how to cite a website in a research paper

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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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How to cite a website in APA format

There are two ways to cite a website in APA format – the automatic way, and the manual way.

 The easy way to cite a website in APA format

We can cite a website for you automatically (and for free) with our citation generator below. Simply paste the page URL into the search box (or search for some keywords) and then click on the result we find. We’ll find all the details you need and format it correctly, ready for you to copy into your paper.

 The manual way to cite a website in APA format

To cite a website by hand just follow the instructions below.

First, you need to locate these details for the website: page or article author, page or article title, website name, published date, access date, page URL (web address) .

• The author can typically be found on the page, but if there isn’t one listed you can use the website name in its place.
• The page title can be found near the top of the page, and you can also find it by hovering your mouse over the browser tab.
• The website name can usually be found in the web address or by looking for a logo or similar at the very top of the page.
• There often isn’t a publish date , but if there is it’ll be very close to the page title.
• The access date is the date you took information from the article (usually today).
• The page URL can be copied straight from the address bar of your browser and will start with either http:// or https://.

Then use this template, replacing the colored placeholders with the information you found on the page:

Author last name , Author first name initial . ( Published year , Published month and day ). Page title . Retrieved Accessed month and day , Accessed year , from Article URL .

The final formatted citation should look like this:

Stanley, J. (2014, December 31). Medical equipment and engineering infrastructure. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/planning-infrastructure/medical-equipment

 What to do when there’s no author

Often you’ll find a webpage doesn’t have a clear personable author, and in this case you can substitute the page title in the place of the author instead. Adapting the example above would look like this:

Medical equipment and engineering infrastructure. (2014, December 31). Retrieved July 25, 2018, from https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/planning-infrastructure/medical-equipment

 What about multiple authors?

When the page has multiple authors you should include each of them in the same format, separated by a comma. The last author should also be separated by an ‘&’. For example

Stanley, J., Friendly, B., & Deck, P. (2014, December 31). Medical equipment and engineering infrastructure. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/planning-infrastructure/medical-equipment

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

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How to Cite a Website

Last Updated: February 9, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,564,270 times.

If you're writing a research paper, you'll likely do quite a bit of research online. If you have websites that you want to use as sources for your paper, an entry for the website must appear in the reference list (also called the bibliography or Works Cited) at the end of your paper. You'll also include a citation in-text at the end of any sentence in which you've paraphrased or quoted information that appeared on that website. While the information you need to provide is generally the same across all methods, the way you format that information may vary depending on whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago style of citation.

Sample Citation Templates

• Example: Claymore, Crystal.
• If no individual author is listed, but the website is produced by a government agency, organization, or business, use that name as the author. For example, if you're using a CDC web page as a source, you would list the author as "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Tip: For your entire Works Cited entry, if an element doesn't exist or isn't provided, simply skip that part of the citation and move on to the next part.

• Example: Claymore, Crystal. "Best-Kept Secrets for Amazing Cupcake Frosting."

• Example: Claymore, Crystal. "Best-Kept Secrets for Amazing Cupcake Frosting." Crystal's Cupcakes , 24 Sept. 2018,

• Example: Claymore, Crystal. "Best-Kept Secrets for Amazing Cupcake Frosting." Crystal's Cupcakes , 24 Sept. 2018, www.crystalscupcakes.com/amazing-frosting.

• Example: Claymore, Crystal. "Best-Kept Secrets for Amazing Cupcake Frosting." Crystal's Cupcakes , www.crystalscupcakes.com/amazing-frosting. Accessed 14 Feb. 2019.

MLA Works Cited Format:

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page in Title Case." Name of Website , Day Month Year of publication, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

• For example, you might write: "The best cupcake frosting techniques are often the least intuitive (Claymore)."
• If you include the author's name in your text, there's no need for a parenthetical citation. For example, you might write: "Award-winning baker Crystal Claymore wasn't afraid to give away all her secrets, sharing her favorite frosting techniques on her website."

• Example: Canadian Cancer Society.

• Example: Canadian Cancer Society. (2017).
• If you're citing several pages from the same website that were published in the same year, add a lower-case letter to the end of the year so you can differentiate them in your in-text citations. For example, you might have "2017a" and "2017b."

• Example: Canadian Cancer Society. (2017). Cancer research.
• If the content you're citing is a stand-alone document, the title should be italicized. This will usually be the case if you're citing a PDF document that appears on a website. If you're not sure, use your best judgment in deciding whether to italicize it or not.

• Example: Canadian Cancer Society. (2017). Cancer research. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-101/cancer-research/?region=on

APA Reference List Format:

Author Last Name, A. A. (Year). Title of web page in sentence case. Retrieved from URL

• For example, you might write: "Clinical trials are used to test new cancer treatments (Canadian Cancer Society, 2017)."
• If you include the author's name in your text, place the year in parentheses immediately after the author's name. For example, you might write: "The Canadian Cancer Society (2017) noted that Canada is a global leader in clinical trials of cancer treatments."

• Example: UN Women.

• Example: UN Women. "Commission on the Status of Women."

• Example: UN Women. "Commission on the Status of Women." UN Women .

• Example: UN Women. "Commission on the Status of Women." UN Women . Accessed February 14, 2019.

• Example: UN Women. "Commission on the Status of Women." UN Women . Accessed February 14, 2019. http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw.

