Basic Details
Word: Bibliography
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A list of the books, articles and websites used or referred to in a piece of writing, usually placed at the end.
Synonyms: reference list, book list
Word origin: Comes from Greek biblion, 'book', and graphia, 'writing'.
How to Spell Bibliography
Syllables: bib - li - og - ra - phy
Tricky part: It begins biblio, with an i after the first b and another after the l, and ends graphy with ph. Students drop the i after l or write f for ph.
Watch out for: bibliografy, bibilography, bibliogrophy
Memory tip: Biblio is Greek for book and graphy means writing: a bibliography is the writing that lists your books. Spell biblio as bib, then lio.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Our science project needs a bibliography listing every book we used.
Example 2: The author's bibliography ran to six pages at the back of the book.
Example 3: Ms Kapoor showed us how to write a website address in a bibliography.
Fun Fact
Biblion gives English other words too: a bibliophile is a person who loves and collects books.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
bibl_og_aphy
a) a, r
b) e, r
c) i, r
d) i, l
Show answer
c) i, r. Biblio ends in io, and the second gap is the r of graphy.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Our teacher asked us to list every source we used in a golibpyhabri for the history project.
a) biography
b) bibliography
c) choreography
d) discography
Show answer
b) bibliography. The jumble has two b's, two i's and an l, which only bibliography uses.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. glosary 2. refrence 3. bibliography 4. apendix
a) a list of books and articles used in a piece of work
b) a mention of a source of information
c) a list of difficult words with their meanings
d) an extra section at the end of a book
Show answer
a) a list of books and articles used in a piece of work. Reference has an e after f, appendix has a double p and glossary a double s.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where in a project report is a bibliography usually placed?
a) before the contents
b) on the cover
c) in the title
d) at the end
Show answer
d) at the end
2. How is a bibliography different from a biography?
a) It lists books; a biography tells a life story.
b) Both are lists of book titles.
c) Both are stories of famous people.
d) It tells a life story; a biography lists books.
Show answer
a) It lists books; a biography tells a life story.
