How to List References

Co-authored by Diane Stubbs

Last Updated: April 6, 2023 Fact Checked

Listing references can either refer to creating a page for references made in an essay, or making a page for references that a company you are applying to can contact. This article covers how to list references in an essay using APA, MLA, and Chicago style, as well as how to list references on a job application (see the fourth method.)

Sample Reference Pages

Sample Professional Reference Page

Sample Student Reference Page

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

List References in APA Style

The reference page is the works cited page that appears at the end of essays written in APA style. The page is titled ‘References’. These references are every work you cited in your paper.^{[1]
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It should be alphabetized by authors’ last names. If there is no author listed for a work, it should be alphabetized by its title. The page is organized by authors’ names (or the titles of works) because there are what are cited within the text of the essay.^{[2]
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3
List a book with one author on the references pages. A book with one author should be listed as Last Name, First Initial. (Date of Publication). Title of Book. Place of Publication: Name of Publisher. If the reference is longer than one line, the second line should be indented one full indent.^{[3]
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- Example: Perhamus, C. (2013). The Sky is Blue. Boston, MA: Some Publisher Inc.
4
List a book with multiple authors on the reference page. You can list up to seven authors with Last Name, First Initial. The follow the same format as a book with one author. If there are more than seven authors, list the first six names followed by three ellipses and the name of the last author.^{[4]
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- Example of book with two to seven authors: Hu, C., Koller, K., Shier, M., Upadhye, N., Wright, E. (2013). When the Sky was Blue. Boston, MA: Some Publisher Inc.
- Example of book with more than seven authors: Hu, C., Koller K., Lamson, L., Perhamus, C., Shier, M., Upadhye, N. … Wright, E. (2013). If the Sky was Blue. Boston, MA: Some Publisher Inc.
5
List a book with no author. Write: Title of Book. (Year). Location: Publisher.^{[5]
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APA Style
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- Example: The Sky is not Blue. (2013). Boston, MA: Some Publisher Inc.
6
List a website. Write: Lastname, A.A. (Date of publication). Title of document. Retrieved from Web address. If there is no date, use n.d. If there is no author, begin with the title of the document and (date).^{[6]
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- Example: “The Sky is Blue.” (2013). Retrieved from www.thoughtsonthoughts.com.
7
List an article in a journal. Write: Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Article Title. Journal Title, Volume, Page Range.^{[7]
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- Example: Koller, K. (2013). Health, Healthy, Healthier. Journal of Wisdom, 165, 22-43.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

List References in MLA Style

The works cited page is where you list all of the works you referenced in your essay. You should list your sources in alphabetical order based on the information that appears first in the citation (generally the author’s name.)^{[8]
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Write: Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.^{[9]
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Go to source} (Sinclair, Upton. The Jungle. New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1906. Print.
Write: Lastname, firstname of first alphabetical author, and then firstname, last name for the rest of the authors’ names. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.^{[10]
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Go to source} (Hu, Carol, Kat Koller, and Marie Shier. The Book About Things. San Francisco: A Publisher, 2013. Print.
Write Title of publication. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.^{[11]
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Go to source} (The Book by No One. San Francisco: A Publisher, 2013. Print.
Write: “Name of Article.” Name of Website. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available-if not, put n.d.). Medium of publication. Date of access.^{[12]
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Research source} (For example, “Blah Blah Blah.” Citings Unlimited. Writing Corporation, n.d. Web. 23 Aug 2013.)
Write: Lastname, firstname of interviewee. Personal interview. Date.^{[13]
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Research source} (Perhamus, Cody. Personal interview. 01 Aug 2013.)
Write: Lastname, firstname of interviewee. Interview with Name of Interviewer. Publication or program (year): page numbers if applicable. Medium of publication.^{[14]
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Research source} (Smith, John. Interview with Jan Davis. Good Night John (2013). Radio.)
Write: Lastname, firstname of sender. “Title of Message.” Medium. Date. (Example: Perhamus, Cody. “Regarding our discussion.” Email to the author. 23 Aug 2013.)^{[15]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

List References in Chicago Style

You should know that Chicago style uses footnotes and endnotes. Creating a works cited is optional- refer to your specific instructions to see if you need a works cited or bibliography. You should title the page ‘Works Cited’ if you only list sources that you actually cited in your paper (those that you made into footnotes or endnotes.) You should title the page ‘Bibliography’ if you list every work you used in your research (even the sources you didn’t cite,) along with the works that you cited in your paper. All of the entries in your works cited or bibliography should be listed in alphabetical order according to the first piece of information given in the reference.^{[16]
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2
Cite books with one author. List: Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher, Year of publication.^{[17]
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- Example: Perhamus, Cody. The Sky is Blue. San Francisco, CA: A Publisher Inc., 2013.
3
Cite books with two authors. Write: Lastname, First name and Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher, Year of publication.^{[18]
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- Example: Hu, Carol and Shier, Marie. The Orphans. San Francisco, CA: A Publisher Inc., 2013.
4
List sources with no known author. Write: Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher, Year of publication.^{[19]
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- Example: The Journey Away. San Francisco, CA: A Publisher Inc., 2013.
5
List a web page with an author. Write: Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Web Page.” Publishing Organization or Name of Website in Italics. Publication date and/or access date if available. URL.^{[20]
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- Smith, John. “The World and Stuff.” John'sThoughts 21 October 2013. johnsthoughts.com
6
List a web page without an author. Write: “Title of Web Page.” Publishing Organization or Name of Website in Italics. Publication date and/or access date if available. URL.^{[21]
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- Example: “Thoughts on References.” Thoughts Unlimited, Inc. 21 October 2013. thoughtsonthoughts.com
7
List a published Interview. Write: Lastname, firstname of interviewee, place where interview was held, by Interviewers firstname and lastname, date.^{[22]
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- Example: Upadhye, Neeti, Pleasanton, CA, by John Smith, 21 October 2013.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

List References for a Job Application

You should only list references if the company or program you are applying to specifically asks for them. References are people that a company you are applying to will contact to find out about your work ethic, personality, etc. You should choose people that you know will give you a positive review, such as professors who taught classes you did well in, or bosses who thought you were an excellent worker.^{[23]
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2
List your references on a separate page from any other information you may be turning in with your application (such as a resume, cover letter, etc.) Only do this if the company you are applying to specifically asks that you provide references. If you are applying for housing (such as when you wish to rent an apartment), you will most likely have to provide references with your housing application.
- You should not mention references unless you are asked to do so by the company or program you are applying to.
3
Create a heading at the top of your reference list. Write your name in a bold, clear font. Beneath your name, write your address, phone number, and primary email (these things should be written in a smaller font than your name.) If you choose, you can format your header so that your contact information is aligned in the opposite corner.
- To separate the content of your list from your header, you can add a line below your name.
The title should be the same size and font as your name. The title should be clear and to the point. For example, your page could be titled, “Professional References” or “References of (Your Name.”
5
List your references with their information. There is not a specific order in which you list your references--you could choose to alphabetize their names, or list them in order of how well each person knows you.^{[24]
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- Format your list so that the reference’s name is in bold print. Below their names, write their relationship to you (ie. Boss) and the company or program that you both worked for.
- Below the company name, write the company’s address. If your reference no longer works for that company, do not list the company address.
- List your reference’s chosen form of contact information below the address. This is where you write their phone numbers, emails, etc.
If you are listing many references that fall under specific categories (such as professors vs. people you know from work) you could choose to separate these groups by a line. This is optional.

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