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What is the proper APA format for citing websites in a research paper?

The APA 7th edition doesn't provide a single, universal "website citation." The proper format depends on what kind of web content you're citing. Here are examples for common types:

1. Website with an Author:

If the website has an author or an organization responsible for its content:

```

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). *Title of page*. Site name. URL

```

Example:

Smith, J. (2023, March 15). *The impact of social media on teenagers*. Social Science Today. https://www.socialsciencetd.com/impact-social-media

2. Website without an Author:

If no author is listed, use the name of the website in the author position:

```

Site name. (Year, Month Day). *Title of page*. URL

```

Example:

National Geographic. (2022, October 26). *Climate change and its effects*. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/climate-change

3. Article on a Website:

For articles found on websites (like news articles or blog posts), treat the article as the primary source:

```

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). *Title of article*. Site name. URL

```

Example:

Johnson, M. (2024, January 20). *New study reveals surprising findings about sleep*. The Daily News. https://www.thedailynews.com/sleepstudy

4. If Retrieval Information Changes:

If a webpage is likely to change its URL or content over time, it's good practice to include a retrieval date:

```

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). *Title of page*. Site name. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

```

Example:

Smith, J. (2023, March 15). *The impact of social media on teenagers*. Social Science Today. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://www.socialsciencetd.com/impact-social-media

Important Considerations:

* DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers): If the website provides a DOI, use it instead of the URL. DOIs are persistent identifiers and less likely to change. The DOI would replace the URL in the above examples.

* Italicize Titles: Italicize the titles of websites, but not the titles of articles or pages within those websites.

* URLs: Use the full URL. Don't shorten it.

* Retrieval Date: Only include a retrieval date if the content is likely to change. For stable sources like government websites, a retrieval date is generally unnecessary.

* Consistency: Be consistent in how you format your citations throughout your paper.

* Reference Management Software: Using citation management software like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote is highly recommended. These tools will help you format your citations correctly and manage your references efficiently.

Remember to always double-check your citations against the official APA Publication Manual for the most accurate and up-to-date guidelines.

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