How to In-Text Cite a Website?

To in-text cite a website, you typically use an author-date format, placing the author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses within your text. This allows readers to quickly locate the full reference in your bibliography or reference list.

Understanding the Basics of Website In-Text Citations (APA Style)

When incorporating information from a webpage or online article into your academic work, the most common approach, particularly in APA Style, involves citing the source within the body of your text. This citation points to a more detailed entry in your reference list at the end of your document.

The core principle for an APA in-text citation for a website is the author-date format. This means you will include:

• The author's last name (or organization name if no individual author is listed).
• The year of publication.

For instance, if you are citing an article written by Worland and Williams published in 2015, your in-text citation would appear as (Worland & Williams, 2015).

Similarly, if the author is an organization, such as the American Psychological Association, and the content was published in 2019, the citation would be (American Psychological Association, 2019).

Common Scenarios for In-Text Citations

The exact format of your in-text citation can vary slightly depending on how you integrate the information and what details are available from the source.

1. Citing with Author and Date

This is the most straightforward and preferred method.

• Parenthetical Citation: Include the author and year in parentheses at the end of the sentence or within it.
  • Example: Learning new citation styles can be challenging for students (Worland & Williams, 2015).
  • Example: Guidelines for ethical research are frequently updated (American Psychological Association, 2019).
• Narrative Citation: Incorporate the author's name directly into your sentence and place the year in parentheses immediately after.
  • Example: Worland and Williams (2015) explained the intricacies of modern citation practices.
  • Example: The American Psychological Association (2019) released new recommendations for mental health support.

2. Citing When No Author is Available

If a specific author is not listed, use the title of the webpage or article in place of the author's name.

• Use the first few words of the title, enclosed in double quotation marks if it's an article title or italicized if it's a website title (e.g., a specific page title versus the entire website name).

• Follow with the year of publication.

  • Example: (”The Basics of Citations,” 2021) or (Wikipedia, 2023)

3. Citing When No Date is Available

If no publication date is provided, use "n.d." (for "no date") in place of the year.

• Example: (Smith, n.d.)
• Example: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.)

4. Citing Direct Quotations

When you use a direct quote from a website, you must also include the page number or, if a page number isn't available (common for webpages), a paragraph number or section heading to help readers locate the exact text.

• Parenthetical Quote:
  • Example: "The internet has revolutionized access to information" (Worland & Williams, 2015, para. 3).
• Narrative Quote:
  • Example: According to the American Psychological Association (2019), "ethical guidelines are crucial for responsible research" (p. 15).

Quick Reference Table for APA In-Text Citations

This table summarizes common in-text citation formats for websites in APA Style:

Key Considerations

• Consistency: Always maintain consistency in your citation style throughout your document.
• Reference List: Every in-text citation must have a corresponding full entry in your reference list at the end of your paper, providing complete details about the source (author, date, title, website name, URL, etc.).
• Credibility: Ensure the websites you cite are from reputable and credible sources. General information on establishing credibility can be found through academic writing guides such as those from Purdue OWL.
• Other Styles: While APA is widely used, other citation styles like MLA, Chicago, and Harvard have their own specific rules for in-text citations. Always refer to the guidelines provided by your instructor or publication.