Citing Websites and Web Pages
The pieces of information you need to cite information from the web include:
Sometimes a web page or website will not actually provide all of this information. For example, sometimes an author is not named, or copyright or update information might not be provided. In those cases, just create a citation with as much information as you have. Here are a few examples:
MLA web page
Brown, Julie. “Raising Dogs…Naturally.” Raintree Bull Mastiffs. 2006. 2 Oct. 2006 <http://www.raintreebullmastiffs.com/raising_dogs.htm>.
APA web page
Brown, J. (2002). Raising dogs…naturally. Retrieved October 2, 2006, from http://www.raintreebullmastiffs.com/raising_dogs.htm
(Notice in the above example for an APA web page that the name of the website, Raintree Bull Mastiffs, is not given. In APA style the name of the sponsoring website is typically only given if the site is large and complex, such as a university web site or a government website.)
MLA website
The Ernest Hemingway Resource Center 2005. 2 October, 2006 <http://www.lostgeneration.com/>.
APA website
Gannon, P. (2006). Cell and molecular biology online. Retrieved October 2, 2006 from http://www.cellbio.com/
Exercise:
MLA Citation Scramble [requires Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher]
APA Citation Scramble [requires Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher]
Where to Learn More
For more details about how to create citations for information from the web, consult either of the following:
1. A style manual
- For MLA: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (call number LB2369 .G53 2003); in the INDEX, look up “World Wide Web,” then look for the “in works cited” section.- For APA: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (call number BF76.7 .P83 2001); in the TABLE OF CONTENTS, check the “Reference List” chapter for Electronic Media.
2. Online citation sites: http://www.nvcc.edu/library/bow_citingref.htm