How to Write an Annotated Bibliography in APA Format

Q: What is an annotated bibliography in APA format?

An annotated bibliography is a reference list where each citation is followed by a short paragraph called an annotation. The annotation summarizes the source and, depending on the type required, evaluates the author's credibility or explains how the source relates to your research. In APA 7th edition, the annotation is indented on the left to align with the hanging indent of the reference, and the first line of the annotation is not indented further.

Q: How long should an annotation be in an annotated bibliography?

Most instructors ask for annotations between 100 and 200 words per source. Some assignments specify 150 words exactly. A typical annotation is 3-6 sentences: one summarizing the source's thesis or main argument, one or two covering key findings or methods, and one evaluating relevance or credibility for your research project.

Q: What are the three types of annotated bibliographies?

The three main types are: (1) Descriptive/Informative — summarizes the source's content, main arguments, and methods without evaluation; (2) Evaluative/Critical — summarizes and assesses the source's quality, credibility, bias, or usefulness; (3) Combination — includes both a summary and an evaluation, plus an explanation of how the source fits into your research. Most college assignments ask for the combination type.

Q: Is an annotated bibliography double-spaced in APA?

Yes. APA 7th edition annotated bibliographies are double-spaced throughout, including within citations, within annotations, and between each citation-annotation block. Do not add extra blank lines between citations. Each citation uses a hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent reference lines indented 0.5 inches), and the annotation paragraph begins on the next line, indented 0.5 inches from the left margin.

Q: Do you need in-text citations in an annotated bibliography?

No. Annotated bibliographies do not use in-text citations. You are writing about each source in its own annotation, so you don't need to parenthetically cite the source you are currently describing. If your annotation discusses another source in addition to the main one, you could cite that secondary source, but this is uncommon.

Quick Answer An annotated bibliography lists your sources in APA format with a short paragraph (100–200 words) after each citation. The annotation starts on the line below the citation and is indented 0.5 inches. It summarizes the source and, for evaluative annotations, assesses the author's credibility and the source's relevance to your research. The APA Citation Generator extension creates the citation portion automatically — you write the annotation.

📋 Table of Contents

What Is an Annotated Bibliography?
APA Formatting Rules for Annotated Bibliographies
Complete Annotated Bibliography Examples
How to Write a Good Annotation
What to Avoid in Annotations
Page Setup and Title Format
Annotated Bibliography vs. Literature Review
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions

📋 Table of Contents

What Is an Annotated Bibliography?
APA Formatting Rules for Annotated Bibliographies
Complete Annotated Bibliography Examples
How to Write a Good Annotation
What to Avoid in Annotations
Page Setup and Title Format
Annotated Bibliography vs. Literature Review
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions

An annotated bibliography is one of those assignments that sounds more complicated than it is. At its core, it's a reference list where you've added a paragraph after each citation to show you actually read the source and can explain why it matters to your research.

This guide covers formatting rules, annotation types, length requirements, and complete examples you can use as a model.

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What Is an Annotated Bibliography?

A standard reference list or bibliography only lists your sources. An annotated bibliography goes further: after each formatted citation, you include a short paragraph that describes and sometimes evaluates the source.

The annotation serves a different purpose depending on the type your instructor assigns:

Annotation Type	What It Does	Common Length
Descriptive	Summarizes the source's content, main argument, and methods. No evaluation.	100–150 words
Evaluative (Critical)	Summarizes and assesses quality, bias, credibility, or usefulness.	150–200 words
Combination	Summarizes, evaluates, and explains relevance to your project.	150–250 words

Most college-level assignments ask for the combination type — a brief summary followed by your assessment of the source's value to your research.

APA Formatting Rules for Annotated Bibliographies

Title the page "Annotated Bibliography" (centered, bold, no quotes)
Double-space throughout — citations, annotations, and between entries
Citations use hanging indent format: first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches
Annotation begins on the line immediately after the citation
Annotation is indented 0.5 inches from the left margin (same as the hanging indent)
Entries are alphabetized by first author's last name, same as a regular reference list
No extra blank lines between citation and annotation, or between entries

Common formatting mistake: Many students double-indent the annotation (indent 1 full inch instead of 0.5 inches). The annotation should be indented to match where the second line of the citation begins — 0.5 inches from the left margin.

Complete Annotated Bibliography Examples

Example 1: Journal Article — Descriptive Annotation

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.

