Building a Works Cited or Reference Page: Step-by-Step

Your Works Cited (MLA) or References (APA) page lists every source you cited in-text — no more, no less. It's a separate, clearly-labeled page at the very end of your essay.

What to Call the Page

• MLA: "Works Cited"
• APA: "References"
• Chicago (Notes-Bibliography): "Bibliography"

Center the title at the top of a new page — don't bold, italicize, or underline it unless your style guide specifically says to.

Ordering the Entries

Both MLA and APA alphabetize entries by the first author's surname (or by title if no author is listed). Chicago bibliography entries are also alphabetical. Never order entries by the order they appear in your essay — that's an in-text citation rule, not a reference-list rule.

Hanging Indent

Every entry uses a hanging indent: the first line sits at the left margin, and every subsequent line of that same entry is indented half an inch. This makes each entry's starting point — the author's surname — easy to scan.

Spacing and Font

The reference page uses the same font and line spacing as the rest of your essay — typically double-spaced, 12pt, with no extra blank lines between entries (the hanging indent alone provides visual separation).

Quick Checklist Before Submitting

1. Every in-text citation has a matching entry on this page — no orphans either direction
2. Entries are alphabetized correctly
3. Hanging indent is applied to every entry
4. The page title matches your style ("Works Cited," "References," or "Bibliography")
5. Font, size, and spacing match the rest of the essay