How to Write an Annotated Bibliography
Annotated bibliography — an alphabetized list of sources in which each citation is followed by a short paragraph, called an annotation, that summarizes, assesses, and reflects on the source’s relevance to your research project or paper.
What is an annotated bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a reference list in which each source entry is followed by a brief paragraph — usually 100 to 200 words — that describes and evaluates the source. It looks like a normal Works Cited or References page, but every citation carries an annotation beneath it.
Instructors assign annotated bibliographies to make you engage with sources before you write, so you understand each work’s argument, quality, and place in your project. The document has two moving parts: the citation, formatted in a style such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, and the annotation, your own concise prose about that source.
How do you write an annotated bibliography?
Write an annotated bibliography by choosing credible sources, citing each one in the required style, then adding a short paragraph under each citation that summarizes the work, judges its reliability, and explains its relevance. Order the entries alphabetically by the first author’s surname.
- Select and read your sources. Pick scholarly books, peer-reviewed articles, and reputable reports that speak directly to your research question. Read each one closely enough to describe its argument.
- Cite each source in the assigned style, exactly as it would appear on a References or Works Cited page, with a hanging indent.
- Write the annotation below each citation: summarize the content, assess the source’s authority and method, and reflect on how it supports your project.
- Alphabetize the entries by author surname (or by title when there is no author).
- Add a page title — “Annotated Bibliography” — and confirm the spacing, indentation, and style rules match your assignment.
What goes into each annotation?
Each annotation can contain up to three elements: a summary of the source’s content and argument, an assessment of its authority, accuracy, and possible bias, and a reflection on how the source fits your own research. Instructors specify which of these they require.
| Element | Question it answers | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | What does the source say? | “The author argues that low-wage work traps workers in cycles of debt.” |
| Assessment | How reliable and useful is it? | “The evidence is anecdotal rather than statistical, which limits its scope.” |
| Reflection | How does it help my project? | “This source frames my chapter on the working poor and pairs well with census data.” |
Keep each annotation to a single tight paragraph unless your assignment asks for more. Write in complete sentences, use your own words, and avoid quoting the source at length.
Descriptive vs. evaluative annotations
Annotations fall into two broad kinds. A descriptive (or informative) annotation only summarizes what a source contains, while an evaluative (or critical) annotation also judges the source’s quality, credibility, and usefulness. Many assignments ask for a combination of both.
Descriptive
A descriptive annotation reports the source’s scope, main points, and conclusions without offering an opinion. It answers “what is this about?” and stops there.
Evaluative
An evaluative annotation adds critical judgment: it weighs the author’s credentials, the strength of the evidence, any bias, and how the work compares with others. If your instructor does not specify a type, the combined summary-plus-evaluation annotation is the safest default.
How do you format an annotated bibliography in APA 7?
In APA 7, format each reference in standard APA style with a hanging indent, then start the annotation on a new line and indent the entire annotation block an additional half inch, aligned with the reference’s second line. Title the page “Annotated Bibliography,” centered and bold.
- Alphabetize entries by the first author’s surname.
- Double-space throughout, with no extra blank lines between entries.
- Indent the whole annotation 0.5 inch from the left margin; if it runs to a second paragraph, indent that paragraph’s first line another 0.5 inch.
APA referenceEhrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. Metropolitan Books.
AnnotationEhrenreich reports her firsthand attempt to survive on low-wage jobs across three U.S. cities, documenting housing, health, and wage barriers. The account is journalistic rather than statistical, so its evidence is anecdotal, but it vividly frames the human cost of poverty and supports my chapter on the working poor.
How do you format an annotated bibliography in MLA 9?
In MLA 9, format each entry as a normal Works Cited citation with a hanging indent, then begin the annotation on a new line and indent it one inch from the left margin — a half inch deeper than the entry’s runover lines. Title the page “Annotated Bibliography,” centered.
- Alphabetize entries by author surname, or by title when no author is listed.
- Double-space the entire list.
- Indent each annotation one inch; for a second paragraph, indent its first line a further quarter inch.
MLA entryEhrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Metropolitan Books, 2001.
AnnotationEhrenreich chronicles her experiment living on minimum-wage work, exposing how rent, transport, and health costs consume subsistence pay. Because the book relies on personal narrative rather than data, it works best as illustration; still, its detail and clarity make it a strong anchor for my argument about wage inequality.
| Feature | APA 7 | MLA 9 |
|---|---|---|
| List title | Annotated Bibliography (bold, centered) | Annotated Bibliography (centered) |
| Citation format | References-style, hanging indent | Works Cited-style, hanging indent |
| Annotation indent | 0.5 in (whole block) | 1 in from margin |
| Order | Alphabetical by author | Alphabetical by author |
How accurate is an automatic annotated bibliography tool?
A citation generator produces the citation half accurately when you feed it correct metadata, but no tool can write a genuine annotation for you, because the annotation requires your own reading, judgment, and connection to your project. Treat the generated citation as a reliable starting point, not a finished page.
Our generator builds each reference with the same open-source CSL style files that power reference managers, so italics, punctuation, and author order follow the current manuals. Even so, you should verify a few things by hand: confirm the author names and publication year, check capitalization of titles, and make sure the annotation indentation matches your style. The words inside each annotation must always be your own — that is the part the assignment is grading.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an annotation be?
Most annotations run 100 to 200 words, roughly one tight paragraph. Follow your instructor’s stated length; some ask for a few sentences, others for up to 300 words when reflection is required.
Are annotated bibliography entries alphabetized?
Yes. Order entries alphabetically by the first author’s surname, or by title when a source has no author, exactly as you would on a standard References or Works Cited page.
What is the difference between a descriptive and an evaluative annotation?
A descriptive annotation only summarizes what a source contains. An evaluative annotation also judges the source’s credibility, method, and usefulness. Combined annotations do both and are the most common assignment.
Do I write annotations in first person?
You may use first person when reflecting on how a source fits your research, but keep the tone academic and concise. Summaries and assessments are usually written in a neutral third-person voice.
Does an annotated bibliography need in-text citations?
No. An annotated bibliography is a standalone list, so it has no in-text citations. Each full citation sits above its annotation, and that is the only reference needed for that source.
Can a citation generator write the annotation for me?
No. A generator formats the citation, but the annotation must reflect your own reading and evaluation. Writing it yourself is the point of the assignment and the part instructors grade.