Chicago Bibliography Format:

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page in Title Case." Name of Website or Publishing Organization . Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

• Example: UN Women, "Commission on the Status of Women," UN Women , accessed February 14, 2019, http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw.

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• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
• ↑ https://libguides.up.edu/mla/common/websites
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_electronic_sources.html
• ↑ https://libraryguides.vu.edu.au/apa-referencing/7Webpages
• ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/webpage-website-references
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/web_sources.html
• ↑ http://libanswers.snhu.edu/faq/48009

About This Article

To cite a website in text using MLA formatting, include the author's last name in parentheses at the end of the sentence you're using the source in. If there is no author, include the title of the web page instead. If you're using APA formatting, include the author's last name followed by a comma and the year of publication in parentheses at the end of the sentence. If you don't know the author's name, use the name of the web page instead. For more tips from our English co-author, like how to cite a website in Chicago style, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Cite a Website

Don't let plagiarism errors spoil your paper, citing a website in apa.

Once you’ve identified a credible website to use, create a citation and begin building your reference list. Citation Machine citing tools can help you create references for online news articles, government websites, blogs, and many other website! Keeping track of sources as you research and write can help you stay organized and ethical. If you end up not using a source, you can easily delete it from your bibliography. Ready to create a citation? Enter the website’s URL into the search box above. You’ll get a list of results, so you can identify and choose the correct source you want to cite. It’s that easy to begin!

If you’re wondering how to cite a website in APA, use the structure below.

Author Last Name, First initial. (Year, Month Date Published). Title of web page . Name of Website. URL

Example of an APA format website:

Austerlitz, S. (2015, March 3). How long can a spinoff like ‘Better Call Saul’ last? FiveThirtyEight. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-long-can-a-spinoff-like-better-call-saul-last/

Keep in mind that not all information found on a website follows the structure above. Only use the Website format above if your online source does not fit another source category. For example, if you’re looking at a video on YouTube, refer to the ‘YouTube Video’ section. If you’re citing a newspaper article found online, refer to ‘Newspapers Found Online’ section. Again, an APA website citation is strictly for web pages that do not fit better with one of the other categories on this page.

Social media:

When adding the text of a post, keep the original capitalization, spelling, hashtags, emojis (if possible), and links within the text.

Facebook posts:

Structure: Facebook user’s Last name, F. M. (Year, Monday Day of Post). Up to the first 20 words of Facebook post [Source type if attached] [Post type]. Facebook. URL

Source type examples: [Video attached], [Image attached]

Post type examples: [Status update], [Video], [Image], [Infographic]

Gomez, S. (2020, February 4). Guys, I’ve been working on this special project for two years and can officially say Rare Beauty is launching in [Video]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Selena/videos/1340031502835436/

Life at Chegg. (2020, February 7) It breaks our heart that 50% of college students right here in Silicon Valley are hungry. That’s why Chegg has [Images attached] [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/LifeAtChegg/posts/1076718522691591

Twitter posts:

Structure: Account holder’s Last name, F. M. [Twitter Handle]. (Year, Month Day of Post). Up to the first 20 words of tweet [source type if attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. URL

Source type examples: [Video attached], [Image attached], [Poll attached]

Example: Edelman, J. [Edelman11]. (2018, April 26). Nine years ago today my life changed forever. New England took a chance on a long shot and I’ve worked [Video attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/Edelman11/status/989652345922473985

Instagram posts:

APA citation format: Account holder’s Last name, F. M. [@Instagram handle]. (Year, Month Day). Up to the first 20 words of caption [Photograph(s) and/or Video(s)]. Instagram. URL

Example: Portman, N. [@natalieportman]. (2019, January 5). Many of my best experiences last year were getting to listen to and learn from so many incredible people through [Videos]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/BsRD-FBB8HI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

If this guide hasn’t helped solve all of your referencing questions, or if you’re still feeling the need to type “how to cite a website APA” into Google, then check out our APA citation generator on CitationMachine.com, which can build your references for you!

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Need editing and proofreading services, apa website citation (7th edition) guide | format & examples.

• Tags: Academic Writing , APA Citations , APA Style , Citations and References , Research Paper

While citing websites might seem complicated, we’ve made it easier for you! In this article, we’ve explained everything about APA website citations in the 7th edition. From how to cite websites with no author to how to cite social media sites, we’ve covered everything for you! 

We’ve also given specific examples to clarify all your doubts about citing websites. With this, we’ve also provided practical tips to ensure that you cite websites correctly. So without delaying further, let’s begin with the basics. 

How to cite a website in APA 

A simple APA 7 website citation includes the author’s last name, first and middle initials along with the website’s URL. The in-text citation in APA for a website consists of the author’s surname and publication year. Following is the basic APA citation format for a website: 

Author’s surname, first & middle initials, publishing date, article title, website name, and URL. 

