What is a Bibliography?

Unlike a reference list or works cited page, which is designed to list only those sources that are directly cited in a document, a bibliography is an extensive list of sources you have consulted as you worked on or thought about your document. In addition to identifying the sources you have cited in your paper, it represents the research you've done in preparation for writing, and it offers your audience suggestions for further reading on your topic.

Many college students are not in a position to prepare such an extensive bibliographic list. Instead, they typically use a selected bibliography (a less thorough, more limited set of references), or (to list only those works referred to in the text) a works cited, literature cited, or reference list. You will want to check with your instructor or with publication guidelines to determine what type of list you are expected to include. The bibliography includes all of the bibliographic details your readers need in order to seek out your sources on their own (i.e., to replicate your research).

Here is an example of a bibliography.