How to Write a Bibliography for Wikipedia

Citing Articles from Wikipedia

• 1

  Use the following format for APA style:

  "Page Title." Date of Access. <URL>

  For example:

  "Cosmic View." 31 March 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_View>

• 2

  Use the following format for MLA style:

  Page Title. Wikipedia. Retrieved Date, from: URL

  For example:

  Cosmic View. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_View

  NOTE: Italicize the word "Wikipedia."

• 3

  Use the following format for Chicago style:

  Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. s.v. "Page Title." URL (accessed Date).

  For example:

  Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. s.v. "Cosmic View." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_View (accessed March 31, 2010).

Citing Articles for Wikipedia

• 4

  Load the Wikipedia page to which you want to add a citation.

• 5

  Click "Edit This Page" at the top of the screen.

• 6

  To add a General Reference (not specifically quoted, but used to provide background information), add the following to the bottom of the page:

  == References ==
  *[Author Last Name], [Author First Name]. ''[Title of Piece]'', [Publisher Name].

  The marks around Title of Piece are two single quotes (' '), not one double quote mark. Do not include the brackets.

  For example:

  == References ==
  *Miller, E (2005). ''The Sun'', Academic Press.

• 7

  To add a specific citation, insert the following exactly where you want the footnote to appear:

  <ref>[Author Last Name], [Author First Name]: ''[Title of Piece]'', page [Page #]. [Publisher], [Year Published].</ref>

  The marks around Title of Piece are two single quotes ('), not one double quote mark. Do not include the brackets.

  For example:

  <ref>Miller, E: ''The Sun'', page 23. Academic Press, 2005.</ref>