the rest of the citation formatted as normal. List the entries in alphabetical order by title.

A reference list is mandatory in Chicago author-date style , where you cite sources in parentheses in the text. The only differences between a Chicago bibliography and a reference list are the heading and the placement of the date.

The reference list is headed “References.” In reference list entries, the publication date is placed immediately after the author’s name. This allows the reader to easily find a reference on the basis of the corresponding in-text citation.

bibliography vs reference list

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In a Chicago style footnote , list up to three authors. If there are more than three, name only the first author, followed by “ et al. “

In the bibliography , list up to 10 authors. If there are more than 10, list the first seven followed by “et al.”

The same rules apply in Chicago author-date style .

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

In a Chicago footnote citation , when the author of a source is unknown (as is often the case with websites ), start the citation with the title in a full note. In short notes and bibliography entries, list the organization that published it as the author.

In Chicago author-date style , treat the organization as author in your in-text citations and reference list.

When an online source does not list a publication date, replace it with an access date in your Chicago footnotes and your bibliography :

If you are using author-date in-text citations , or if the source was not accessed online, replace the date with “n.d.”

  • A reference list is used with Chicago author-date citations .
  • A bibliography is used with Chicago footnote citations .

Both present the exact same information; the only difference is the placement of the year in source citations:

  • In a reference list entry, the publication year appears directly after the author’s name.
  • In a bibliography entry, the year appears near the end of the entry (the exact placement depends on the source type).

There are also other types of bibliography that work as stand-alone texts, such as a Chicago annotated bibliography .

In Chicago author-date style , your text must include a reference list . It appears at the end of your paper and gives full details of every source you cited.

In notes and bibliography style, you use Chicago style footnotes to cite sources; a bibliography is optional but recommended. If you don’t include one, be sure to use a full note for the first citation of each source.

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  • In-text citation

Reference list

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Audiovisual
  • Books and chapters
  • Government and industry publications
  • Legal sources
  • Theses and course materials
  • Web and social media
  • Other sources
  • Print this page
  • Other styles AGLC4 APA 7th Chicago 17th (A) Notes Chicago 17th (B) Author-Date Harvard MLA 9th Vancouver
  • Referencing home

Your reference list in Harvard style needs to include all the works you have cited in your assignment. It is placed at the end of your essay on a new page and has a specific format you need to follow.

This is an overview of the rules given in the  Style Manual  for creating a reference list.

Setting up your list

Formatting rules and examples.

Alexander JC (2015) ‘Measuring, counting, interpreting: our debate on methods continues’, American Journal of Cultural Sociology , 3(3):309–10, doi:10.1057/ajcs.2015.13

Two or more authors

Author A and Author B

Author A, Author B and Author C

Poulin J and Matis S (2019) Social work practice: a competency-based approach , Springer. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/monash/reader.action?docID=5968733

Nankervis AR, Baird M, Coffey J and Shields J (2017) Human resource management: strategy and practice , 9th edn, Cengage Learning, South Melbourne.

Organisation as the author

Abbreviation of organisation (full name of organisation)

DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) (2021) Australia in brief , DFAT, accessed 21 July 2023. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/australia-in-brief

  • The Style Manual states to use the abbreviation for the organisation's name in all in-text citations.

Anonymous/unknown author

Make sure that your in-text citation and reference list entry match. If you have used the name of a blog, website, newspaper, or magazine in your in-text citation in place of the author, use the same name in your reference list. If you have used the title of the work in place of the author in your in-text citation, use the title in place of the author in your reference list.

Multiple works by the same author

Author A (Yeara)

Author A (Yearb)

Smith A (2007a) 'Emerging in between: The multi-level governance of renewable energy in the English regions', Energy Policy, 35(12):6266–6280, doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2007.07.023

Smith A (2007b) 'Translating sustainabilities between green niches and socio-technical regimes', Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 19(4):427–450, doi:10.1080/09537320701403334

  • If there are multiple sources by the same author, arrange them in chronological order by publication year.
  • For more than one entry by the same author published in the same year, add a lower-case letter to the end of the year in both the citation and the reference list entry

Multiple works by different authors with the same surname

Jones M (n.d.) More than you bargained for. Penguin Random House.

Jones S (2015) Popular culture: the rise of the super hero. Palgrave Macmillan.

Editors and translators

If the main creator of the source is an editor, reference the source under their name and include the abbreviation ed. (or eds. for more than one).

Translators

For translated works, complete the reference, and order the reference list based on the name of the original author of the work, not the translator.

DOIs and URLs

Reference with a doi.

Tharoor S (1990) ‘The universality of human rights and their relevance to developing countries’, Nordic Journal of International Law 59(1):139—152, doi:10.1163/157181090X00288

Reference with a database

Tharoor S (1990) ‘The universality of human rights and their relevance to developing countries’, Nordic Journal of International Law 59(1):139—152. (HeinOnline).

Reference with a URL

Tharoor S (1990) ‘The universality of human rights and their relevance to developing countries’, Nordic Journal of International Law 59(1):139—152, accessed 17 December 2020. https://brill.com/view/journals/nord/59/1/article-p139_15.xml

  • Many sources published online, including journal articles , government and industry publications , ebooks, and reports, have a Digital Object Identifier (DOI). Include DOIs in your reference list if they exist as they are more stable than URLs.
  • DOIs sometimes have the form of a URL. If so, you don’t need to include the HTTP, etc., start at doi:10.xxx (etc).
  • If there is no DOI, include the database or the URL instead.

Example reference list

Perkins Gilman C (2004) Social ethics: sociology and the future of society (Hill MR and Deegan MJ eds) Praeger. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/monash/detail.action?docID=494814

Halloran JT (2018) Population dynamics in the child welfare system , University of Chicago, accessed 1 February 2021, Proquest Dissertations Publishing.

Tsetsura K and Valentini C (2016) 'The “holy” triad in media ethics: a conceptual model for understanding global media ethics', Public Relations Review , 42(4):573–581, doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2016.03.013

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