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A Word On Style

The guidelines that govern how references and bibliographies are written are part of a broader group of guidelines that we call a "style." Different organizations may insist upon different styles, but their goals are always identical: consistency. They want every white paper, every report, every published document to look exactly the same.

If you work for an organization that insists on a particular style, you should adhere to it. If not, though, the guidelines in this lesson will suffice.

More information on creating bibliographies and lists of references can be found in many of the most popular style guides, including The Chicago Manual of Style, the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, and the AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors.

Tips for Creating a Bibliography

Many of the most popular word processing programs have tools that will help you create a bibliography or a list of references. The problem with them, though, is that they do not usually allow for too much tinkering. They work from very rigid templates. They also tend to keep you from establishing any kind of rhythm while you are writing. Creating them yourself is sometimes easier, and allows you to be more flexible.

Below are some tips that will help you create a bibliography by hand:

  1. Type your references into a separate document. Do not worry about the order right now. You can change it to fit the order they appear in the text later.

  2. Print the document and keep it beside while you write.

  3. While you are writing, put the appropriate reference number at the end of each attributed line.

  4. When you are finished, simply copy and paste the list of references or bibliography into your report.


If you use a word processor, like Microsoft Word, you will find the Bibliography tools on the References tab. You should definitely take the time to poke around and figure out how they work and what they are capable of. Despite the limitations listed above, they are still quite robust and capable of producing good quality lists of references and bibliographies.



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