How to Write a Bibliography According to MLA & APA Style

Unlike a common essay or research paper, to write a bibliography, you only need the list of sources you used to examine a certain subject. To be more precise, it is more like a detailed reference page. The bibliography is usually located at the end of your paper. You can make your writing preparation significantly easier if you put down every title, name, publication date, and author when giving any quotes.

Consider the Following Aspects which You Need to Include in each Category

• Author’s name
• The title of the book, article, etc.
• Year of publication
• Pages (if you inserted any direct quote)

Basically, these elements may vary depending on the writing style you are assigned. When you are free to use any paper format, we advise you to opt for MLA. It is easy to follow and does not require much effort.

The Importance of References

You must understand the importance of mentioning references and citing sources correctly. Authors publish their works to get recognition, and no one would like to see their ideas stolen. The bibliography is a way to reward talented people for the work they brought into this world.

• The necessity to cite all sources is explained by intellectual property.
• It is good for you to cite a website or any other source to back up your argument with strong evidence.
• You should value the accessibility of any sources that you want to use.
• If you fail to give full citations, it can be viewed as plagiarism.
• References enable people to find the same sources in case someone wants to read the original work to the end.

Step-by-Step Instruction

Step #1 — Carry out Research

To write a bibliography, you need to conduct qualitative research. Just dig up all the sources on topics on the Internet.

Step #2 — Use both Primary & Secondary Sources

Step #3 — Pay Attention to the Volume

The bibliography has a fixed number of words. Your overall essay may have 1000 words. Therefore, your cited works should contain no more than 100-150 words.

Step #4 — Present Your Findings

Create a work cited draft where you can jot down useful and current sources. Mind that the sources older than 5 years are not proper.

Step #5  — Prepare a Draft

Create your bibliography draft. Having decided on the most useful sources, mention them one by one.

Step #6 — Every Detail Matters

Do not leave out any important detail. As a rule, newspapers and magazines contain more information than books.

Step #7 — Stick to Sample Note Cards

References can be organized by means of sample note cards. Having completed your assignment, resort to the information on your note cards to check the paper on your own.

Step #8 — Revision

As soon as you go about proofreading and editing your bibliography, make sure that all of the sources are mentioned, organized in the alphabetical order, and are no older than five years. Finally, check the formatting by means of the MLA writing guide.

Now you know how to write a bibliography according to MLA & APA style.