apa citations on websites

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APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Websites and Webpages

• Audiovisual Media
• Books and eBooks
• Dictionaries, Thesauruses and Encyclopedias
• Figures and Tables
• Government Documents
• Journal, Magazine and Newspaper Articles
• Personal Communications
• Presentations and Class Notes
• Social Media
• Websites and Webpages
• Generative AI
• In-Text Citation
• Reference List and Sample Papers
• Annotated Bibliography
• Citation Software

Website or Webpage?

A website is a collection of webpages that are under one domain. One website will have several webpages like Home, About Us, Contact Us, Services, Products, etc. All of these pages together make up a website. In other words, a webpage is an independent page of a website. 

If you simply mention a whole website it is not necessary to create a reference list entry. Name the website in the text of your paper and provide the URL in parentheses.

• Use the webpage and website category for your source  only if there is no better category for it . Do not use it if a source is simply available online, e.g., if a journal article is available from an online database, use a journal article format for your reference.
• Some information, (e.g., author, date), might not always be obvious on websites or webpages. Sometimes it may be necessary to check places such as the "About Us", the "Copyright" or the "Acknowledgements" page(s).
• Do not use any punctuation at the end of URLs as punctuation could interfere with the link.
• If the author of the website is the same as the name of the website, omit the website name.
• Retrieval date is normally not necessary unless the content is likely to change and the page is not archived, e.g., a Wikipedia entry. The format is: Retrieved February 1, 2020 from https://xxxxxxx

Webpage on a Website with an Individual Author

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date). Title of work . Site Name. URL

Picheta, R. (2020, July 1). This new high-tech glove translates sign language into speech in real time . CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/health/sign-langage-glove-ucla-scn-scli-intl/index.html

Webpage on a Website with a Group Author

Name of Corporation/Group/Organization. (Date).  Title of work . Site Name. URL

World Health Organization. (2020, June 29). Timeline of WHO's response to COVID-19 . https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/29-06-2020-covidtimeline 

Note : When the author and site name are the same, omit the site name from the source element.

Webpage on a Website with No Date

Author or Group Name. (n.d.). Title of page . Site name. URL

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Mental health conditions . https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions

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APA Style (7th Edition) Citation Guide: Websites

• Introduction
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Films/Videos/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Entire Website - No Separate Pages or Sections

Page or Section from a Website

Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

This Microsoft support page contains instructions about how to format a hanging indent in a paper.

It can sometimes be difficult to find out who the author of a website is. Remember that an author can be a corporation or group, not only a specific person. Author information can sometimes be found under an "About" section on a website.

If there is no known author, start the citation with the title of the website instead.

The best date to use for a website is the date that the content was last updated. Otherwise look for a copyright or original publication date. Unfortunately this information may not be provided or may be hard to find. Often date information is put on the bottom of the pages of a website.

If you do not know the complete date, put as much information as you can find. For example you may have a year but no month or day.

If an original publication date and a last updated date are provided, use the last updated date. If the more current date is "last reviewed" instead of "last updated," use the original publication date (since the review may not have changed the content).

If there is no date provided, put the letters (n.d.) in round brackets where you'd normally put the date.

Titles should be italicized when the document stands alone (e.g. books, reports, websites, etc.), but not when it is part of a greater whole (e.g. chapters, articles, webpages, etc.).

Website Name

Provide website names in title case without italics after titles of work. Include a period after the website name, followed by the URL. When the author of the work is the same as the website name, omit the site name from the reference.

Retrieval Date

If the content of a website is likely to change over time (e.g. Wikis), you must provide the date you last visited the website.

If a URL is too long to fit onto one line, try to break it at a slash (/).

Entire Website

Note: If you are quoting or paraphrasing part of a website, you should create a reference for a Page or Section. If you mention a website in general, do not create a reference list entry or an in-text citation. Instead, include the name of the website in the text and provide the URL in parentheses.

The Department of Justice has a site called ReportCrime.gov (https://www.reportcrime.gov/) to help people identify and report crimes in their area.

