Checklist: Formatting a List of References

CHECKLIST

Formatting a List of References

  • Start your list on a new page after the text of your document but before appendices or notes. Continue consecutive page numbers.
  • Center the heading References one inch from the top of the page.
  • Begin each entry flush with the left margin, but indent subsequent lines one-half inch or five spaces. Double-space the entire list.
  • List sources alphabetically by author’s last name. If no author is given, alphabetize the source by the first word of the title other than A, An, or The. If the list includes two or more works by the same author, list them in chronological order.
  • Italicize titles and subtitles of books and periodicals. Do not italicize titles of articles, and do not enclose them in quotation marks.
  • For titles of books and articles, capitalize only the first word of the title and the subtitle and any proper nouns or proper adjectives.
  • For titles of periodicals, capitalize all major words.