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As a student or professional, there will come a time when you need to reference a website in your academic or professional work. In such cases, it is essential to know how to cite a website APA (American Psychological Association) style, a widely recognized citation style in the social and behavior sciences. This guide will provide you with a detailed explanation of how to cite a website APA style, including all the essential information you need to know.
Introduction
Before we dive deeper into the specifics of how to cite a website APA style, it is vital to understand why citation is essential. Citation is a way of acknowledging the sources of information you have used throughout your work. By properly citing your sources, you give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism. Citing sources also helps readers to verify your claims by referring to your sources.
In APA style, there are specific guidelines to follow when citing online sources such as websites. These guidelines include the type of information needed, the format of the citation, and the order of the elements in the citation. This guide will walk you through each of these elements and provide examples to illustrate proper APA citation.
The Author
When citing a website APA style, you need to identify the author of the content you are referencing. If the author is an individual, you should include their last name and initials. If the author is an organization, you should use the full name of the organization. If the author is not available, you should use the title of the web page as the first element of the citation.
Example:
| Type of Author | Citation Format |
|---|---|
| Individual author | Doe, J. (Year, Month Day). Title of web page. Website Name. URL |
| Organization | Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of web page. Website Name. URL |
| No author | Title of web page. (Year, Month Day). Website Name. URL |
The Date
The next element to include in your citation is the date the content was published or last updated. This information can usually be found at the bottom of the web page. If you cannot find the date, use the abbreviation n.d. (no date) in your citation.
Example:
| Type of Date | Citation Format |
|---|---|
| Publish date | Doe, J. (Year, Month Day). Title of web page. Website Name. URL |
| Last update date | Doe, J. (Year, Month Day). Title of web page. Website Name. URL |
| No date | Title of web page. (n.d.). Website Name. URL |
The Title
The title of the web page is the next element to include in your citation. The title should be in sentence case, which means only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized. Enclose the title in quotation marks if it is part of a larger work (e.g., an article on a website). If the title is for the entire website, do not use quotation marks.
Example:
| Type of Title | Citation Format |
|---|---|
| Page Title | Doe, J. (Year, Month Day). “Title of web page.” Website Name. URL |
| Website Title | Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of website. URL |
The Site Name and URL
The final elements to include in your citation are the name of the website and the URL. The website name should be italicized, and the URL should be presented in the form of a hyperlink. Note that if the URL is very long, you can shorten it using a URL shortener such as Bit.ly or TinyURL.
Example:
| Type of Site | Citation Format |
|---|---|
| Website with author | Doe, J. (Year, Month Day). “Title of web page.” Website Name. Retrieved from URL |
| Website with organization | Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of website. Retrieved from URL |
| Website with no author | Title of web page. (Year, Month Day). Website Name. Retrieved from URL |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is APA citation style?
APA citation style is a widely recognized citation format used in social and behavioral sciences for academic and professional writing.
What is the purpose of citation?
The purpose of citation is to give credit to the original authors of the information used in your work and to allow your readers to verify your claims by referring to your sources.
What are the basic elements of an APA citation for a website?
The basic elements of an APA citation for a website include the author’s name, the date, the title of the web page, the website name, and the URL.
If you cannot find the author of a website, use the title of the web page as the first element of your citation.
What should I do if I cannot find the date of a website?
If you cannot find the date of a website, use the abbreviation n.d. (no date) in your citation.
If the website has multiple authors, include all the author’s last names separated by commas. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name.
If the website has an organization as the author, use the full name of the organization in your citation.
What should I do if the website has no page numbers?
If the website has no page numbers, do not include them in your citation. Instead, use the paragraph number preceded by the abbreviation para.
What should I do if the website has no title?
If the website has no title, use a brief description of the page as the first element of your citation.
What should I do if the website has no publisher?
If the website has no publisher, use the website name as the publisher in your citation.
What should I do if the website is behind a paywall?
If the website is behind a paywall, include the phrase “Available from” followed by the URL of the paywall in your citation.
How do I cite a website in-text?
To cite a website in-text, include the author’s last name and the date of publication in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
What is the difference between a reference list and a bibliography?
A reference list includes only the sources cited in your work, while a bibliography includes all the sources you consulted, whether or not they were cited.
Can I cite a blog post in APA?
Yes, you can cite a blog post in APA style by following the same guidelines for citing a website.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to cite a website APA style, you can ensure that your work is properly cited and avoid plagiarism. Remember to include all the necessary elements in your citation, including the author’s name, the date, the title of the web page, the website name, and the URL. Use the examples provided in this guide to create your citations and always check your work for accuracy. By following these guidelines, you can create well-referenced work that is sure to impress your readers.
If you have any questions or need further assistance with citing websites in APA style, please feel free to consult the APA Manual or contact a writing tutor or librarian for guidance.
Disclaimer
This guide is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this guide is not legal advice or a substitute for legal advice. The author and publisher make no representations or warranties that the information contained in this guide is complete, accurate, or up-to-date. The user of this guide assumes full responsibility for the use of the information contained herein.