Note : If you cite multiple webpages from a website, create a reference for each. Include the date you retrieved the information if the content is likely to change over time.

Created by a Corporate or Group Author

Corporation/Group/Organization's Name. (Year website was last updated/published, Month Day if given). Title of page: Subtitle (if any). Website Name. URL

Example in which the content is unlikely to change over time:

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (2019, November 21). Justice served: Case closed for over 40 dogfighting victims . https://www.aspca.org/news/justice-served-case-closed-over-40-dogfighting-victims

Example in which the content is likely to change over time:

Adidas. (2020). Sustainability . Retrieved January 23, 2020, from https://www.adidas.com/us/sustainability

Note: When the author and site name are the same, omit the site name in the reference.

In-Text Paraphrase:

(Corporation/Group's Name, Year)

Example: (Adidas, 2020)

In-Text Quote:

(Corporation/Group's Name, year, Section Name section, para. Paragraph Number if more than one paragraph in section)

Example: (Adidas, 2020, Sustainability section, para. 1)

Note: When there are no visible page numbers or paragraph numbers, you may cite the section heading and the number of the paragraph in that section to identify where your quote came from.

Abbreviating Corporation/Group Author Name in In-Text citations:

Author names for corporations/groups can often be abbreviated. The first time you refer to the author, provide the full name, along with the abbreviation.

If the group name appears in the text of your paper, include the abbreviation in the in-text parenthetical citation:

Example: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA, 2019) assisted in the rescue of 40 dogs.

If the group name first appears within a parenthetical citation, include the full group name as well as the abbreviation in square brackets:

Example: Forty dogs were rescued in Bendena, Kansas (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [ASPCA], 2019).

Provide the full group name (without an abbreviation) in the reference list entry: 

Created by an Individual Author 

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year website was last updated/published, Month Day if given). Title of page: Subtitle (if any). Website Name. URL

Price, D. (2018, March 23). Laziness does not exist . Medium. https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01

Shillam, S. (2018). Message from the Dean . University of Portland. Retrieved October 1, 2018, from https://nursing.up.edu/about/index.html

(Author Last Name, Year)

Example: (Shillam, 2018)

(Author Last Name, Year, Section Name section, para. Paragraph Number if more than one paragraph in section)

Example: (Shillam, 2018, Message from the dean section, para. 2)

Created by an Unknown Author 

Title of page: Subtitle (if any). (Year website was last updated/published, Month Day if given). Website Name. URL

Example in which the content is unlikely to change over time (because the restaurant has closed) :

Jarra's Ethiopian Restaurant [Reviews]. (2012, November 9). Yelp. https://www.yelp.com/biz/jarras-ethiopian-restaurant-portland

Powell's City of Books [Reviews]. (2020, February 25). Yelp. Retrieved February 28, 2020, from https://www.yelp.com/biz/powells-city-of-books-portland-4

("Title," Year)

Example: ("Powell's City of Books," 2020)

("Title," Year, Section Name section, para. Paragraph Number if more than one paragraph in section)

Example: ("Powell's City of Books," 2020, Review Highlights)

Note: When there are no visible page numbers or paragraph numbers, you may cite the section heading and the number of the paragraph in that section to identify where your quote came from. In this example, there is only one paragraph under the specific heading, so no paragraph number is needed.

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APA Website Citation

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←Back to APA Citation Examples

Use the following template to cite a website using the APA citation format. There are also BibMe style guides for the MLA and Chicago styles.

Here’s a table of contents for this guide:

• Cite a website on BibMe citation generator
• Cite a website article with an author
• Cite a website article without an author
• Cite a website article without a date

How to Cite a Website in APA

Cite in websites in apa automatically with bibme.

To have your bibliography or works cited list automatically made for you, check out our free APA citation generator . Once you’re finished with your citations, you can also find help with creating an APA title page .