Here is an example of how to cite a website in APA: 

Cherry, K. (2023, March 11). What are the big 5 personality traits? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422 

       Parenthetical in-text citation: (Cherry, 2023) 

       Narrative in-text citation: Cherry (2023) 

Here is an example of how to cite a magazine article from a website in APA: 

Daughtry, D. (2023, June 3). Overcoming Imposter Syndrome . Personal Growth Magazine.  https://www.personalgrowthmagazine.com/overcoming-imposter-syndrome/ 

     Parenthetical in-text citation: (Daughtry, 2023) 

     Narrative in-text citation: Daughtry (2023) 

Citing newspaper articles on websites 

The APA formatting guidelines to cite a newspaper article from a website is similar to that of a magazine. Only, instead of the magazine’s name, the newspaper’s name must be written. Let’s see an APA website citation example of this type: 

Grabmeier , J. (2023, January 24). How the last 12,000 years have shaped what humans are today. https://news.osu.edu/how-the-last-12000-years-have-shaped-what-humans-are-today/

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Grabmeier, 2023)

Narrative in-text citation: Grabmeier (2023) 

Note: If the newspaper article is only available online and not in print format, put the article’s name in italics.

Citing blogs from websites

Format: Author’s surname, initials, publication date, blog title, blog name, and the URL. 

Here is an example: 

King, C. R., Martinez-Cola, M., Scherer, M. L., Francis, R., & Strong, M. T. (2023, October 2). Creating a Class of Our Own: Reflections on First-Generation and Working-Class  People in Sociology. EVERYDAY SOCIOLOGY BLOG. https://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2023/10/creating-a-class-of-our-own-reflections-on-first-generation-and-working-class-people-in-sociology.html

Parenthetical in-text citation: (King et al., 2023) 

Narrative intext citation: King et al. (2023) 

Citing a report from a website 

Various details such as the author’s name, the report’s publication date, title, subtitle, report number, publisher, and URL are mentioned to cite a report. The government, organization, or group’s name can be cited as the author of the report. The APA citation format to reference a report from a website is:

Author’s name, publication year, report title & subtitle, report number (if available), publisher’s name, and URL. 

U.S. Department of State. (2022, September 21). Food security action report – united  states department of state . https://www.state.gov/food-security-action-report/

Parenthetical in-text citation: (U.S. Department of State, 2022) 

Narrative in-text citation: (U.S. Department of State) 2022

Note: If the author and publisher’s name are the same, don’t include the publisher’s name in the citation.

Citing websites with no author

Websites that do not have any author are generally associated with some organization or government. Hence, instead of the author’s name, the APA citation for a website includes the relevant organization or government’s name. To create an APA in-text citation for a website with no author, add the organization or government agency’s name along with the year the source was published in parentheses. 

 Following is the format to cite websites with no author: 

Organization/ Government’s name, publication year, Title of the page, Website name, URL 

Here is an APA website citation example to understand better: 

United States Institute of Peace. (2010, January 18). Macroeconomic Stabilization. United States Institute of Peace. https://www.usip.org/guiding-principles-stabilization-and-reconstruction-the-web-version/sustainable-economy/macroeconomi

Parenthetical in-text citation: (United States Institute of Peace, 2010) 

Narrative in-text citation: United States Institute of Peace (2010) 

If the organization/government/author’s name is not given, you can directly begin the citation with the article title. The in-text citations for such sources will consist of the article title and the year of publication in parentheses. 

Note: When the article title is mentioned in plain text in the reference entry, it is written with quotation marks in the in-text citation. However, if the article title is italicized in the reference entry, it’s in italics in the in-text citation.

Now that we’ve understood how to create an APA citation for a website with no author, let’s understand how to reference websites with no date in APA. 

Citing websites with no date in APA 

If the date isn’t mentioned on the website, simply write (n.d) after the author’s name in parentheses. The short form n.d stands for no date. Since websites are updated, it’s suggested to mention the date you accessed the website. The APA in-text citation for a website with no date will only include the author’s last name and the short form n.d.

Format: Author’s name, (n.d.). Title of the Page, Site name, Date when you accessed the website, URL. 

Here is an APA website citation example to clarify further: 

Appleby, D. (n.d.). 10 tips for achieving financial security . Investopedia. Retrieved on October 7, 2023, from https://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/06/10secureretirementtips.asp 

        Parenthetical In-text citation: (Appleby, n.d.) 

        Narrative In-text citation: Appleby (n.d) 

The above example clearly demonstrated how to cite a website in APA in the text and on the  APA reference page . Let us now understand the reference sources from Wikipedia. 

Citing Wikipedia as a source 

Instead of beginning the article with the author’s name, the citation directly begins with the title of the article. This is followed by various details such as the publishing date, the website’s name, and the URL. It is recommended to select the URL from the archived page from Wikipedia. To access the archived page from Wikipedia, you can select the option “View History” and choose the page date you wish to cite. 

Format: Article title, publishing date. In Wikipedia. URL of the page’s archived version. 

For example: 

Behavioural Sciences . (2023, September 22).In Wikipedia  https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Behavioural_sciences&oldid=1176554197

  Parenthetical In-text citation: (“Behavioral Sciences”, 2023) 

  Narrative in-text citation: “Behavioral Sciences” (2023) 

Citing visual graphics from websites in APA 

If you wish to cite infographics, maps, or any images of data statistics, you’ll need to write the website name/ organization name from where you’ve taken the source image. For images with no title, briefly describe the data in the image after citing the date the post was published. 

Format: Website/organization/author name, (published date), title , image type, website name, URL. 

