APA Bibliography vs APA References — What Is the Difference?
Short answer: In APA, use “References” — not “Bibliography” or “Works Cited.” An APA reference list lists only sources you cited in your paper. A bibliography lists all sources consulted. APA uses References pages, not bibliographies.
| Term | Style | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|
| References | APA | Only sources cited in the paper |
| Works Cited | MLA | Only sources cited in the paper |
| Bibliography | Chicago | All sources consulted (cited or not) |
| Reference List | APA (informal) | Same as "References" |
How to Build Your APA Reference List
- Generate each reference using the tool above
- Copy and paste each entry into a separate document or note
- When finished, paste all entries on a new page titled References (bold, centered)
- Arrange alphabetically by first author's last name
- Apply double-spacing and 0.5-inch hanging indents
- Verify each in-text citation in your paper has a matching entry
Need more help? See our APA format guide for complete rules on building a reference list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an APA bibliography and a reference list?
In APA format, the end-of-paper list is called a "References" page, not a bibliography. An APA References page contains only sources you cited within your paper. A bibliography (used in styles like Chicago) includes all sources consulted, even if not cited. If your instructor asks for an "APA bibliography," they almost certainly mean the APA References page.
Does APA use "Works Cited" or "References"?
APA uses "References" — not "Works Cited." "Works Cited" is the MLA (Modern Language Association) term. "Bibliography" is used in Chicago style. "References" is the correct APA term. If you are writing in APA format, your end-of-paper list should be titled "References" (centered, bold, on a new page).
How do I make an APA bibliography (reference list)?
To create an APA reference list: (1) Use this generator to create each reference entry. (2) Copy all references to a new page at the end of your document. (3) Title the page "References" — centered, bold. (4) Arrange entries alphabetically by author last name. (5) Apply double spacing and hanging indents throughout. (6) Verify that every in-text citation has a matching reference entry.
Can I create a full bibliography with this tool?
Yes. Use this generator to create each individual reference entry, copy them, paste them into a document, and arrange them alphabetically. This generates your complete APA reference list (bibliography). For managing large reference lists across a long paper or thesis, consider Zotero (free reference management software) which saves and organizes your references automatically.
How do I alphabetize an APA bibliography?
Alphabetize your APA reference list by the first author's last name. Ignore "A," "An," and "The" at the beginning of titles when alphabetizing by title. For multiple works by the same author, arrange chronologically (oldest first). For the same author and same year, add letters: (2023a), (2023b). If an author has single-author and co-authored works, single-author works come first.
Do I need a new page for my APA reference list?
Yes. In APA format, the References page starts on a new page, separate from the end of your paper body. In Word or Google Docs, insert a page break before your references (Ctrl+Enter / Cmd+Enter). Do not simply press Enter many times. The "References" heading is centered and bold at the top of this new page.
How do I format hanging indents for my APA bibliography?
In Microsoft Word: Select all your reference list text. Go to Format → Paragraph → Special → Hanging → Set to 0.5". In Google Docs: Select all reference text. Go to Format → Align & indent → Indentation options → Special indent → Hanging → 0.5 inches. The hanging indent makes the first line flush with the left margin and indents all subsequent lines of the same entry.
How many sources do I need in an APA reference list?
There is no set minimum for APA reference lists — include every source you cited. For typical undergraduate papers, 8–15 references is common. For a research proposal or literature review, 20–40+ is typical. For dissertations, chapters may have 30–80+ references. If your instructor specifies a minimum number of sources, follow that requirement.