Citing a general website article in APA with an author

Author, A. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title . Website/Publisher Name. URL

Simmons, B. (2015, January 9). The tale of two Flaccos . Grantland. http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-tale-of-two-flaccos/

Citing a general website article in APA without an author

Article title . (Year, Month Date of Publication). Website/Publisher Name. URL

Teen posed as doctor at West Palm Beach hospital: police . (2015, January 16). NBC Miami. http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Teen-Posed-as-Doctor-at-West-Palm-Beach-Hospital-Police-288810831.html

Citing a general website article in APA without a date

Author, A. (n.d.). Article title . Website/Publisher Name. URL

University of California Santa Barbara. (n.d.). About UC Santa Barbara . UC Santa Barbara. https://www.ucsb.edu/about

Note that if the webpage contents are likely to change, include a retrieval date, formatted as follows:

University of California Santa Barbara. (n.d.). About UC Santa Barbara . UC Santa Barbara. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://www.ucsb.edu/about

How to cite from social media in APA

Apa citation example for facebook.

Author/Page Name. (Year, Month Date). First 20 words of post text [Status update]. Facebook. URL

Gates, B. (2020, December 1). 75 years after its founding, the United Nations’ work is as important as ever. In addition to working towards the [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/BillGates/posts/10157610753046961

APA citation example for Twitter

Author name [@twitterhandle]. (Year, Month Date). First 20 words of tweet text [Tweet]. Twitter. URL

 World Health Organization [@WHO]. (2021, January 27). Nutritious & safe food is 🔑 to achieve #HealthForAll. Together, let’s create food systems that are: 🥗 Healthy ♻️ Sustainable [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1354450281321345029

Note that if emojis are used in a tweet (or any type of social media post that you are citing), they should be included and counted as one word (but should not be italicized). Hashtags also count as one word.

APA citation example for Instagram

Author name [@username]. (Year, Month Date). First 20 words of post text [Photograph or Video]. Instagram. URL

National Geographic [@NatGeo]. (2021, January 26). Photo by @paulnicklen / I took this photo while waiting for leopard seals in Antarctica—my favorite assignment from 20 years [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CKg4XeSDHhG/

For more information on how to cite in APA, check out the APA style guide and  Cornell .

Important Note:

For information on how to cite other types of online sources in APA, check out the following guides:

• Online Book
• Online Magazine
• Online Newspaper
• Online Journal
• Online Encyclopedia

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When there is no date available for a webpage, use “n.d.” signifying “no date” in in-text citations, along with the author’s surname or the name of the institution.

Example in-text citation with author and no date:

(Ramsay, n.d.)

Example in-text citation with institution and no date:

(NIMH, n.d.)

Per section 10 of the APA Publication Manual , the contributor’s name (either the individual or the organization who shared the Instagram post) along with the year should be used when citing an Instagram post in an in-text citation.

Parenthetical: (Poster’s Last Name, year post was published)

Narrative: Poster’s Last Name (year post was published)

Parenthetical: (Vedika, 2022)

Narrative: Vedika (2022)

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• Why are Citations Such a Big Deal Now?
• What Citations Should Be Doing For You in Your Assignments
• What's in a Citation versus in a Reference
• How to Avoid Plagiarism
• AMA 11th Edition
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About APA Style

In-text citations, reference list: books, reference list: articles, reference list: website, references page: how it should look, official apa style support from the american psyhologicl association, our other favorite online apa style guides, apa video tutorials.

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In 1929, a group of psychologists, anthropologists, and business managers got together and created a set of style guidelines in order to make scientific writing more standardized. Why? They figured it would make it more consistent, and easier to read. They published that first set of style guidelines in a journal; the article was 7 pages long.

Well, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , as it is now called, has gotten longer ever since. These days, the APA style guidelines are used by social and behavioral sciences, health care, natural sciences, humanities, and more.

If you're majoring in something like psychology, you'll have to make sure your papers are set up and formatted correctly, as the APA wants. But in plenty of classes the instructors will just want you to make your citations in the APA style. That's what we're showing you below.

APA format uses the author-date method.

(author's last name, year source was published)

Ex.: (Lopez, 2022)

When you've used a direct quote:

(author, year, p. # )

Ex.: (Harris, 2013, p. 26)

(author, year,  pp. # - #)

Ex.: (Garcia, 1989, pp. 452-453)

If you use a 'signal phrase'

if you mention the name of the author or authors in the sentence right before the in-text citation, you can leave the name out and just put the year.