Here is an APA 7th edition website citation to clarify further: 

Statista (2022, October 5). Anthropology museums in Latin America 2022 . [Statistics] Statista  https://www.statista.com/statistics/1062997/latin-america-caribbean-anthropology-museums-by-country/

Parenthetical citation: (Statista, 2022)

Narrative citation: Statista (2022)

Note: If there is no publication date, mention the date you accessed the visual graphic from the website.

Citing interviews from websites 

If the interview cannot be retrieved in audio or print format, only include an in-text citation of that interview. However, if the interview has been published on an online medium such as a magazine or a newspaper website, cite the interview using the following format: 

Format: Author’s surname and initials, interview title, website name , URL 

Jeffries, S. (2015, March 21). David Graeber interview: “so many people spend their  working lives doing jobs they think are unnecessary.” The Guardian.  https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/21/books-interview-david-graeber-the-utopia-of-rules 

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Jeffries, 2015)

Narrative in-text citation: Jeffries (2015) 

Citing online forum websites 

Various details such as the author’s name, publishing date, post title, publisher and URL are mentioned in the citation. 

Format: Author’s surname and initials, [username]. (Publishing date). Post title [Online forum post]. Publisher. URL. 

Machado, A. [r/sociology] (2023, June 11). Peter Berger: Accidental sociologist . [Online forum post] Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/sociology/comments/1g2xdc/peter_berger_accidental_sociologist/              

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Machado, 2023) 

Narrative in-text citation: Machado (2023)

While the above examples explain how to cite websites in APA, you may also have queries about citing sources from popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more. Keep reading to understand the basics of referencing sources from social media platforms! 

How to cite sources from social media in APA 

Since social media posts usually don’t have a title, you can include their first 20 words in italics instead of the title. You’ll also need to add other important information such as the author’s surname, first initial, publication year, website name, and URL. If the author’s name isn’t mentioned, you can cite the page name in the beginning of the citation. 

Format: Author’s last name and initials [username] publication date, post’s first 20 words, post type, site name & URL. 

APA website citation for a Twitter post

Adzema, M. [@sillymickel]. (2023, October 2). We find another rich representation of our prenatal patterns — one marvelously developed and intricately detailed — in “Cinderella,” another [Tweet]. Twitter.  https://twitter.com/sillymickel/status/1708555863651434662

        Parenthetical in-text citation: (Adzema, 2023) 

        Narrative in-text citation: Adzema, 2023)

If you wish to include the Twitter profile, add it after the date when the post was published while referencing the source. For example: 

Koe, D ( [@thedankoe] (2023, October 7). Tweet [Twitter profile] Retrieved on October 10, 2023, from  https://x.com/thedankoe/status/1710673593074401299?s=20

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Koe, 2023)

Narrative in-text citation: Koe (2023)

APA website citation for a Facebook post

Format: Surname and initials or page name. (Publishing date) Post content up to the post’s 20 words [Post type] Website name and URL. 

Notes of an Observant Detective. (2020, April 2). BANDWAGON EFFECT. The  bandwagon effect refers to the tendency people have to adopt a certain  behavior, style, or attitude simply. [Text] Facebook.    https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=514241535982663&story_fbid=704339306972884

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Notes of an Observant Detective, 2020) 

Narrative in-text citation: Notes of an Observant Detective (2020)

APA website citation for an Instagram post 

Format: Surname and initials or page name. [@username]. (Publishing date). Post content up to the post’s first 20 words. [Post type]. Website name. URL

Psychologs [@psychologsmagazine]. (2023, October 4) Psychology is defined as  the study of mind and behavior. The concept of psychology was first introduced by the German.. [Text]. Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx-NSDQsxaY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

P arenthetical in-text  citation: (Psychologs, 2023) 

Narrative in-text citation: Psychologs (2023) 

The format to cite an Instagram highlight or Instagram post, the format remains the same. Only, the post type changes. If you’re citing an Instagram highlight, write [Highlight] for the post type. In contrast, if you wish to reference an Instagram photograph, include [Photograph] for the post type. 

Following is the format to cite an Instagram Story: 

Author/page name. [username]. (n.d). Post Title [Post type]. Website name. Date when the post was accessed, URL. 

LePera, N. [the.holistic.psychologist]. (n.d). If you push people away or leave before you’re left,  watch this [Highlight] Instagram. Retrieved on October 9, 2023, from https://instagram.com/stories/the.holistic.psychologist/3209241141912104683?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Parenthetical in-text citation: (LePera, n.d) 

Narrative in-text citation: LePera (n.d.) 

Other pointers while citing social media posts 

• Include any additional information about any audio, video, or images associated with the post in square brackets. 
• Try to replicate any emoji used in the Twitter post if possible. For example, you can write [smiling face emoji] if an emoji with a smiling face is used. 

Ensure perfectly formatted and correct APA website citations.  Get Started

Citing YouTube videos as sources 

To cite YouTube videos as sources, the following is the format: 

Surname and initials, [username], Video Title [Video]. Streaming medium. URL 

Welsh, M. [Michael Wesch] (2007, February 1). Web 2.0 … The Machine is Us/ing Us  [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Welsh, 2007) 

Narrative in-text citation: Welsh (2007)

Now that you have gained knowledge about APA website citations, you can use this information to create your website citations. Bookmark this article and revisit it in case of any doubts in the future! 

After citing the sources for your paper, you’ll also have to edit your paper. If you find editing a challenging task, you can consider taking our editing and proofreading services . 

