Bibliography vs. Reference List
Bibliography and reference-list terminology depends on the citation system. Chicago, for example, uses “reference list” with author-date citations and “bibliography” with notes-bibliography, and a bibliography may include works beyond those cited directly.
Do not treat “bibliography” and “reference list” as universally interchangeable labels: the governing citation style determines what the list is called and which sources it contains.
Key details
Important caveats
Style Boundary
Do not transfer Chicago terminology automatically to APA, MLA, a publisher template or an institutional guide; follow the authority governing the document.
Further guidance
Citation System
Use the term required by the citation system: in Chicago, author-date documentation uses a reference list, while notes-bibliography uses a bibliography.
Scope
Check whether the required list contains only works cited or may include additional consulted works; that scope is style-dependent rather than universal.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Documentation FAQ: bibliography and reference list — CMOS (opens in a new tab)The Chicago Manual of Style · Chicago terminology and scope for bibliographies versus reference lists