How to Cite a Websource

Properly citing electronic sources such as websites and online journals is essential to avoid plagiarism whether using one of the two most commonly used formatting guidelines: American Psychological Association or Modern Language Association. Unknowingly taking credit for a published author's work or purposely passing it off as your own can result in derogatory consequences for students such as failing grades and potential expulsion from the institute of higher learning. Take the necessary steps to credit online sources.

Instructions

  1. Citing in APA

    • 1

      Type the author's last name followed by a comma and his first initial. Include the author's middle initial, if known, and a period follows all initials. If two authors combined efforts, separate them with an ampersand. If an author does not exist, use the name of the website in lieu of a last name and first initial.

    • 2

      Insert the date of publication after the author's names in a set of parentheses with a space between the author's middle initial and the first parenthesis. Place a period after the closing parenthesis.

    • 3

      Type the title of the online source, followed by a period and the name of the online publication and italicize the name of the publication only.

    • 4

      Insert a comma directly after the publication name and type the volume number and page number, if applicable. Type a space and "Retrieved from" and include the entire website URL.

    • 5

      Use the following example:

      Last, F. M. (2011). Title of the Article. Title of Online Journal, Volume 1. Retrieved from www.onlinesource.com

    MLA Citation

    • 6

      Type the name of the website, underline it and end it with a period. Insert a set of parentheses with the year that the article on the site was published.

    • 7

      Add the name of the sponsoring institution from which the site was developed, followed by a period.

    • 8

      Insert the date of publication beginning with the day, a space, the month, a comma and the year. Copy and paste the URL or website and end it with a period to complete the MLA citation.

    • 9

      Use the following example:

      Website Name (underlined). 2011. Website Sponsor. 1 Jan. 2011 www.website.com

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