To help you submit well-written and structured papers, we’ve created several useful resources on APA and other style guides. Continue reading to enhance your knowledge and write high-quality research papers! 

• Citing References: APA, MLA, and Chicago
• How to Create an APA Title Page | Free Template & Examples
• How to Write an Essay Header: MLA and APA Essay Headers
• APA Journal Citation: 7 Types, In-Text Rules, & Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

How to cite a webpage with no official title, how to cite a webpage with multiple authors, how to cite a basic website in apa style.

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Basic Principles of Citation

APA Style uses the author–date citation system , in which a brief in-text citation directs readers to a full reference list entry. The in-text citation appears within the body of the paper (or in a table, figure, footnote, or appendix) and briefly identifies the cited work by its author and date of publication. This enables readers to locate the corresponding entry in the alphabetical reference list at the end of the paper.

Each work cited must appear in the reference list, and each work in the reference list must be cited in the text (or in a table, figure, footnote, or appendix).

Both paraphrases and quotations require citations.

The following are guidelines to follow when writing in-text citations:

• Ensure that the spelling of author names and the publication dates in reference list entries match those in the corresponding in-text citations.
• Cite only works that you have read and ideas that you have incorporated into your writing. The works you cite may provide key background information, support or dispute your thesis, or offer critical definitions and data.
• Readers may find a long string of citations difficult to understand, especially if they are using assistive technology such as a screen reader; therefore, include only those citations needed to support your immediate point.
• Cite primary sources when possible, and cite secondary sources sparingly.
• Cite sources to document all facts and figures that you mention that are not common knowledge.
• To cite a specific part of a source , provide an author–date citation for the work plus information about the specific part.
• Even when sources cannot be retrieved (e.g., because they are personal communications ), still credit them in the text (however, avoid using online sources that are no longer recoverable).

Basic principles of citation are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 8.1 to 8.36 and the Concise Guide Sections 8.1 to 8.34

Related handouts

• In-Text Citation Checklist (PDF, 227KB)
• Six Steps to Proper Citation (PDF, 112KB)

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In most cases, nonrecoverable sources such as personal emails, nonarchived social media livestreams (or deleted and unarchived social media posts), classroom lectures, unrecorded webinars or presentations, and intranet sources should be cited only in the text as personal communications.

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Cite Your Sources!

When writing a paper or creating a project, you need to cite everything that you did not write or create yourself. This includes articles, books, maps, videos, statistics. Citing your sources means that you follow a specific format to show what source you used.

Below are some examples in APA format:

Citing an article: Kim, D., & Ra, Y. (2015). What impacts success in college? Findings from the perceptions of Korean students.  College Student Journal , 49(1), 161-168.

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• Last Updated: Jul 10, 2024 12:34 PM
• URL: https://libguides.sandiego.edu/busresearch1

• Introduction
• Article Information

The dotted vertical line indicates the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision.

eTable. Diagnosis and Billing Codes Used to Identify Tubal Ligation, Vasectomy, and Encounters for Evaluation and Management (E&M)

Data Sharing Statement

• Permanent Procedures to Prevent Pregnancy in US Jumped After Dobbs JAMA Medical News in Brief June 4, 2024 Emily Harris
• Error in Figure JAMA Health Forum Correction May 10, 2024

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Ellison JE , Brown-Podgorski BL , Morgan JR. Changes in Permanent Contraception Procedures Among Young Adults Following the Dobbs Decision. JAMA Health Forum. 2024;5(4):e240424. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.0424

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Changes in Permanent Contraception Procedures Among Young Adults Following the Dobbs Decision

• 1 Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 2 Center for Innovative Research on Gender Health Equity, Department of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 3 Department of Health Law, Policy, & Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
• Medical News in Brief Permanent Procedures to Prevent Pregnancy in US Jumped After Dobbs Emily Harris JAMA
• Correction Error in Figure JAMA Health Forum

On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the constitutional right to abortion, permitting states to further restrict or ban abortion care. As of January 2024, 21 states have done so. 1 This structural barrier to exercising control over pregnancy and childbearing will indirectly affect contraceptive decision-making.

Early research has documented increased demand for permanent contraception in the months following Dobbs , including tubal sterilization and vasectomy. 2 , 3 This change may reflect fears of restricted access to abortion and/or contraception. However, no research, to our knowledge, has evaluated the differential effect of Dobbs on permanent contraception among men relative to women or among younger adults who are more likely to have an abortion and to experience sterilization regret. 4 , 5 We therefore evaluated changes in tubal ligation and vasectomy following Dobbs among younger adults.

We used data from the TriNetX platform for this cross-sectional study. These continuously updated medical record data are largely from academic medical centers and affiliated clinics in all 4 US census regions. We used an interrupted time series study design, fitting seasonally adjusted segmented autoregressive models to assess level and slope changes in procedure rates before (January 1, 2019, to May 31, 2022) and after (June 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023) Dobbs . Sensitivity analyses with a truncated pre- Dobbs observation window (April 1, 2021, to May 31, 2022) were conducted using Stata, version 17.1 (StataCorp LLC). This research was deemed exempt from review and the need for informed consent by the Boston University Institutional Review Board owing to the use of deidentifed patient data. We followed the ( STROBE ) reporting guideline.

