Distinguishing Between Works Cited & Works Consulted

Works Cited vs. Works Consulted

Citation and bibliography hold great significance in academic writing, as they involve mentioning the sources consulted or used. This is why we often see extra pages at the end of an essay or journal, called works cited and works consulted. There can be confusion between these two categories of sources, as they sometimes contain the same sources. This article aims to clarify the differences between works cited and works consulted for students engaged in academic writing.

Key Takeaways

• Works Cited lists the sources mentioned in the essay or writing, often called references. These are sources cited in the text to support a point or fact, and the list is placed at the end of the research paper or essay in alphabetical order.
• Works Consulted is a list of works that have been read and consulted by the writer before presenting their ideas. This list often contains sources omitted from the works cited list, as the student wants to give a source a more important place than merely listing it in the works cited.
• The difference between Works Cited and Works Consulted is that works cited lists sources mentioned in the text, while works consulted lists sources that have been read and investigated before writing the paper, even if they are not directly cited.