What is a Reference List?
Your reference list is a separate page at the end of your manuscript that includes the complete publication information for every source you have paraphrased within your text. Its key purpose is to permit your readers to retrieve the original materials you used, thereby providing attribution to the original authors and avoiding plagiarism.
It is essential to understand that the reference list is only for sources you actually paraphrased 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, let’s cover the overall formatting requirements.
- Page: The reference list should begin on a fresh page at the end of your document.
- Title: Place the word “References” in boldface at the top of the page. Do not use underlining or format the title.
- Spacing: Use double spacing throughout the entire reference list, including within and between every entry. Avoid additional spaces.
- Alignment: Use a hanging indent for every reference entry. This means the first line of each entry is left-aligned, and all subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches. This is typically the default setting in word processors when you format a hanging indent.
- Order: Arrange entries in alphabetical order by the last name of the primary author. If a source does not have an author, place 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 composed from four main components, placed in a particular order: Author, Date, Title, and Source. The exact punctuation of each component varies somewhat depending on the type of source you are citing (for example, book, website, journal article).
1. The Author Element
This part names the author 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, https://ignousynopsis.com 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 available, use “n.d.” inside the parentheses: (n.d.).
- Other Dates: For magazines, 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 capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns.
- 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 changes significantly 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.
Common Reference Examples
Here is how to apply these rules 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
Advanced Tips and Frequent Mistakes to Avoid
- DOIs and URLs: Always use a hyperlinked 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 social media that change often).
- 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 alphabetize lists for you, but always verify the result.
- Punctuation: Pay careful attention to periods, commas, and ampersands. The formatting is a key part of the APA style.
- Consistency: Ensure every entry is consistent and follows the same style rules. This attention to detail makes your work look polished and trustworthy.