Using monthly aggregate counts of tubal ligations and vasectomies, we calculated rates per 100 000 person-months among female and male patients aged 18 to 30 years. Individuals with an encounter for evaluation and management each month and no permanent contraception documented previously were included in the denominator. Visits for evaluation and management, tubal sterilization, and vasectomy procedures were identified using Current Procedural Terminology and International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes (eTable in Supplement 1 ). Two-sided P < .05 indicated statistical significance.

Observed permanent contraception procedure rates, estimates, and seasonally adjusted models for 22 063 348 person-months (36.9% male and 63.1% female) are presented in the Figure . Prior to Dobbs , the monthly permanent contraception rate increased by 2.84 and 1.03 procedures per 100 000 person-months among female and male patients, respectively ( Table ). Dobbs was associated with an immediate level increase of 58.02 procedures and 5.31 procedures per month among female patients. Among male patients, it was associated with a level increase of 26.99 procedures and no significant change in the number of procedures per month. Findings were robust to sensitivity analyses.

We observed an abrupt increase in permanent contraception procedures among adults aged 18 to 30 years following Dobbs . The increase in procedures for female patients was double that for male patients. These patterns offer insights into the gendered dynamics of permanent contraceptive use and may reflect the disproportionate health, social, and economic consequences of compulsory pregnancy on women and people with the capacity to become pregnant.

This study has several limitations. The TriNetX platform does not capture state or health care organization identifiers. We were therefore unable to assess the potential outcomes of state abortion policy or account for changes in the sample attributable to fluctuations in the organizations contributing data over the study period. Additionally, our findings do not provide insight into the differential experiences of Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, disabled, immigrant, and low-income women, who disproportionately encounter interference and coercion in their contraceptive decision-making. 6

The abrupt increase in permanent contraception rates may indicate a policy-induced change in contraceptive preferences. Dobbs may have also increased a sense of urgency among individuals who were interested in permanent contraception before the decision. Changes in contraceptive decision-making must be considered to understand the short- and long-term implications of Dobbs on reproductive autonomy.

Accepted for Publication: February 7, 2024.

Published: April 12, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.0424

Correction: This article was corrected on May 10, 2024, to correct the y-axis label in the Figure.

Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC-BY License . © 2024 Ellison JE et al. JAMA Health Forum .

Corresponding Author: Jacqueline E. Ellison, PhD, 130 De Soto St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 ( [email protected] ).

Author Contributions: Dr Ellison had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Ellison, Morgan.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Ellison, Brown-Podgorski.

Critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Ellison, Morgan.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Ellison, Morgan.

Supervision: Ellison.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Data Sharing Statement: See Supplement 2 .

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MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

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Guidelines for referring to the works of others in your text using MLA style are covered throughout the  MLA Handbook  and in chapter 7 of the  MLA Style Manual . Both books provide extensive examples, so it's a good idea to consult them if you want to become even more familiar with MLA guidelines or if you have a particular reference question.

Basic in-text citation rules

In MLA Style, referring to the works of others in your text is done using parenthetical citations . This method involves providing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase. Usually, the simplest way to do this is to put all of the source information in parentheses at the end of the sentence (i.e., just before the period). However, as the examples below will illustrate, there are situations where it makes sense to put the parenthetical elsewhere in the sentence, or even to leave information out.

General Guidelines

• The source information required in a parenthetical citation depends (1) upon the source medium (e.g. print, web, DVD) and (2) upon the source’s entry on the Works Cited page.
• Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the text must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry on the Works Cited page.

In-text citations: Author-page style

MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence. For example:

Both citations in the examples above, (263) and (Wordsworth 263), tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. If readers want more information about this source, they can turn to the Works Cited page, where, under the name of Wordsworth, they would find the following information:

Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads . Oxford UP, 1967.

In-text citations for print sources with known author

For print sources like books, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and newspapers, provide a signal word or phrase (usually the author’s last name) and a page number. If you provide the signal word/phrase in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation.

These examples must correspond to an entry that begins with Burke, which will be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of an entry on the Works Cited page:

Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method . University of California Press, 1966.

In-text citations for print sources by a corporate author

When a source has a corporate author, it is acceptable to use the name of the corporation followed by the page number for the in-text citation. You should also use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate, so as to avoid interrupting the flow of reading with overly long parenthetical citations.

In-text citations for sources with non-standard labeling systems

If a source uses a labeling or numbering system other than page numbers, such as a script or poetry, precede the citation with said label. When citing a poem, for instance, the parenthetical would begin with the word “line”, and then the line number or range. For example, the examination of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” would be cited as such:

The speaker makes an ardent call for the exploration of the connection between the violence of nature and the divinity of creation. “In what distant deeps or skies. / Burnt the fire of thine eyes," they ask in reference to the tiger as they attempt to reconcile their intimidation with their relationship to creationism (lines 5-6).

Longer labels, such as chapters (ch.) and scenes (sc.), should be abbreviated.

In-text citations for print sources with no known author

When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name, following these guidelines.

Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide a page number if it is available.

Titles longer than a standard noun phrase should be shortened into a noun phrase by excluding articles. For example, To the Lighthouse would be shortened to Lighthouse .

