How to Cite a Website: A Comprehensive Guide - Oxbridge Editing
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How to Cite a Website in APA Format
The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used in the social sciences. When citing a web page in APA format, follow this structure:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month, Date of Publication). Title of webpage. Name of Website. Retrieved from URL
Example:
Bardan, R. (2023, November 28). NASA to Provide Live Coverage of Space Station Cargo Launch, Docking. Nasa. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-provide-live-coverage-of-space-station-cargo-launch-docking-6/
In-text citation:
(Bardan, 2023)
How to Cite a Website in MLA Format
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used in humanities disciplines. Citing a website in MLA format involves the following structure:
Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of Webpage.” Name of Website, Publication date day month abbreviation, URL.
Example:
Bardan, Roxana. “NASA to Provide Live Coverage of Space Station Cargo Launch, Docking.” Nasa, 28 Nov. 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-provide-live-coverage-of-space-station-cargo-launch-docking-6/
In-text citation:
(Bardan)
How to Cite a Website in Harvard Format
The Harvard referencing system is versatile and widely used across various disciplines. Citing a website in Harvard format includes the following elements:
Author(s) Last name, First initial(s). (Year) Title of web page [Online], Name of Website, Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year)
Example:
Bardan, R. (2023). NASA to Provide Live Coverage of Space Station Cargo Launch, Docking [Online], Nasa, Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-provide-live-coverage-of-space-station-cargo-launch-docking-6/ (Accessed: 5 December 2023)
In-text citation:
(Bardan, 2023)
Tips for Citing Websites
- Check for Authorship: Look for the author’s name on the webpage. If it’s not available, use the organisation or website name as the author in your citation.
- Include the Publication Date: Whenever possible, include the publication or last-updated date of the webpage. If there’s no date available, use “n.d.” (no date) in your citation.
- Provide the Full URL: Include the full URL in your citation to allow readers to access the source directly. Generally, you can omit “https://” or “http://” if the URL starts with “www.”
- Follow Formatting Guidelines: Each citation style has its specific rules for punctuation, capitalisation, and italics. Ensure you follow the guidelines for each style precisely.
- Be Consistent: Consistency is crucial in academic writing. Stick to the same citation style throughout your document to maintain a professional and uniform look.
Handling Common Challenges in Citing Websites
- No Author: When a webpage has no author, use the organisation name as the author. If that’s unavailable, start with the title of the webpage in your citation.
- No Publication Date: If the webpage lacks a publication date, use “n.d.” in APA and Harvard formats to indicate this. In MLA, omit the date entirely.
- Unstable URLs: Occasionally, URLs change or disappear. If the URL is likely to change or is temporary, consider adding a note about the date of access and check for a stable version of the page (e.g., in an academic database).
- Organisation as Author: Sometimes, an organisation or institution serves as the author. In these cases, list the organisation name in the author position of your citation. This is common for government or corporate reports and pages.
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Citations can be complicated, especially if you’re juggling multiple formats in a lengthy paper or dissertation. Our team of expert editors can simplify the process, ensuring your citations are flawlessly formatted and error-free. Reach out today for a bespoke quote—whether you need help with APA, MLA, Harvard, or any other style, we’re here to support you in achieving clarity and accuracy in your references.
