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Bibliographic Styles
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OWL: Documenting Online Resources
Bibliographic Styles
There are many styles and forms used to cite sources used to support research.
A few of the most widely used styles of citation are:
Whatever style you choose, accuracy, clarity, and consistency are the most important factors when citing
information sources. Guidelines for citing electronic sources are not yet standardized. Information
sources, such as database aggregators and the Internet, are constantly changing. Therefore, citation
formats are adapting to these changes.
The appropriate style manuals for each citation style provide the most accurate and detailed information
for any question you might have. You can locate style manuals in the Library by searching I-Share.
The latest editions of most of the style manuals are on permanent reserve at the Circulation Desk.
Commonly Used Terms
Bibliography: An alphabetical list of books and other sources used in writing a work. It is placed at the end
of the text. MLA guidelines call this "Works Cited." APA guidelines refer to it as "References."
Documentation: Supplying exact references to the sources of authoritative information used to support
your research, statements or hypotheses.
Endnotes: Numbered citations in the text that are keyed to citations placed at the end of the chapter, with
complete bibliographic listings at the end of the text.
Footnotes: Numbered citations in the text that are keyed to citation notes place at the bottom of the page
with bibliographic listings at the end of the text.
References: Term used by APA to refer to Bibliography or Works Cited.
Works Cited: Term used by MLA to refer to Bibliography or References.
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