If the title cannot be easily shortened into a noun phrase, the title should be cut after the first clause, phrase, or punctuation:

In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title appears in the parenthetical citation, and the full title of the article appears first at the left-hand margin of its respective entry on the Works Cited page. Thus, the writer includes the title in quotation marks as the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader directly to the source on the Works Cited page. The Works Cited entry appears as follows:

"The Impact of Global Warming in North America." Global Warming: Early Signs . 1999. www.climatehotmap.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2009.

If the title of the work begins with a quotation mark, such as a title that refers to another work, that quote or quoted title can be used as the shortened title. The single quotation marks must be included in the parenthetical, rather than the double quotation.

Parenthetical citations and Works Cited pages, used in conjunction, allow readers to know which sources you consulted in writing your essay, so that they can either verify your interpretation of the sources or use them in their own scholarly work.

Author-page citation for classic and literary works with multiple editions

Page numbers are always required, but additional citation information can help literary scholars, who may have a different edition of a classic work, like Marx and Engels's  The Communist Manifesto . In such cases, give the page number of your edition (making sure the edition is listed in your Works Cited page, of course) followed by a semicolon, and then the appropriate abbreviations for volume (vol.), book (bk.), part (pt.), chapter (ch.), section (sec.), or paragraph (par.). For example:

Author-page citation for works in an anthology, periodical, or collection

When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the  internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in  Nature  in 1921, you might write something like this:

See also our page on documenting periodicals in the Works Cited .

Citing authors with same last names

Sometimes more information is necessary to identify the source from which a quotation is taken. For instance, if two or more authors have the same last name, provide both authors' first initials (or even the authors' full name if different authors share initials) in your citation. For example:

Citing a work by multiple authors

For a source with two authors, list the authors’ last names in the text or in the parenthetical citation:

Corresponding Works Cited entry:

Best, David, and Sharon Marcus. “Surface Reading: An Introduction.” Representations , vol. 108, no. 1, Fall 2009, pp. 1-21. JSTOR, doi:10.1525/rep.2009.108.1.1

For a source with three or more authors, list only the first author’s last name, and replace the additional names with et al.

Franck, Caroline, et al. “Agricultural Subsidies and the American Obesity Epidemic.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine , vol. 45, no. 3, Sept. 2013, pp. 327-333.

Citing multiple works by the same author

If you cite more than one work by an author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to distinguish it from the others. Put short titles of books in italics and short titles of articles in quotation marks.

Citing two articles by the same author :

Citing two books by the same author :

Additionally, if the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, format your citation with the author's name followed by a comma, followed by a shortened title of the work, and, when appropriate, the page number(s):

Citing multivolume works

If you cite from different volumes of a multivolume work, always include the volume number followed by a colon. Put a space after the colon, then provide the page number(s). (If you only cite from one volume, provide only the page number in parentheses.)

Citing the Bible

In your first parenthetical citation, you want to make clear which Bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter, and verse. For example:

If future references employ the same edition of the Bible you’re using, list only the book, chapter, and verse in the parenthetical citation:

John of Patmos echoes this passage when describing his vision (Rev. 4.6-8).

Citing indirect sources

Sometimes you may have to use an indirect source. An indirect source is a source cited within another source. For such indirect quotations, use "qtd. in" to indicate the source you actually consulted. For example:

Note that, in most cases, a responsible researcher will attempt to find the original source, rather than citing an indirect source.

Citing transcripts, plays, or screenplays

Sources that take the form of a dialogue involving two or more participants have special guidelines for their quotation and citation. Each line of dialogue should begin with the speaker's name written in all capitals and indented half an inch. A period follows the name (e.g., JAMES.) . After the period, write the dialogue. Each successive line after the first should receive an additional indentation. When another person begins speaking, start a new line with that person's name indented only half an inch. Repeat this pattern each time the speaker changes. You can include stage directions in the quote if they appear in the original source.

Conclude with a parenthetical that explains where to find the excerpt in the source. Usually, the author and title of the source can be given in a signal phrase before quoting the excerpt, so the concluding parenthetical will often just contain location information like page numbers or act/scene indicators.

Here is an example from O'Neill's  The Iceman Cometh.

WILLIE. (Pleadingly) Give me a drink, Rocky. Harry said it was all right. God, I need a drink.

ROCKY. Den grab it. It's right under your nose.

WILLIE. (Avidly) Thanks. (He takes the bottle with both twitching hands and tilts it to his lips and gulps down the whiskey in big swallows.) (1.1)

Citing non-print or sources from the Internet

With more and more scholarly work published on the Internet, you may have to cite sources you found in digital environments. While many sources on the Internet should not be used for scholarly work (reference the OWL's  Evaluating Sources of Information  resource), some Web sources are perfectly acceptable for research. When creating in-text citations for electronic, film, or Internet sources, remember that your citation must reference the source on your Works Cited page.

Sometimes writers are confused with how to craft parenthetical citations for electronic sources because of the absence of page numbers. However, these sorts of entries often do not require a page number in the parenthetical citation. For electronic and Internet sources, follow the following guidelines:

• Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name).
• Do not provide paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function.
• Unless you must list the Web site name in the signal phrase in order to get the reader to the appropriate entry, do not include URLs in-text. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like  CNN.com  or  Forbes.com,  as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com.

