NAVY ADMIN GUIDE
Navy Reference Format
References identify documents that directly support or govern the correspondence. The goal is to make each reference easy to identify and easy to cite in the body.
Updated September 12, 2026
Reference checklist
- Include only documents that actually bear on the subject
- Order references logically and label them consistently
- Identify each reference clearly enough for the reader to locate it
- Use the same reference label consistently in the body
Avoid reference clutter
A long list of references does not make a document stronger. Include the documents the reader genuinely needs for authority, context, or action.
Formatting references in Word
Use stable hanging indents or tabs rather than spaces so multi-line references remain aligned when edited.