Reference List
The list at the end of a document giving full publication details for every source cited in the text, and only those sources.
A reference list is the section, usually at the end of a thesis or article, that provides complete publication details for every source cited in the text. Each entry typically includes authors, year, title, and publication information such as journal name, volume, pages, or publisher, formatted according to a specific citation style. Unlike a bibliography in its strict sense, a reference list contains only works actually cited; it excludes background reading.
Examiners routinely cross-check the reference list against in-text citations, and mismatches are among the most common corrections requested after a defense. Every in-text citation must appear in the list, and every listed work must be cited somewhere in the text. Building the list with a citation manager as you write, rather than reconstructing it at the end, prevents missing entries and formatting drift.
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