Miscellaneous non-print sources

Two types of non-print sources you may encounter are films and lectures/presentations:

In the two examples above “Herzog” (a film’s director) and “Yates” (a presentor) lead the reader to the first item in each citation’s respective entry on the Works Cited page:

Herzog, Werner, dir. Fitzcarraldo . Perf. Klaus Kinski. Filmverlag der Autoren, 1982.

Yates, Jane. "Invention in Rhetoric and Composition." Gaps Addressed: Future Work in Rhetoric and Composition, CCCC, Palmer House Hilton, 2002. Address.

Electronic sources

Electronic sources may include web pages and online news or magazine articles:

In the first example (an online magazine article), the writer has chosen not to include the author name in-text; however, two entries from the same author appear in the Works Cited. Thus, the writer includes both the author’s last name and the article title in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader to the appropriate entry on the Works Cited page (see below).

In the second example (a web page), a parenthetical citation is not necessary because the page does not list an author, and the title of the article, “MLA Formatting and Style Guide,” is used as a signal phrase within the sentence. If the title of the article was not named in the sentence, an abbreviated version would appear in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence. Both corresponding Works Cited entries are as follows:

Taylor, Rumsey. "Fitzcarraldo." Slant , 13 Jun. 2003, www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/fitzcarraldo/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2009. 

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL , 2 Aug. 2016, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. Accessed 2 April 2018.

Multiple citations

To cite multiple sources in the same parenthetical reference, separate the citations by a semi-colon:

Time-based media sources

When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

When a citation is not needed

Common sense and ethics should determine your need for documenting sources. You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations, or common knowledge (For example, it is expected that U.S. citizens know that George Washington was the first President.). Remember that citing sources is a rhetorical task, and, as such, can vary based on your audience. If you’re writing for an expert audience of a scholarly journal, for example, you may need to deal with expectations of what constitutes “common knowledge” that differ from common norms.

Other Sources

The MLA Handbook describes how to cite many different kinds of authors and content creators. However, you may occasionally encounter a source or author category that the handbook does not describe, making the best way to proceed can be unclear.

In these cases, it's typically acceptable to apply the general principles of MLA citation to the new kind of source in a way that's consistent and sensible. A good way to do this is to simply use the standard MLA directions for a type of source that resembles the source you want to cite.

You may also want to investigate whether a third-party organization has provided directions for how to cite this kind of source. For example, Norquest College provides guidelines for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers⁠ —an author category that does not appear in the MLA Handbook . In cases like this, however, it's a good idea to ask your instructor or supervisor whether using third-party citation guidelines might present problems.

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• Introduction
• Finding sources

Evaluating sources

• Integrating sources

Citing sources

Tools and resources, a quick guide to working with sources.

Working with sources is an important skill that you’ll need throughout your academic career.

It includes knowing how to find relevant sources, assessing their authority and credibility, and understanding how to integrate sources into your work with proper referencing.

This quick guide will help you get started!

Finding relevant sources

Sources commonly used in academic writing include academic journals, scholarly books, websites, newspapers, and encyclopedias. There are three main places to look for such sources:

• Research databases: Databases can be general or subject-specific. To get started, check out this list of databases by academic discipline . Another good starting point is Google Scholar .
• Your institution’s library: Use your library’s database to narrow down your search using keywords to find relevant articles, books, and newspapers matching your topic.
• Other online resources: Consult popular online sources like websites, blogs, or Wikipedia to find background information. Be sure to carefully evaluate the credibility of those online sources.

When using academic databases or search engines, you can use Boolean operators to refine your results.

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In academic writing, your sources should be credible, up to date, and relevant to your research topic. Useful approaches to evaluating sources include the CRAAP test and lateral reading.

CRAAP is an abbreviation that reminds you of a set of questions to ask yourself when evaluating information.

• Currency: Does the source reflect recent research?
• Relevance: Is the source related to your research topic?
• Authority: Is it a respected publication? Is the author an expert in their field?
• Accuracy: Does the source support its arguments and conclusions with evidence?
• Purpose: What is the author’s intention?

Lateral reading

Lateral reading means comparing your source to other sources. This allows you to:

• Verify evidence
• Contextualize information
• Find potential weaknesses

If a source is using methods or drawing conclusions that are incompatible with other research in its field, it may not be reliable.

Integrating sources into your work

Once you have found information that you want to include in your paper, signal phrases can help you to introduce it. Here are a few examples:

Following the signal phrase, you can choose to quote, paraphrase or summarize the source.

• Quoting : This means including the exact words of another source in your paper. The quoted text must be enclosed in quotation marks or (for longer quotes) presented as a block quote . Quote a source when the meaning is difficult to convey in different words or when you want to analyze the language itself.
• Paraphrasing : This means putting another person’s ideas into your own words. It allows you to integrate sources more smoothly into your text, maintaining a consistent voice. It also shows that you have understood the meaning of the source.
• Summarizing : This means giving an overview of the essential points of a source. Summaries should be much shorter than the original text. You should describe the key points in your own words and not quote from the original text.

Whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source, you must include a citation crediting the original author.

Citing your sources is important because it:

• Allows you to avoid plagiarism
• Establishes the credentials of your sources
• Backs up your arguments with evidence
• Allows your reader to verify the legitimacy of your conclusions

The most common citation styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago style. Each citation style has specific rules for formatting citations.

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