If you have ever wondered about works cited vs bibliography, you are not alone: the two terms (plus a third, “references”) describe the list of sources at the end of a paper, but each belongs to a specific citation style and follows slightly different rules. This guide explains the terminology per style, shows correct examples in APA, MLA, and Chicago, and helps you pick the right heading for your assignment.
The short answer
All three terms name a list of sources, but they are not interchangeable. The correct word depends on the style you are using:
- References is the heading used in APA 7th edition.
- Works Cited is the heading used in MLA 9th edition.
- Bibliography is the heading used in Chicago style (Notes-Bibliography system). Chicago’s Author-Date system uses References instead.
Beyond the label, there is one meaningful difference in scope. A “works cited” or “references” list includes only the sources you actually cited in the text. A traditional “bibliography” can be broader and may include works you consulted for background but did not cite directly. Knowing this difference is the key to using the right word with confidence. If you want a refresher on the basics first, see our explainer on what a citation is.
Works cited vs bibliography vs references: a quick comparison
Here is how the three line up across the major styles. Read each row as “in this style, the end-of-paper list is called this.”
- APA 7th edition: heading is References. Lists only cited sources. Authors are listed by surname then initials.
- MLA 9th edition: heading is Works Cited. Lists only cited sources. Authors are listed by full name (surname, given name).
- Chicago (Notes-Bibliography): heading is Bibliography. Pairs with footnotes or endnotes. Can include consulted works.
- Chicago (Author-Date): heading is References. Pairs with in-text parenthetical citations.
Other systems use their own words too. Harvard referencing typically uses a Reference list, and some disciplines call it a Works Consulted page. The principle is the same: match the heading to the style your instructor or publisher requires.
APA style: the References list
In APA 7th edition, the list at the end of your paper is titled References (bold, centered, on its own line). It contains every source you cited and nothing more. Entries are alphabetized by the first author’s surname, double-spaced, with a hanging indent. APA uses an ampersand (&) between author names and places the publication year in parentheses right after the authors.
Smith, J. A., & Jones, M. B. (2020). Understanding academic writing (2nd ed.). Academic Press.
In-text: (Smith & Jones, 2020).
Notice the order of elements: author, year, title, source. The book title is in sentence case and italicized. For a step-by-step on building these entries, you can generate them with the APA citation generator or read our guide on how to cite a book. APA does not use a traditional bibliography; if a source is not cited in the text, it does not appear in the References list.
MLA style: the Works Cited page
In MLA 9th edition, the list is titled Works Cited (centered, not bold). Like APA, it includes only the sources you cited. MLA builds each entry from a flexible template of “core elements” and spells out the word “and” between two authors rather than using an ampersand. There is no year in parentheses near the author; the date appears later in the entry.
Smith, John A., and Mary B. Jones. Understanding Academic Writing. 2nd ed., Academic Press, 2020.
In-text: (Smith and Jones 14).
Two things stand out compared with APA. First, MLA titles use title case (each major word capitalized). Second, the in-text citation gives a page number, not a year. If you are working in MLA, the MLA citation generator handles the core-element order for you. For a side-by-side look at the two most common styles, see our comparison of APA vs MLA.
Chicago style: Bibliography or References
Chicago is where the word Bibliography truly belongs, but Chicago actually offers two systems, and the heading changes between them. Choosing the right one is the most common source of confusion, so read this section carefully. Our full Chicago style guide covers both in depth.
Notes-Bibliography system
This system uses footnotes or endnotes for citations and a Bibliography at the end. It is common in history, literature, and the arts. The bibliography entry inverts the first author’s name and separates major elements with periods.
Smith, John A., and Mary B. Jones. Understanding Academic Writing. 2nd ed. New York: Academic Press, 2020.
Footnote: John A. Smith and Mary B. Jones, Understanding Academic Writing, 2nd ed. (New York: Academic Press, 2020), 14.
In the Notes-Bibliography system, the bibliography can legitimately include works you consulted for background even if you never cited them in a note. This is the classic, broader meaning of “bibliography.”
Author-Date system
This system uses parenthetical in-text citations (author and year) and a list titled References, much like APA. It is common in the sciences and social sciences. Notice that the year moves forward, right after the author.
Smith, John A., and Mary B. Jones. 2020. Understanding Academic Writing. 2nd ed. New York: Academic Press.
In-text: (Smith and Jones 2020, 14).
So within one style (Chicago), you may correctly use either “Bibliography” or “References” depending on the system. The Chicago citation generator can format entries for either approach. If your instructor mentions Turabian, that is a student-focused version of Chicago and follows the same logic; our Turabian citation generator covers it.
How to choose the right term
When you are unsure which heading to use, work through these questions in order:
- Which style does the assignment require? Check the prompt or syllabus. The style decides the word.
- If APA: use References.
- If MLA: use Works Cited.
- If Chicago: use Bibliography with footnotes/endnotes, or References with author-date.
- Are you including uncited background reading? Only a traditional bibliography allows that. Works Cited and References lists do not.
When in doubt, ask your instructor which style and which heading they expect. Matching the required style precisely is one of the simplest ways to avoid plagiarism and lose fewer points, because a complete, correctly labeled list shows exactly where your information came from.
A note on annotated bibliographies
An annotated bibliography is a separate assignment type, not just a renamed reference list. Each entry is followed by a short paragraph (the annotation) that summarizes or evaluates the source. You can build one in any style: APA, MLA, or Chicago. The word “bibliography” here signals that annotations are attached, regardless of whether the rest of the paper would normally use “References” or “Works Cited.” Learn more in our guide to the annotated bibliography.
Frequently asked questions
Is a works cited the same as a bibliography?
Not exactly. A works cited list (used in MLA) includes only the sources you actually cited in your paper. A traditional bibliography (used in Chicago’s Notes-Bibliography system) can be broader and may also include works you read for background but did not cite. The terms also belong to different styles, so you should use the one your required style specifies.
Does APA use works cited or references?
APA uses References, never “Works Cited.” The References heading is bold and centered at the top of the list, and the list contains only the sources cited in your text. “Works Cited” is the MLA term, so using it in an APA paper would be incorrect.
Why does Chicago sometimes say Bibliography and sometimes References?
Chicago offers two documentation systems. The Notes-Bibliography system pairs footnotes or endnotes with a list titled Bibliography. The Author-Date system pairs parenthetical citations with a list titled References. Both are correct Chicago style; the heading simply matches the system you choose.
Can I include sources I did not cite in my reference list?
Generally no. In APA (References) and MLA (Works Cited), every entry must correspond to a citation in your text, and every in-text citation must have a matching entry. Only a traditional bibliography allows uncited consulted works, and even then you should follow your instructor’s instructions.