How to Cite A Website: This comprehensive guide guides properly citing websites, as the internet has become an invaluable resource for information.

It emphasizes correctly citing sources in assignments, research papers, and projects.

Citing sources is essential in academic writing and professional work, as it provides credit to the original authors, maintains the integrity of the work, and allows others to follow the research process.

It also helps prevent plagiarism, which can damage reputation.

This blog post will guide readers through citing websites, providing examples and guidance on common citation styles such as APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard.

Understanding how to cite a website is essential for both academics and students.

Start learning the art of website citation today!

How to Cite A Website

Understanding the Basics of Citation

A citation is a way of crediting the original source of information or ideas used in your work. It provides essential information so readers can find it and evaluate its relevance and credibility.

Citation styles define how information should be presented.

APA (American Psychological Association)

- Primarily used in social sciences like psychology, anthropology, and education.

MLA (Modern Language Association)

- Commonly used in the humanities, especially in writing on language and literature.

Chicago

- This style is often used in history and some of the fine arts.

Harvard

- Generic term for author-date citation system, similar to APA, used across many disciplines.

Although these styles have different formatting rules, they usually require the same basic information:

Author(s)

- The individual(s) or entity that created the work.

Title of the Work

- The name of the article, book, webpage, or other work.

Publication Date

- The date the work was published or produced.

Source

- Where the work was found, such as the book’s publisher, the journal’s name, or the website’s URL.

The choice of citation style depends on the academic discipline or publication/organization for which you are writing.

However, it is important to stick to it consistently. We’ll explore the specifics of citing websites in various styles in subsequent sections.

Why Cite Websites

Citing websites is essential for research, academic writing, and professional work to gather information from online sources.

Acknowledging the Original Author/Creator

Citing is important to academic and professional integrity, as it gives credit and acknowledges the original author’s work. Therefore, respecting others’ work when using information from a website is essential.

Verifiability

Citations help readers follow the research process and verify information, building trust in the work’s credibility.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism presents someone else’s work as your own, a serious academic and intellectual offense. Proper citation helps protect the integrity and respect the work of others.

Demonstrating Your Research

Citations demonstrate the depth and breadth of research, showing that it has consulted resources, understood the field, and relied on reliable information.

Allowing for Further Exploration

Accurate references provide a starting point for readers to explore the topic further.

Accurate citation of websites is essential for research and learning, as it respects the principles of intellectual property and fosters an academic culture that values originality and authenticity.

How to Find Information for Citing a Website

Citing websites can be difficult due to variations in information presentation. However, key pieces of information are needed for most citation styles and tips on where to find them.

Author(s)

The author is the individual, group, or organization responsible for the content of an article. On corporate websites, the author may be an organization. If no author is listed, the website’s name can be used as the author.

Title of the Work/Article

The webpage’s title or article should be noted at the top, with full title and subtitles.

Site Name/Publisher

The publisher is the organization that publishes the website, usually found at the bottom of the page or in the “About Us“ section.

Publication or Last Updated Date

When citing a source, it is important to use the date that is most relevant to the source. The abbreviation ‘n.d.’ can be used if no date is provided.

URL

The URL is the web address for the cited webpage, including the ‘https://’ part.

Access Date

The visited date is essential when citing webpages; not all citation styles require it, especially for frequently updated or unclear web pages.

Citation styles such as APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard offer guidelines for creating a full citation for a website.

Not all websites provide clear information for these components, so it is important to look around the page.

The following sections will detail combining this information to create a full citation.

How to Cite a Website in APA Style

The American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences.

