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What is a Reference List?

Your list of sources is a separate page at the conclusion of your paper that contains the full publication information for every reference you have quoted within your text. Its main goal is to allow your readers to locate the source materials you used, thereby giving attribution to the original authors and avoiding plagiarism.

It is essential to remember that the reference list is only for references you actually mentioned in your paper. It is not a compilation of every source you consulted during your investigation process.

Fundamental Formatting Rules for the Whole Page

Before we get into specific examples, ignousynopsis.com let's review the general formatting requirements.

 

 

• Page: The reference list should begin on a new page at the end of your document.

 

 

• Title: Place the word "References" in boldface at the top of the page. Never use quotation marks or underline the title.

 

 

• Spacing: Use double spacing throughout the whole reference list, including within and between each entry. Do not use additional spaces.

 

 

• Alignment: Use a hanging indent for every reference entry. This means the initial line of each entry is flush left, and all following lines are tabbed by 0.5 inches. This is usually the default setting in word processors when you format a hanging indent.

 

 

• Order: List entries alphabetically by the surname of the first author. If a source does not have an author, move the title to the author position and alphabetize by the first significant word of the title (disregarding "A," "An," or "The").

 

 

• Font: Use the same readable font as the rest of your paper (e.g., 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Arial, or 11-point Calibri).

 

 

Anatomy of a Reference List Entry

Nearly every reference entry is built from four key components, placed in a specific order: Author, Date, Title, and Source. The precise presentation of each component differs slightly depending on the type of source you are citing (e.g., book, website, journal article).

1. The Author Element

This part names the creator of the work.

 

 

• Format: Last name, followed by a comma and initials for the first and middle names (e.g., Angelou, M.).

 

 

• Multiple Authors: List up to 20 authors. Use an ampersand (&) before the final author's name. For 21 or more authors, list the first 19, insert an ellipsis (. . .), and then add the final author's name.

 

 

• No Author: If a source has no known author, move the title of the work to the author position. Do not write "Anonymous."

 

 

• Organization as Author: If an author is a organization (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), use the full name of the group.

 

 

2. The Date Element

This part provides the year of publication.

 

 

• Format: Put the date in parentheses, followed by a period. (2020).

 

 

• No Date: If no date is provided, use "n.d." inside the parentheses: (n.d.).

 

 

• Other Dates: For blogs, include the year, month, day date if available, formatted as (2020, January 15).

 

 

3. The Title Element

This part contains the title of the work being cited.

 

 

• Books & Reports: Italicize the title. Use sentence case.

 

 

• Articles & Chapters: Do not italicize or use quotation marks. Use sentence case.

 

 

4. The Source Element

This critical part tells readers where to locate the work itself. Its format varies widely by source type.

 

 

• Journal Article: Includes the journal name (italicized, title case), volume number (italicized), issue number (in parentheses, not italicized), and page range. Finally, include a DOI or URL if available.

 

 

• Book: Includes the publisher's name. You do not need to include the publisher location.

 

 

• Website: Includes the site name and the URL.

 

 

Popular Reference Examples

Here is how to use these components to some of the common source types.

Journal Article with DOI

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Example: Smith, J. D., & Lee, H. (2020). The impact of sleep on cognitive performance. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(4), 512-525. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000852

Authored Book

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book (Edition). Publisher.

Example: King, S. (2000). On writing: A memoir of the craft. Scribner.

Webpage on a Website

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL

Example: National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, May). Anxiety disorders. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

Article from an Online News Source

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. News Source Name. URL

Example: Chang, K. (2023, October 19). NASA launches mission to study metal-rich asteroid. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/19/science/nasa-psyche-asteroid-launch.html

Final Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

 

 

• DOIs and URLs: Always use a live DOI or URL if one exists. Present it as a functional link (without underlining). Do not include "Retrieved from" or "Accessed on" before a URL unless there is a specific retrieval date required (e.g., for webpages that change frequently).

 

 

• Italics: Use italics sparingly for book and journal titles, and volume numbers. Do not italicize the issue number, page numbers, or DOIs.

 

 

• Alphabetization: Double-check your A-Z order. Word processors can sort lists for you, but always verify the result.

 

 

• Punctuation: Pay careful attention to periods, commas, and ampersands. The punctuation is a key part of the APA style.

 

 

• Consistency: Ensure every entry is uniform and follows the same style rules. This attention to detail makes your work look polished and credible.