Ex.: As Linda Cooper noted, "It was egregious." (2007, p. 6)

If your source has no page numbers

• pick a substitute for page numbers that makes sense for your source
• ex.: paragraph, a chapter number, a section number, a table number, a verse

Ex.: "It was the worst case of dropsy I'd ever seen," Dr. Fang recalled. (2019, para. 6)

When you used a long quotation / block quote:

If your quote is 40 words or more, you add it as a block quote.

• Start quote on new line
• Indent a half inch from the left margin
• No quote marks, just that indentation
• Type your quotation
• If there's more than one paragraph, make sure the first line of each new paragraph is also a half inch in
• The in-text citation goes at the end, after the period.

When you paraphrase

(author, year) - you don't need the page number(s) because it's not a direct quote.

Ex.: The author clearly had no fond memories of grade school. (SIlverman, 1962)

Compare to a direct quote version (author, year, pg.#):

"My grade school years were HELL! If I never go back to that dilapidated schoolhouse, it'll be too soon!" (Silverman, 1962, p. 356)

Basic Format

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle . Publisher Name. DOI (if available)

• DOI = Digital Object Identifier (Better than URLs for getting back to documents on the internet)
• If it has a DOI use it (even if you used a print version)
• Print version with no DOI? Add nothing (neither DOI nor URL)
• Don't use a URL if it has a DOI; just use that DOI
• The only time you use a URL is if an online version from a website doesn't have a DOI
• If all it has is a URL and that URL doesn't work, handle it like a citation with missing information
• If you are using a source that has older forms of the way DOIs used to be formatted, change that DOI to the current format

Edited book, no author

Editor, E. E. (Ed.). (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle . Publisher. DOI (if available)

Edited Book with an Author or Authors

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (E. Editor, Ed.). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Translation

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (T. Translator, Trans.). Publisher. (Original work published YEAR) DOI (if available)

Edition Other Than the First

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (# edition). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Article or Chapter in an Edited Book

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (pp. pages of chapter). Publisher. DOI (if available)

Multi-volume Work

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (Vol. #) . Publisher. DOI (if available)

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article.  Title of Periodical , volume number (issue number), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy

Article from a Print Journal (Single author)

Format:  Author's last name, A. A.. (Publication Date). "Article Title",  Journal Title , Volume Number. Issue Number: Pages-Pages. The medium of Publication.

Example:   Klassen, Pamela E. (2004). "The Robes of Womanhood: Dress and Authenticity Among African American Methodist Women in the Nineteenth Century".  Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation.  vol.14, (1), pp.39-82. Print.

Article from Print Journal (Multiple authors)

Multiple authors  - For a work with up to 20 authors, include all of the in the reference. When the work has 21 or more authors, include only the first 19 names, an ellipsis and the final author. 

Format : Author's last name, A. A.., Author's last name, B. B., and Author's last name, C. C.  (Publication Date)  "Article Title",  Journal Title , Volume Number. Issue Number, Pages-Pages. The medium of Publication.

Example : Hibel, J., Farkas, G., and Morgan, P. (2010). "Who Is Placed into Special Education?"  Sociology of Education , Volume 83, 4, pp. 312-332. Print.

Author's last name, A.A (Year of publication). "Article Title",  Website Title,  Publication Date. The Medium of retrieval. Retrieval Date. URL. 

The References page formatted the APA way

Even if your professor is just having you do APA citations (and doesn't need the whole paper to be APA-formatted), this is how your page of References should look:

• Starts on separate page
• Title is always: References , in bold, centered
• Double-spaced
• When a citation runs over a line, second line is indented 0.5 inches (MS Word's default)
• In alphabetical order by author's last name
• Every in-text citation has to point to one of the References

Find it at:

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Other Format/Citation Support from the APA:

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources

How to Cite Sources

Here is a complete list for how to cite sources. Most of these guides present citation guidance and examples in MLA, APA, and Chicago.