If you’re citing a webpage or website in APA style, here’s the general format you should follow:

Webpage on a Website with Individual Author

Format

- Author’s Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of webpage. Site Name. URL

Example

- Smith, J. (2020, January 15). Climate change and global warming. Environmental Facts. https://www.environmentalfacts.com/climate-change-global-warming

Webpage on a Website with Group Author

Format

- Group Author. (Year, Month Day). Title of webpage. Site Name. URL

Example

- American Cancer Society. (2020, July 9). Cancer facts for adults aged 40-49. https://www.cancer.org/cancerfacts-adults-aged-40-49.html

Webpage on a Website with No Author

Format

- Title of webpage. (Year, Month Day). Site Name. URL

Example

- Pandas: Lifestyle and reproduction. (2018, November 28). World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/pandas/lifestyle

Notes

You can use (n.d.) instead of the year if there is no date.
If the site name and the publisher are the same, you only need to list them once.
APA now recommends including the full URL, including the ‘https://’.
Titles of webpages should be in sentence case, meaning only the first word of the title, the first word after a colon or dash, and any proper nouns should be capitalized.

Checking citations for accuracy and consistency with the most recent APA guidelines is essential, as the 7th edition is the most current.

If updates have been made since then, refer to the most recent guidelines.

How to Cite a Website in MLA Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is frequently used in the humanities.

If you’re citing a website or webpage in MLA style, here’s the general format you should follow:

Webpage on a Website with Individual Author

Format

- Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of Webpage.” Site Name, Day Month Year of Publication, URL.

Example

- Smith, John. “Climate Change and Global Warming.” Environmental Facts, 15 Jan. 2020, www.environmentalfacts.com/climate-change-global-warming.

Webpage on a Website with Group Author

Format

- Group Author. “Title of Webpage.” Site Name, Day Month Year of Publication, URL.

Example

- American Cancer Society. “Cancer Facts for Adults Aged 40-49.” American Cancer Society, 9 Jul. 2020, www.cancer.org/cancerfacts-adults-aged-40-49.html.

Webpage on a Website with No Author

Format

- “Title of Webpage.” Site Name, Day Month Year of Publication, URL.

Example

- “Pandas: Lifestyle and Reproduction.” World Wildlife Fund, 28 Nov. 2018, www.worldwildlife.org/pandas/lifestyle.

Notes

You can omit the date in the citation if there is no date.
When the web page’s title is the same as the site name, omit the site name from the source element to avoid repetition.
For URLs, MLA suggests that the URL appear in angle brackets after the access date. Break URLs only after slashes.
If the author is the same as the site name, omit the site name from the source element.

Adhering to the most recent MLA guidelines is important, as the 9th edition is the most current. If there are any updates since then, refer to the most recent guidelines.

How to Cite a Website in Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style offers two styles: the Notes-Bibliography system (NB) and the Author-Date system.

NB is used in literature, history, and arts, while ND is used in physical, natural, and social sciences.

For this post, we’ll be focusing on the more commonly used NB system:

Webpage on a Website with Individual Author

Format

- Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Webpage.” Site Name. Month Day, Year of Publication. URL.

Example

- Smith, John. “Climate Change and Global Warming.” Environmental Facts. January 15, 2020. https://www.environmentalfacts.com/climate-change-global-warming.

Webpage on a Website with Group Author

Format

- Group Author. “Title of Webpage.” Site Name. Month Day, Year of Publication. URL.

Example

- American Cancer Society. “Cancer Facts for Adults Aged 40-49.” American Cancer Society. July 9, 2020. https://www.cancer.org/cancerfacts-adults-aged-40-49.html.

Webpage on a Website with No Author

Format

- “Title of Webpage.” Site Name. Month Day, Year of Publication. URL.

Example

- “Pandas: Lifestyle and Reproduction.” World Wildlife Fund. November 28, 2018. https://www.worldwildlife.org/pandas/lifestyle.

Notes

Include the date of access if there is no publication date.
Unlike APA and MLA, the Chicago style does not require “https://”.

As with the other citation styles, it’s important to check your citations for accuracy and consistency. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition is the most current. If there have been updates since then, refer to the most recent guidelines.

How to Cite a Website in Harvard Style

The Harvard referencing style is widely used across many academic disciplines.

If you’re citing a website or webpage in Harvard style, here’s the general format you should follow:

Webpage on a Website with Individual Author

Format

- Author(s) Last name, Initial(s). (Year). Title of webpage/site. Site Name/Publisher (if available). Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Example

- Smith, J. (2020). Climate Change and Global Warming. Environmental Facts. Available at: http://www.environmentalfacts.com/climate-change-global-warming (Accessed: 15 January 2023).

