Writing a List of References? Keep These 4 Steps in Mind!

Whether you use quotes from Harvard or footnotes from Chicago, the benchmark is to give credit where it is due. In addition to being a basic courtesy, the reference is necessary to avoid plagiarism in academia.

So what does the referral include? Generally, include bibliographies or reference lists where you mention the details of the external sources that you have used in your article. Of course, as a beginner, you may not know how to write a bibliography. You can stop worrying about citing your resources accurately when you use our Griffith referencing tool.

For example, what are the differences between MLA or AGLC reference styles? With so many guidelines and formatting conventions to follow, writing a bibliography can sometimes get tricky. However, it is not something that you cannot master with concentration and practice.

Step 1: know your type of bibliography and reference lists

Even when it comes to bibliographies, there are different terms depending on how you present your bibliography or reference list. The three most used bibliographies are:

• Works Cited: This includes all external sources mentioned in the text of your article.
• Bibliography: includes all external sources that helped you write the article, whether they are mentioned in the text or not.
• Annotated Bibliography: This is essentially a bibliography together with a short note explaining the meaning of the source for the article.

Step 2: Know what to Include in Your Bibliography

Whether it’s MLA, APA, Vancouver, or Chicago, IEEE referencing, make sure the bibliography contains the following information for print and web sources.

1. Printed sources

• Author’s name
• Source title
• Name of the publisher
• Publication date
• Publication place
• Volume number (for magazines or encyclopedia)

2. Online sources

• Author’s name (and publisher’s name, where applicable)
• Title of the website
• Name of the company or organization of the website
• URL
• Date of access to the website

Step 3: know what style to use for your task

Not all disciplines follow the same styles of reference. For example, the Harvard reference is the best choice for Humanities articles. Again, the Chicago references are used primarily in the field of the social and natural sciences. To understand what style you should use and then use the details in the format of that particular style.

Step 4: Know What to Consider Before Writing a Bibliography

• Have you triple-checked all the information?
• Do you have a list of external sources organized in one place?
• Have you followed the reference and format guidelines mentioned in your manual?

If the answer to the above three questions is yes, then you can proceed to the task of writing your bibliography.

Parting words

Next time you have to write a bibliography, check out this blog. It will help you take a look at the key factors that should be present in your reference list. Whether it’s MLA or Harvard, Vancouver or Chicago, make sure you pay attention to detail and format your bibliography correctly. Good luck!

Summary: Referencing is an elaborate process with several confusing rules. However, if you know the basics, the process will surely become a lot easier. Read the article to find out how to prepare the must-haves of references.

Read on for helpful tips from the experts on writing your bibliography yourself. Whether it’s Harvard quotes or Chicago references, these steps will be common to all styles. Here you have!

Author Bio: David Logan is an Australian native professor with a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature. She is also associated with MyAssignmenthelp.com, where she offers help with Harvard citations and referrals. She can contact her through the website for help.

Read More:    7 Steps to Select the Resume Writing Service Best Fit for You