The simplest way to add text under references in LaTeX

To add text under your references section in LaTeX, use the \section* command followed by your text, or insert a \vspace command with regular paragraph text. The most common approach is to place text between your \begin{thebibliography} and \end{thebibliography} tags, or after them entirely, depending on where you want the text to appear.

If you want text to appear directly under the "References" heading, add it when ready after \begin{thebibliography}. If you want text after all your citations, place it after \end{thebibliography}. LaTeX will treat it as regular paragraph text and format it according to your document's style.

Key Takeaways

  • Text placed right after \begin{thebibliography} appears under the References heading but before your citations.
  • Text placed after \end{thebibliography} appears after all your citations have ended.
  • Use \vspace{} to add extra space between your references heading and any text you insert.
  • The biblatex package offers more control over reference formatting and text placement than standard BibTeX.

Adding text directly under the References heading

If you want a note or explanation to appear when ready under your "References" heading, place your text right after the opening tag. Here is the structure:

Example code:

\begin{thebibliography}{99} This section lists all sources cited in this document. \bibitem{key1} Author Name. Title. Publisher, Year.

The text "This section lists all sources cited in this document." will appear between your References heading and your first citation. LaTeX treats it as a normal paragraph, so it will wrap according to your page width and follow your document's font settings.

If you want space between the heading and your text, add \vspace{0.5cm} before your text. Adjust the measurement (0.5cm, 1cm, etc.) to control how much space appears.

Adding text after all your citations

To add text after your references list ends — such as a note about where to find additional sources or a disclaimer — place it after \end{thebibliography}:

\end{thebibliography} For additional reading on this topic, consult your library's database or contact the reference desk.

This text will appear on a new line after your last citation. It follows the same formatting rules as the rest of your document body, so it will use your default font and spacing.

Using biblatex for more control

If you are using the biblatex package instead of standard BibTeX, you have more flexibility. With biblatex, you can add text before or after your bibliography using the \printbibliography command and surrounding text:

\section*{References} Some introductory text about these sources. \printbibliography \vspace{1cm} Additional notes or closing remarks.

The biblatex approach is cleaner because it separates your bibliography command from your text, making the code easier to read and edit. It also works better with more complex document structures, such as multi-chapter theses or books.

Controlling spacing and formatting

LaTeX respects your spacing commands, so use \vspace{} to add gaps and \\ to force line breaks. If you want your added text in a different style — bold, italic, or a different size — wrap it in the appropriate command:

\begin{thebibliography}{99} \textit{The following sources were consulted:} \bibitem{key1} Author Name. Title. Publisher, Year.

Here, \textit{} makes the text italic. You can also use \textbf{} for bold, \small or \large to change size, or \centering to center text. Remember that these formatting commands affect only the text inside them, so your citations will return to normal formatting.

If you want consistent formatting across multiple paragraphs, consider creating a custom environment or using a package like fancyhdr to manage headers and footers instead of embedding text directly in your bibliography.

Common mistakes when adding text to references

The most frequent error is placing text outside the \begin{thebibliography} and \end{thebibliography} tags when you intended it to be part of the references section. This causes the text to appear in the wrong location or with unexpected formatting. Always check where your opening and closing tags are before adding text.

Another mistake is forgetting that LaTeX requires a blank line to start a new paragraph. If you add text without a blank line before it, LaTeX treats it as a continuation of the previous line. Use a blank line between your opening tag and your text to may support proper paragraph breaks.

Finally, some users try to use special characters or formatting commands without escaping them properly. If your text contains characters like %, $, or &, you must precede them with a backslash (\) or place them in a math environment, or LaTeX will throw an error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a heading above my references text?

Yes. Use \subsection*{} or \subsubsection*{} inside your bibliography environment to create a heading without numbering. The asterisk prevents LaTeX from auto-numbering the heading, which keeps your references section clean.

What if my text is too long and breaks the page?

LaTeX will automatically move text to the next page if it does not fit. If you want to control where the page break happens, use \newpage or \pagebreak before your references section. You can also adjust margins or font size for the entire document using the \geometry package.

How do I add a line or divider under my references text?

Use \hrule to draw a horizontal line. Place it after your text: \hrule \vspace{0.5cm}. This creates a line followed by space, which is useful for separating sections visually.

Does adding text affect how citations are numbered?

No. Text you add does not change citation numbering. LaTeX numbers citations based on the \bibitem commands, not on surrounding text. Your citations will be numbered in the order they appear in your bibliography, regardless of what text you add around them.

Can I add text to references in a two-column document?

Yes, but the text will span both columns by default. If you want text in only one column, use the multicol package and end the two-column environment before your references, then restart it after. This gives you more control over layout in complex documents.