Bibliography vs Works Cited: Key Differences

The terms "bibliography" and "works cited" are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different types of source lists with different purposes and rules. The distinction matters primarily because it depends on which citation style your paper uses, and because the two lists are not equivalent in scope.

The Core Difference

A works cited page lists only the sources you actually cited in the body of your paper. If a source does not have a corresponding in-text citation, it does not appear on the works cited page.

A bibliography may include sources you consulted in preparing your research, even if you did not directly quote or paraphrase them in the text. In some contexts, "bibliography" also refers to all source lists generically, regardless of type.

Works Cited (MLA)

The works cited page is the standard source list in MLA format. It appears at the end of the paper on a new page titled "Works Cited" (not in quotation marks, not bolded, centered at the top).

Key rules:

• Include only sources you cited in the text
• List entries alphabetically by author's last name
• Use hanging indentation: first line flush left, subsequent lines indented half an inch
• Double-space all entries

Example MLA works cited entry:

Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.

Smith, Zadie. "Two Directions for the Novel." Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays, Penguin, 2009, pp. 71-96.

APA: Reference List (Not a Bibliography)

APA format (American Psychological Association) uses a reference list, not a works cited page or bibliography. Despite the different name, an APA reference list follows the same "cited-only" rule as an MLA works cited page: include only sources that have parenthetical in-text citations in the paper.

Example APA reference list entry:

Morrison, T. (1987). Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf.

Smith, Z. (2009). Two directions for the novel. In Changing my mind: Occasional essays (pp. 71–96). Penguin.

The page is titled "References" (centered, not bolded) and follows the same hanging-indentation and alphabetical-order rules as MLA.

Chicago Bibliography vs Chicago Reference List

Chicago / Turabian style has two sub-systems that use different source lists:

Humanities fields (history, philosophy, arts) typically use Chicago Notes and Bibliography. Social sciences more often use Chicago Author-Date.

Example Chicago bibliography entry (Notes and Bibliography):

Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.

Smith, Zadie. "Two Directions for the Novel." In Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays, 71–96. New York: Penguin, 2009.

Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a type of bibliography in which each source entry is followed by a brief annotation: a paragraph summarizing the source, evaluating its credibility or methodology, and explaining how it relates to the research topic.

Annotated bibliographies are sometimes required as standalone assignments. They can be in any citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago) but must include annotations for each entry. See annotated bibliography example for a full example.

Selected Bibliography vs Complete Bibliography

Some Chicago-style papers distinguish between types:

Complete bibliography: All sources consulted during research, cited or not.

Selected bibliography: Only the most important or directly relevant sources; a curated subset.

Works consulted: Similar to a complete bibliography; sometimes used in MLA when the writer wants to list additional background sources beyond those cited. Less common.

Which One Should You Use?

When in doubt, follow your assignment instructions. If no style is specified and the instructor says "bibliography," ask whether they mean all consulted sources or only cited sources. The default assumption in most academic courses is cited-only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a bibliography and a works cited page? A works cited page (MLA) lists only the sources you directly cited in your paper. A bibliography can include sources you consulted but did not cite, depending on the citation style and context. In Chicago Notes-Bibliography style, the bibliography typically includes both cited and background sources. In everyday usage, "bibliography" is often used informally to mean any source list, regardless of style.

Does APA use a bibliography or works cited? APA uses a "References" page, not a bibliography or works cited page. An APA reference list includes only sources cited in the text and follows author-date formatting. Some APA documents include an annotated reference list or a list of supplementary materials, but these are supplemental to the standard references page.

Can a bibliography include sources you didn't cite? Yes, in Chicago Notes-Bibliography style and in some other contexts. A complete bibliography can include background reading, sources that informed your thinking without being quoted or paraphrased directly, or sources that document the scope of the literature you reviewed. Works cited pages (MLA) and reference lists (APA, Chicago Author-Date) do not include uncited sources.

Is the reference list the same as a bibliography? No, though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. "Bibliography" has two meanings: a generic term for any source list, or specifically the Chicago-style list that may include consulted sources. A "reference list" in APA and Chicago Author-Date means only cited sources. When precision matters, use the correct term for the style you are using.

For formatting individual entries in each citation style, see how to cite a book. For a full annotated bibliography example with annotations, see annotated bibliography example.