Listing Citations in a References List

A "works cited list" or "references list" is put at the end of your paper or presentation. This is where you list the full citations for all of the sources in your paper. Each source in the references list should correspond to an in-text citation.

As with in-text citations, the exact format and information you include in your citations depends on the style you are using. However, regardless of the style, you will typically include certain standard elements such as author, title, publisher, and a web link or web designation if the source is electronic.

Online style guides can help you find out exactly how to cite almost any source, including personal interviews, movies, songs, books without specified authors, or websites without a publisher or identified publication date, to name just a few.

Examples:

Following are two more examples to demonstrate the similarities and differences of two popular style guides, CSE and MLA, listed below is an example of the same reference formatted for each style.

In-Text Reference, CSE:

An eminent writer wrote that, "The history of life on earth has been a history of interaction of living things and their surroundings" (Carson, 2002, p. 5).

Full Citation in Reference List, CSE Format

Carson R. 2002. Silent Spring. New York: First Mariner Books.

In-Text Reference, MLA:

An eminent writer wrote that "The history of life on earth has been a history of interaction of living things and their surroundings" (Carson 5).

Full Citation in Works Cited List, MLA Format

Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. New York: First Mariner Books, 2002. Print.