If you’re looking for general information on MLA or APA citations , the EasyBib Writing Center was designed for you! It has articles on what’s needed in an MLA in-text citation , how to format an APA paper, what an MLA annotated bibliography is, making an MLA works cited page, and much more!

MLA Format Citation Examples

The Modern Language Association created the MLA Style, currently in its 9th edition, to provide researchers with guidelines for writing and documenting scholarly borrowings.  Most often used in the humanities, MLA style (or MLA format ) has been adopted and used by numerous other disciplines, in multiple parts of the world.

MLA provides standard rules to follow so that most research papers are formatted in a similar manner. This makes it easier for readers to comprehend the information. The MLA in-text citation guidelines, MLA works cited standards, and MLA annotated bibliography instructions provide scholars with the information they need to properly cite sources in their research papers, articles, and assignments.

• Book Chapter
• Conference Paper
• Documentary
• Encyclopedia
• Google Images
• Kindle Book
• Memorial Inscription
• Museum Exhibit
• Painting or Artwork
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Sheet Music
• Thesis or Dissertation
• YouTube Video

APA Format Citation Examples

The American Psychological Association created the APA citation style in 1929 as a way to help psychologists, anthropologists, and even business managers establish one common way to cite sources and present content.

APA is used when citing sources for academic articles such as journals, and is intended to help readers better comprehend content, and to avoid language bias wherever possible. The APA style (or APA format ) is now in its 7th edition, and provides citation style guides for virtually any type of resource.

Chicago Style Citation Examples

The Chicago/Turabian style of citing sources is generally used when citing sources for humanities papers, and is best known for its requirement that writers place bibliographic citations at the bottom of a page (in Chicago-format footnotes ) or at the end of a paper (endnotes).

The Turabian and Chicago citation styles are almost identical, but the Turabian style is geared towards student published papers such as theses and dissertations, while the Chicago style provides guidelines for all types of publications. This is why you’ll commonly see Chicago style and Turabian style presented together. The Chicago Manual of Style is currently in its 17th edition, and Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations is in its 8th edition.

Citing Specific Sources or Events

• Declaration of Independence
• Gettysburg Address
• Martin Luther King Jr. Speech
• President Obama’s Farewell Address
• President Trump’s Inauguration Speech
• White House Press Briefing

Additional FAQs

• Citing Archived Contributors
• Citing a Blog
• Citing a Book Chapter
• Citing a Source in a Foreign Language
• Citing an Image
• Citing a Song
• Citing Special Contributors
• Citing a Translated Article
• Citing a Tweet

6 Interesting Citation Facts

The world of citations may seem cut and dry, but there’s more to them than just specific capitalization rules, MLA in-text citations , and other formatting specifications. Citations have been helping researches document their sources for hundreds of years, and are a great way to learn more about a particular subject area.

Ever wonder what sets all the different styles apart, or how they came to be in the first place? Read on for some interesting facts about citations!

1. There are Over 7,000 Different Citation Styles

You may be familiar with MLA and APA citation styles, but there are actually thousands of citation styles used for all different academic disciplines all across the world. Deciding which one to use can be difficult, so be sure to ask you instructor which one you should be using for your next paper.

2. Some Citation Styles are Named After People

While a majority of citation styles are named for the specific organizations that publish them (i.e. APA is published by the American Psychological Association, and MLA format is named for the Modern Language Association), some are actually named after individuals. The most well-known example of this is perhaps Turabian style, named for Kate L. Turabian, an American educator and writer. She developed this style as a condensed version of the Chicago Manual of Style in order to present a more concise set of rules to students.

3. There are Some Really Specific and Uniquely Named Citation Styles

How specific can citation styles get? The answer is very. For example, the “Flavour and Fragrance Journal” style is based on a bimonthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal published since 1985 by John Wiley & Sons. It publishes original research articles, reviews and special reports on all aspects of flavor and fragrance. Another example is “Nordic Pulp and Paper Research,” a style used by an international scientific magazine covering science and technology for the areas of wood or bio-mass constituents.

