Bibliography, reference list or works cited?
The words overlap, but styles use them differently. A bibliography in Chicago notes and bibliography lists the sources you used, often including some you consulted but did not cite. APA and Harvard call their list References and include only sources cited in the text. MLA calls it Works Cited. IEEE and AMA use a numbered References list. For a fuller explanation with entry examples in APA, MLA and Chicago, read what a bibliography is and how to format one.
This bibliography generator handles all of them; the label at the top of your document is up to you and your style guide. For MLA, the works cited generator sets MLA as the default; for APA or Harvard the reference generator may be the more natural start.
Building a bibliography from scratch
- Choose the citation style first, so the preview matches your assignment.
- Paste a DOI, URL or ISBN and press Cite, or open the manual form.
- Check the fields in the preview and press Add to bibliography.
- Repeat for each source, then sort the list A to Z, which most author-date styles require.
If the same source is added twice, the generator warns you instead of creating a duplicate entry.
Copy and export options
| Option | What you get | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Copy all | Rich text with italics plus a plain-text copy | Pasting into Word, Google Docs or an email |
| .txt | Plain text, one reference per paragraph | Notes, plain editors, submission forms |
| .ris | RIS records | Importing into Zotero, Mendeley or EndNote |
| .bib | BibTeX entries | LaTeX and Overleaf |
Hanging indents and double spacing are paragraph settings in your word processor, not part of the text, so set them after pasting. Most styles ask for a hanging indent of 0.5 inch (1.27 cm).
Annotated bibliographies
An annotated bibliography adds a short summary or evaluation under each entry. Generate and copy the formatted entries here, then write your annotations under each one in your document. The annotation must be your own analysis; the simple paraphrasing tool can help you check that you understood a difficult source before you summarise it.
Your list stays on your device
The bibliography is stored in your browser's local storage on this device, under keys that start with rph:. It is never sent to Rephrasa, so we cannot see it, lose it or recover it. It survives reloads and restarts of the browser, but not clearing your site data or using a private window. Export a .ris or .bib file when your list matters.
Formatting happens locally too, with citeproc-js and the official CSL style files, so you can build a long bibliography without hitting any limit.
Ordering and duplicates
Alphabetical order is by the first word of each entry, usually the first author's surname; entries that start with an organisation name sort by that name. Numbered styles such as IEEE and AMA ignore alphabetical order and follow the order of citation instead, so use the date-added order and add sources as you cite them.
When two entries share an author and year in an author-date style, styles add a letter (2019a, 2019b). Check those cases by hand after copying.