Works Cited, References, and Bibliography – What’s the Difference?
To access more examples and specific guidelines on citing sources using MLA style, it is recommended to refer to the authoritative MLA Handbook from the Modern Language Association of America. The information provided on this website regarding MLA style is based on the sixth edition of this manual, authored by Joseph Gibaldi and published in 2003.
The terms “Works Cited” and “References” refer to the same thing, which is an alphabetical list of works cited or referenced in a paper. The term “Works Cited” is typically used in MLA style, while “References” is used in APA style.
It’s important to note that MLA Works Cited and Bibliography are not the same. Works Cited only includes items that have been cited in your essay, while Bibliography includes all the materials you consulted, whether or not they were cited.
Entries in Works Cited, References, or Bibliography should be arranged in alphabetical order by the last name of authors, editors, translators, or by the first word of titles. If the first word of the title is “The”, “A”, or “An”, and it’s used as an article (e.g., in “The Little Book of Irish Clans”), then the entry should be placed under “Little”, and the article should be ignored. However, if “A” is used as a noun (e.g., in “A Is for Apple”), then the entry should be placed under “A”.
Sometimes, “The” is used as part of the name of an organization, magazine, or journal for emphasis (e.g., “The Champ” or “The Sports Network”). For websites, use the URL as a guide. If “The Yellow Pages” is used in the URL, then “The” should be considered part of the title and “The Yellow Pages” should be listed alphabetically under “T”. If “Part” is used instead of “The Edge” in the URL, then the magazine name “The Edge” should be listed under “E” and “The” should be treated as an article and ignored.
Remember:
- When creating a list of references, do not number the entries or separate them into categories. Instead, compile all references in a single alphabetical list according to the first word of the citation.
- Start the list on a new page, six lines down from the top of the page, and center the title as “Works Cited,” “References,” or “Bibliography.”
- Double-space after the title and ensure that the first line of each entry is flush with the left margin. Use a five-space indentation for the second and subsequent lines of the same entry.
- Double-space all lines within and between entries. Remember that these are only general guidelines based on the MLA Manual and you should consult your instructor for any specific requirements.
Work Cited Vs Works Cited
It is common for students to mistakenly refer to their reference page as the “work cited” page. However, the correct term for this page is “Works cited,” as it includes works cited by multiple authors, not just one. The Works cited page is commonly used in the Humanities, following both MLA and APA styles.