4. More citations were created on  EasyBib.com  in the first quarter of 2018 than there are people in California.

The US Census Bureau estimates that approximately 39.5 million people live in the state of California. Meanwhile, about 43 million citations were made on EasyBib from January to March of 2018. That’s a lot of citations.

5. “Citations” is a Word With a Long History

The word “citations” can be traced back literally thousands of years to the Latin word “citare” meaning “to summon, urge, call; put in sudden motion, call forward; rouse, excite.” The word then took on its more modern meaning and relevance to writing papers in the 1600s, where it became known as the “act of citing or quoting a passage from a book, etc.”

6. Citation Styles are Always Changing

The concept of citations always stays the same. It is a means of preventing plagiarism and demonstrating where you relied on outside sources. The specific style rules, however, can and do change regularly. For example, in 2018 alone, 46 new citation styles were introduced , and 106 updates were made to exiting styles. At EasyBib, we are always on the lookout for ways to improve our styles and opportunities to add new ones to our list.

Why Citations Matter

Here are the ways accurate citations can help your students achieve academic success, and how you can answer the dreaded question, “why should I cite my sources?”

They Give Credit to the Right People

Citing their sources makes sure that the reader can differentiate the student’s original thoughts from those of other researchers. Not only does this make sure that the sources they use receive proper credit for their work, it ensures that the student receives deserved recognition for their unique contributions to the topic. Whether the student is citing in MLA format , APA format , or any other style, citations serve as a natural way to place a student’s work in the broader context of the subject area, and serve as an easy way to gauge their commitment to the project.

They Provide Hard Evidence of Ideas

Having many citations from a wide variety of sources related to their idea means that the student is working on a well-researched and respected subject. Citing sources that back up their claim creates room for fact-checking and further research . And, if they can cite a few sources that have the converse opinion or idea, and then demonstrate to the reader why they believe that that viewpoint is wrong by again citing credible sources, the student is well on their way to winning over the reader and cementing their point of view.

They Promote Originality and Prevent Plagiarism

The point of research projects is not to regurgitate information that can already be found elsewhere. We have Google for that! What the student’s project should aim to do is promote an original idea or a spin on an existing idea, and use reliable sources to promote that idea. Copying or directly referencing a source without proper citation can lead to not only a poor grade, but accusations of academic dishonesty. By citing their sources regularly and accurately, students can easily avoid the trap of plagiarism , and promote further research on their topic.

They Create Better Researchers

By researching sources to back up and promote their ideas, students are becoming better researchers without even knowing it! Each time a new source is read or researched, the student is becoming more engaged with the project and is developing a deeper understanding of the subject area. Proper citations demonstrate a breadth of the student’s reading and dedication to the project itself. By creating citations, students are compelled to make connections between their sources and discern research patterns. Each time they complete this process, they are helping themselves become better researchers and writers overall.

When is the Right Time to Start Making Citations?

Make in-text/parenthetical citations as you need them.

As you are writing your paper, be sure to include references within the text that correspond with references in a works cited or bibliography. These are usually called in-text citations or parenthetical citations in MLA and APA formats. The most effective time to complete these is directly after you have made your reference to another source. For instance, after writing the line from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…,” you would include a citation like this (depending on your chosen citation style):

(Dickens 11).

This signals to the reader that you have referenced an outside source. What’s great about this system is that the in-text citations serve as a natural list for all of the citations you have made in your paper, which will make completing the works cited page a whole lot easier. After you are done writing, all that will be left for you to do is scan your paper for these references, and then build a works cited page that includes a citation for each one.

Need help creating an MLA works cited page ? Try the MLA format generator on EasyBib.com! We also have a guide on how to format an APA reference page .

2. Understand the General Formatting Rules of Your Citation Style Before You Start Writing

While reading up on paper formatting may not sound exciting, being aware of how your paper should look early on in the paper writing process is super important. Citation styles can dictate more than just the appearance of the citations themselves, but rather can impact the layout of your paper as a whole, with specific guidelines concerning margin width, title treatment, and even font size and spacing. Knowing how to organize your paper before you start writing will ensure that you do not receive a low grade for something as trivial as forgetting a hanging indent.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a formatting guide on APA format .

