Reference List

A list of all sources directly cited in a paper. Used in APA and other author-date citation styles. Only includes sources referenced in the text.

Why it matters

A reference list allows readers to verify your claims by locating the original sources. It is a fundamental requirement in academic writing because it provides the evidence trail for your arguments. An incomplete or inaccurate reference list can result in grade deductions or manuscript rejection.

How to use

Start a new page titled "References" (APA) at the end of your paper. List every source cited in the text alphabetically by the first author's surname. Each entry must use a hanging indent, and the formatting must follow your citation style precisely, including italics, punctuation, and capitalization rules.

In academic writing

Reference lists are required in APA, Harvard, and most author-date citation styles commonly used in the social sciences, education, and psychology. Every in-text citation must have a corresponding reference list entry, and every reference list entry must be cited in the text. This one-to-one correspondence is a key quality check before submitting any academic paper.