How to Set Up an Annotated Bibliography in APA, MLA, and Chicago
Annotation placement, indentation, and length rules differ by style. Set up an annotated bibliography correctly in APA, MLA, or Chicago.
Configuring an annotated bibliography requires aligning style-specific citation geometries with standardized three-part annotations: concise summary, methodological critique, and project relevance. Establishing consistent paragraph indents and hanging citation margins across APA, MLA, and Chicago eliminates tedious manual layout errors.
Each entry pairs a properly formatted citation with a short paragraph — usually 100 to 200 words — summarizing and evaluating the source. The citation part obeys the normal style rules; the annotation part adds its own placement and indentation rules that vary by style.
Get both halves right with this setup guide.
Setup Rules by Style
| Aspect | APA 7th | MLA 9th | Chicago 17th |
|---|---|---|---|
| List title | Annotated Bibliography | Annotated Bibliography | Annotated Bibliography |
| Annotation position | New line under the entry | New line under the entry | New line under the note |
| Annotation indent | Flush with hanging indent (0.5″) | Indented 1″ from the entry | Indented block |
| Typical length | 100–200 words | ~150 words | 150–200 words |
What the Annotation Contains
Most assignments expect a three-move annotation in miniature: what the source argues (summary), how it was researched or how reliable it is (evaluation), and where it fits your project (relevance). In one or two sentences each, that is roughly 150 words — long enough to show you read the source, short enough to prove you digested it.
Keep the annotation descriptive rather than persuasive: you are documenting the source’s contribution, not reviewing it for an audience of shoppers. The citation half of each entry follows the ordinary rules — for APA and MLA formatting details, see how to format an annotated bibliography in APA and MLA.
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Mechanics That Trip People Up
Three details produce most deductions: annotations that start on the same line as the citation, hanging indents applied to the annotation instead of the citation, and double-spacing abandoned inside the annotation. Every style keeps the whole page double-spaced unless told otherwise, and the hanging indent belongs to the citation line, not the annotation.
Expert Tip: Write the annotation immediately after reading each source, not the night before the deadline. A summary written from memory of last week’s reading is how citations for sources you only skimmed end up padding the list.
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