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Citing Sources: Formatting a Works Cited Page

A guide to citing sources in MLA, APA, and Chicago format.

Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page is an alphabetical list of all the sources you cite in your paper. Every source you want to use in your paper must be listed on the works cited page.

Here are some basic rules to follow when creating your Works Cited page:

  • The Works Cited page should be placed at the end of your paper.
  • The Works Cited page should begin on a new page.
  • The Works Cited page should be double spaced and the second line of each entry should be a hanging indent. To do this in MS Word:
    • Select all text, and then right-click it.
    • From the pop-up menu, select Paragraph.
    • To double-space the text, under Spacing, Line Spacing, select Double.
    • To add a hanging indent, under Indentation, Special, select Hanging. This indents the lower lines of each entry 0.5” from the left.
    • To do the hanging indent in Google Docs: Go to Format - Align and Indent - Indentation Options - Special - Hanging
  • Alphabetize each entry/reference on your Works Cited page by author’s last name, or if the author’s name is not given, by the first word in the citation.
  • Your last name and page number should be at the top right corner of the page.

 

Example Works Cited

Example Works Cited page

Bright 7

Works Cited

Hughes-Hallett, Deborah, et al.  Applied Calculus for Business, Social

Sciences, and Life Sciences. 4th ed., Wiley, 1996.

Mattison, Christopher. Lizards of the World. Facts on File, 2004.

Raethel, Heinz-Sigurd, and Julie R. Mancini. The Duck Handbook.

             Barron's, 2005.

Ralston, Jeannie. "The High Cost of Beauty." Parenting, Nov. 2001,

              pp. 132-33. MasterFILE Premier,  

             https://search.ebscohost.com.library2.pima.edu/login.aspx?

            direct=true&db=f5h&AN=5460906&site=eds-live&scope=site.

“The Skinny on Liposuction.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 13

             May 2010,

             www.fda.gov/ForConsumer/Consumerupdates/ucm049314.htm.