How to Type a Bibliography
Creating a bibliography doesn't have to be difficult if you prepare properly before typing it up. The key to writing a bibliography is practicing careful record-keeping along the way. If you keep careful records of the research that goes into your work, it will help you create an accurate and complete bibliography for your paper.
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Instructions
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Take Good Notes
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For every book used in your paper, record the author(s), title, date published, city and state of publisher and publisher.
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For every journal article, record the author(s), title, journal name, date, volume number, issue number and pages.
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Write down information such as editors, translators, editions and other details. This will be important in your bibliography.
Creating a Bibliography
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Alphabetize your references by authors' last names. If a reference has multiple authors, use the last name of the author listed first on the book or article.
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Open a new word processing document, center the cursor and type "Bibliography."
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Double-check your professor's style guide for specifics. For example, your paper may require APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association) or CSM (Chicago Manual of Style) formatting.
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Make your first entry. If it is a book, list the author's last name, first name, title of the book underlined, date published, city published, state, then publishing company. It will look something like this:
Last, F.N. TITLE. 2010. City, State: Publisher.
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If you need more than one line for a bibliographic entry, indent five spaces, single spaced, immediately under the first line of the entry.
Entering Journals, Websites and More
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Journals typically follow this format, with the journal title underlined:
Last, F.N. "Title of Article." Journal Name Volume Number (Issue Number), pages.
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Websites follow this format:
Last, F.N. "Web Page Title." Website Name. Website address. Date accessed.
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An article in an edited book will look like:
Last, F.N. "Title of Article or Chapter." In Name, Editor (Ed.) Title of Book. City, State: Publisher. Date.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to write down everything associated with a book's bibliographic information. If you don't, you may need to return to the library.
Study the style sheet for the specific bibliographic style your professor requires. Each style has different nuances to where periods and the date go.
Make sure you have accurate information on your bibliography. Double-check to ensure all the names are correct. Be sure you've attributed the proper book to the proper person.
Never use someone's work without giving it credit; this is called plagiarism. In addition to receiving an "F," your scholastic image will be tarnished and you may be kicked out of school.
References
- Photo Credit Old books lay a column on a white background image by Aliaksandr Zabudzko from Fotolia.com