3. Double-check All of Your Outside Sources for Relevance and Trustworthiness First

Collecting outside sources that support your research and specific topic is a critical step in writing an effective paper. But before you run to the library and grab the first 20 books you can lay your hands on, keep in mind that selecting a source to include in your paper should not be taken lightly. Before you proceed with using it to backup your ideas, run a quick Internet search for it and see if other scholars in your field have written about it as well. Check to see if there are book reviews about it or peer accolades. If you spot something that seems off to you, you may want to consider leaving it out of your work. Doing this before your start making citations can save you a ton of time in the long run.

Finished with your paper? It may be time to run it through a grammar and plagiarism checker , like the one offered by EasyBib Plus. If you’re just looking to brush up on the basics, our grammar guides  are ready anytime you are.

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Generate accurate American Medical Association style citations quickly and automatically, with MyBib!

😕 What is an AMA Citation Generator?

An AMA citation generator is a tool that creates citations in the American Medical Association citation style. It analyzes the details of an article or academic paper--such as author, title, and publish date--and creates a formatted citation with them automatically. The formatted citation can then be used to give credit to others whose work has been referenced in an academic work or paper.

👩‍🎓 Who uses an AMA Citation Generator?

The AMA citation style is a variation of the Vancouver style, adapted by the American Medical Association, and is used in their publications:

• JAMA Network Open
• JAMA Cardiology
• JAMA Dermatology
• JAMA Health Forum
• JAMA Internal Medicine
• JAMA Neurology
• JAMA Oncology
• JAMA Ophthalmology
• JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
• JAMA Pediatrics
• JAMA Psychiatry
• JAMA Surgery

Source: https://jamanetwork.com/

If you are writing to be published in an AMA journal, or if you are a student in a health or medical field, then you will likely need to use AMA style citations to reference others' work within yours.

🙌 Why should I use a Citation Generator?

Every academic field, not just medical, will recommend using a tool to record references to others' work in your writing. A citation generator like MyBib can record this data, and can also automatically create an accurate reference list from it, with the necessary in-text citations too.

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's AMA Citation Generator?

MyBib's AMA citation generator was designed to be fast and easy to use. Follow these steps:

• Search for the article, website, or document you want to cite using the search box at the top of the page.
• Look through the list of results found and choose the one that you referenced in your work.
• Make sure the details are all correct, an change any that aren't. Then click Cite!

The generator will produce a formatted AMA citation that can be copied and pasted directly into your document, or saved to MyBib as part of your overall bibliography (which can be downloaded fully later!).

MyBib supports the following for AMA style:

Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

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Difference between Citation and Reference

Citation and Reference are often used interchangeably but they have distinct meanings in academic writing. A citation is a brief notation within the body of a text that indicates the source of information, ideas, or quoted material; whereas, a reference is a detailed entry at the end of a document that provides full information about a source cited in the text.

What is Citation?

A citation is a brief notation within the body of a text that indicates the source of information, ideas, or quoted material. Citations typically appear in parentheses or as footnotes/endnotes and correspond to a more detailed entry in a bibliography or reference list.

Features of Citation:

• Brevity: Citations are concise, providing just enough information to identify the source without interrupting the flow of the text. They typically include the author’s last name, publication year, and page number (if applicable).
• Placement: Citations are placed within the text where the source is referenced, ensuring readers can easily locate the corresponding source material. They can appear as in-text (parenthetical) citations, footnotes, or endnotes, depending on the citation style used.
• Correspondence: Each citation corresponds to a full reference entry in the bibliography or reference list at the end of the document. This ensures that readers can find complete information about the sources cited in the text.
• Citation Styles: Various citation styles dictate the format and placement of citations, including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard. Each style has specific rules for how citations should be formatted, such as the order of elements and punctuation.

What is Reference?

A reference is a detailed entry at the end of a document that provides full information about a source cited in the text. It includes comprehensive details such as the author’s name, title of the work, publication date, publisher, and other relevant information.