Webpage on a Website with Group Author

Format

- Group Author (Year). Title of webpage/site. Site Name/Publisher (if available). Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Example

- American Cancer Society (2020). Cancer Facts for Adults Aged 40-49. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancerfacts-adults-aged-40-49.html (Accessed: 10 July 2023).

Webpage on a Website with No Author

Format

- Title of webpage/site (Year). Site Name/Publisher (if available). Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Example

Pandas: Lifestyle and Reproduction (2018). World Wildlife Fund. Available at: http://www.worldwildlife.org/pandas/lifestyle (Accessed: 20 November 2023).

Notes

The “Accessed: Day Month Year” part of a citation in Harvard style refers to when the webpage was last accessed and is essential as online content can be edited or removed at any time.
Harvard style encourages using the URL “Available at:” field to provide web page location.

Check citations for accuracy and consistency according to Harvard style guidelines, as the system is not standardized and may vary between institutions and publications.

Follow specific guidelines provided by the institution or publisher.

Utilizing Citation Tools

Not only is it an important skill to manually cite a website, but tools are available to help generate citations for multiple sources and complex documents. In addition, these tools can ensure consistency and accuracy in the citations.

Online Citation Generators

Websites allow users to input relevant information, such as URL or title, and select a citation style to generate a citation.

CiteThisForMe

- This tool allows you to generate citations in various styles, including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard.

EasyBib

- EasyBib offers free citation generation in MLA and other styles with a subscription.

Citation Machine

- This tool offers support for a variety of styles and also includes grammar and plagiarism check tools.

Citation Management Software

Programs that generate and organize citations and integrate with word processing software make it easier to manage sources for larger projects.

Zotero

- A free, open-source tool that allows you to collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources.

Mendeley

- This free tool includes features to help you organize your research, collaborate with others, stay up-to-date in your academic field, and cite management.

EndNote

- A more advanced, paid tool that offers robust features for managing research and citations, especially helpful for large documents and projects.

Built-In Word Processor Features

Word processing programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs have built-in tools for creating citations and bibliographies, which can generate styles and auto-format bibliographies.

Tools should be used as helpers, not a substitute for properly citing sources. The goal of citation is to provide clear and consistent information that enables others to follow the research and assess the sources for themselves.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Citing Websites

As you create citations for websites, you must be aware of common errors that can compromise your work’s credibility.

Here are some mistakes you should avoid:

Incorrect Author Attribution

When citing a website, it is important to identify the author and ensure their name is spelled correctly. If there is no author, the citation style should be followed.

Incomplete or Incorrect Dates

Use the most relevant date, usually the publication or last updated date. If no date is provided, follow citation style instructions.

Incorrect Title

Always use the official title of the webpage or article, as it appears at the top or in the HTML title (seen in the web browser tab).

Omitting URL or Providing a Broken Link

Please include the full URL of the source to enable readers to access it, and be cautious about citing pages that require login or are restricted.

Not Checking the Generated Citation

Always double-check the generated citation against your citation style’s guidelines, as generators can make mistakes such as incorrect capitalization, missing information, or improper formatting.

Failing to Cite

When using non-common knowledge information, it is important to cite the source, even if it is written in your own words. Failing to do so can lead to plagiarism.

Inconsistent Citation Styles

Please stick to one citation style throughout your document unless instructed otherwise, as using multiple styles can confuse readers and make them appear careless.

Remember to credit the original author and avoid common mistakes when citing research, to maintain credibility.

How to Cite A Website

Conclusion

Citing websites correctly is essential for maintaining the integrity of your work, whether it be an academic paper, blog post, or professional report. It credits the original authors and allows readers to follow your research process.

This blog post covers citation basics, four popular citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard), citation tools, and common mistakes to avoid.

Citation guidelines can change and update, so staying up-to-date with the most recent guidelines is important. In addition, institutions usually provide specific citation expectations.

Citation is an important part of ethical and responsible writing, ensuring the work is trustworthy, respected, and beneficial to those who want to explore the topic.