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A reference list is a list of sources that have been cited in a research paper, article, or another document. The reference list is usually included at the end of the document and provides complete bibliographic information for each source, including the author’s name, the title of the work, the publication date, and the publication information. The reference list allows readers to locate the sources cited in the document and verify the accuracy and reliability of the information being presented.

In most citation styles, the reference list is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the first author of each source. The formatting of the reference list may vary depending on the citation style being used. For example, in the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style, the reference list is formatted with the author’s name, the publication year, the title of the work, and the publication information, all separated by periods. In the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style, the reference list is formatted with the author’s name, the title of the work, and the publication information, all separated by commas.

There are many different types of reference lists that can be used, depending on the citation style being followed and the context in which the list is being used. Some common types of reference lists include:

1. Bibliographies: A list of sources used or consulted in the preparation of a research paper or other document.
2. Works Cited: A list of sources cited in the text of a research paper or other document.
3. References: A list of sources used or cited in a research paper or other document. This term is often used interchangeably with “bibliography” and “works cited.”
4. Endnotes: A list of citations or annotations that appear at the end of a document or book, rather than in the main body of the text.
5. Footnotes: A list of citations or annotations that appear at the bottom of a page, rather than in the main body of the text.
6. Parenthetical references: A system of citing sources in which the author’s name and the publication date are given in parentheses in the text, rather than in a separate list.
7. Harvard-style references: A system of citing sources in which the author’s name and the publication date are given in parentheses in the text, and the full citation is given in a reference list at the end of the document.
8. APA-style references: A system of citing sources used by the American Psychological Association, in which the author’s name and the publication date are given in parentheses in the text, and the full citation is given in a reference list at the end of the document.
9. MLA-style references: A system of citing sources used by the Modern Language Association, in which the author’s name is given in parentheses in the text, and the full citation is given in a works cited list at the end of the document.