Features of Reference:

• Comprehensive Information: References provide full bibliographic details about the sources cited in the text, including the author’s name, title of the work, publication date, publisher, and other relevant information.
• Location: References are typically located at the end of the document, in a separate section known as the bibliography or reference list. This allows readers to easily locate and consult the sources cited in the text.
• Correspondence with Citations: Each reference entry corresponds to one or more citations in the text. This ensures that readers can match the abbreviated information provided in the citations with the full details provided in the reference list.
• Formatting Consistency: References adhere to specific formatting guidelines dictated by the chosen citation style, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard. This consistency ensures clarity and uniformity in documenting sources.

Citation and Reference – FAQs

How do i create a reference list or bibliography.

A reference list or bibliography should be arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name or by the title of the work, depending on the citation style used. Each reference entry should be formatted according to the rules of the chosen citation style.

Can I use websites as references in academic writing?

Yes, websites can be used as references in academic writing, but it’s important to evaluate the credibility and reliability of the website and include all relevant information in the reference entry, such as the author, publication date, and URL.

Do I need to include page numbers in citations for electronic sources?

Page numbers are not always available for electronic sources, so it’s not always necessary to include them in citations. However, if page numbers are available (e.g., for PDF documents), it’s recommended to include them in the citation.

How do I cite sources with multiple authors?

The format for citing sources with multiple authors varies depending on the citation style used. Generally, you would list all authors’ last names in the citation, separated by commas, and use an “&” before the last author’s name.

How do I cite sources that are cited within another source?

This is known as secondary source citation. In such cases, you should cite the original source and indicate that you accessed it through another source. The exact format may vary depending on the citation style used.

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Monthly CPI indicator rose 3.6% in the year to April 2024

The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicator rose 3.6 per cent in the 12 months to April 2024, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: “Annual inflation increased to 3.6 per cent this month, up from 3.5 per cent in March. Inflation has been relatively stable over the past five months, although this is the second month in a row where annual inflation has had a small increase.”

The most significant contributors to the April annual rise were Housing (+4.9 per cent), Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+3.8 per cent), Alcohol and tobacco (+6.5 per cent), and Transport (+4.2 per cent). 

"CPI inflation is often impacted by items with volatile price changes like Automotive fuel, Fruit and vegetables, and Holiday travel. It can be helpful to exclude these items from the headline CPI to provide a view of underlying inflation. 

“When excluding these volatile items from the monthly CPI indicator, the annual rise to April was steady at 4.1 per cent. Annual inflation excluding volatile items remains higher than for the monthly CPI indicator,” Ms Marquardt said.

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*Volatile items are Fruit and vegetables and Automotive fuel

Housing rose 4.9 per cent in the 12 months to April, down from 5.2 per cent in March. Rents increased 7.5 per cent for the year, reflecting a tight rental market and low vacancy rates across the country. 

New dwelling prices rose 4.9 per cent over the year with builders passing higher costs for labour and materials onto the consumer. Annual price growth for new dwellings has been around 5 per cent since August 2023. 

Electricity prices rose 4.2 per cent in the 12 months to April. The introduction of the Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates from July 2023 has mostly offset electricity price rises from annual price reviews in July 2023 due to higher wholesale prices. 

“Excluding the rebates, Electricity prices would have risen 13.9 per cent in the 12 months to April 2024,” Ms Marquardt said.

Annual inflation for Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose to 3.8 per cent in April, up from 3.5 per cent in March. All food categories except Meat and seafood contributed to the annual rise. 

Fruit and vegetable prices have recorded their largest annual rise since April 2023. This reflects unfavourable weather conditions leading to a reduced supply of berries, bananas and vegetables, such as lettuce and broccoli. 

Transport prices rose 4.2 per cent mainly due to higher fuel prices compared to April last year. Automotive fuel rose 7.4 per cent in the 12 months to April, following an 8.1 per cent annual rise to March. 

“Fuel prices rose 2.2 per cent in April, the third consecutive monthly rise, reflecting higher wholesale fuel prices, “ Ms Marquardt said. 

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