This book presents Dweck's two-decade research program distinguishing a "fixed mindset" (the belief that intelligence is innate) from a "growth mindset" (the belief that intelligence can be developed through effort). Dweck draws on studies with schoolchildren, athletes, and business leaders to argue that growth-mindset individuals achieve more and recover better from failure. The book includes practical advice for parents and teachers on how to praise effort rather than ability. Written for a general audience, it offers accessible summaries of primary research findings without detailed methodology sections.

Example 2: Research Article — Evaluative Annotation

Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. Penguin Press.

Baumeister and Tierney synthesize research on self-regulation, including Baumeister's well-known ego depletion studies, to argue that willpower functions like a muscle that fatigues with use. The book covers decision fatigue, the role of glucose in self-control, and practical habit-formation strategies. Baumeister is a credible source — one of the most-cited social psychologists — though some of the ego depletion findings have faced replication challenges since publication. For a research paper on habit formation, this book provides useful foundational concepts while serving as a cautionary example of findings that may not hold across all contexts.

Example 3: Website Source — Combination Annotation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, January 15). Mental health by the numbers. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm

This CDC webpage provides current national statistics on mental health prevalence, including depression, anxiety disorder, and suicide rates across demographic groups. The data is derived from federal surveys including the National Health Interview Survey and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. As a federal government source, the CDC carries significant credibility and provides data updated more frequently than peer-reviewed publications. For a paper on adolescent mental health interventions, this source provides up-to-date baseline statistics against which intervention effectiveness can be measured. The page does not discuss intervention programs directly, limiting its usefulness beyond establishing scope.

How to Write a Good Annotation

For a combination annotation (the most common type), aim for this structure:

Sentence 1: Main argument or purpose. What does this source claim or aim to do?
Sentences 2–3: Key findings or methods. What evidence or approach does the author use?
Sentence 4: Credibility or limitations. Why is this author qualified? Or what are the source's weaknesses?
Sentence 5–6: Relevance to your project. How does this source fit your specific research question?

Write in third person. Refer to yourself as "this researcher" or "the present study" rather than "I" or "my." Some instructors allow first person — follow their guidelines if specified.

What to Avoid in Annotations

Avoid copying the abstract. The abstract is the author's own summary; you need to paraphrase and evaluate in your own words.
Avoid padding. Don't repeat the title or restate the citation in the annotation.
Avoid vague praise. "This is a very interesting and useful source" tells the reader nothing. Explain specifically why it's useful for your project.
Avoid missing the "so what." Always connect the source back to your research question or paper's argument.

Page Setup and Title Format

Title Page Header Format Annotated Bibliography

(First entry begins on the next line, no extra space after title)

In Word or Google Docs, set up the hanging indent before typing:

Select all text in the reference section
Go to Format → Paragraph → Indentation
Set "Special" to "Hanging" with 0.5 inches
The annotation paragraph will also be indented 0.5 inches from the left — adjust if needed

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Generate each APA citation with one click, then focus your time on writing the annotations. Works for websites, journal articles, PDFs, and books.

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Annotated Bibliography vs. Literature Review

Students sometimes confuse these two assignments. Here's the difference:

	Annotated Bibliography	Literature Review
Structure	List of sources, each with its own annotation	Prose essay discussing themes across sources
Focus	Each source treated individually	Sources compared, contrasted, synthesized
Purpose	Show you've read and understood each source	Situate your research within existing scholarship
Length	100–250 words per source	500–5,000+ words as a connected essay

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an annotated bibliography in APA format?

A reference list where each APA citation is followed by a 100–200 word paragraph that summarizes and/or evaluates the source. The annotation is indented 0.5 inches and begins immediately after the citation on the next line.

How long should an annotation be in an annotated bibliography?

Typically 100–200 words, or about 3–6 sentences. Follow your instructor's specific requirements — some assign exactly 150 words per annotation.

What are the three types of annotated bibliographies?

Descriptive (summarizes only), Evaluative/Critical (summarizes and assesses quality), and Combination (summarizes, evaluates, and connects to your research). Most assignments ask for the combination type.

Is an annotated bibliography double-spaced in APA?

Yes. Double-space throughout, including within citations, within annotations, and between entries. Do not add extra blank lines between a citation and its annotation.

Do you need in-text citations in an annotated bibliography?

No. You are writing about each source in its own section, so in-text citations are not used within the annotations themselves.

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