Title: How to Cite Web Sources in a Research Paper

In today's digital age, the internet has become an invaluable resource for researchers, providing
access to a vast array of information and data. However, citing web sources in a research paper can
be a challenging task, as the guidelines and formats for citation vary depending on the style guide
being used. Whether you're using APA, MLA, Chicago, or another citation style, it's essential to
follow the appropriate guidelines to give proper credit to the sources you use and maintain academic
integrity.

One of the primary challenges in citing web sources is the dynamic nature of online content. Unlike
traditional print sources, web pages can change or be removed altogether, making it crucial to
provide accurate and accessible information for your readers to locate the sources you reference.
Additionally, web sources may lack standard bibliographic information such as author names,
publication dates, or page numbers, further complicating the citation process.

To effectively cite web sources in your research paper, consider the following guidelines:

1. Identify Authorship and Publication Date: Whenever possible, try to identify the author(s)
of the web page and the date it was published or last updated. This information may be
found at the top or bottom of the webpage or within the article itself.
2. Use Stable URLs: Include the URL of the webpage in your citation to allow readers to
access the source directly. However, URLs can sometimes be lengthy and prone to change.
To mitigate this issue, use stable URLs whenever possible, such as a DOI (Digital Object
Identifier) or a permalink provided by the website.
3. Follow Citation Style Guidelines: Different citation styles have specific formats for citing
web sources. Consult the appropriate style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) for detailed
instructions on how to format web citations, including the placement of elements such as
author names, publication dates, titles, and URLs.
4. Provide Sufficient Context: In addition to the basic bibliographic information, provide
sufficient context within your paper to help readers understand the relevance and credibility
of the web sources you cite. This may include a brief summary of the webpage's content or
an explanation of why you chose to reference it in your research.
5. Check for Accuracy and Consistency: Before finalizing your citations, double-check the
accuracy and consistency of the information provided. Ensure that all elements of the citation
adhere to the guidelines of your chosen citation style and that the formatting is consistent
throughout your paper.

In conclusion, citing web sources in a research paper requires attention to detail and adherence to
citation style guidelines. While it can be a daunting task, properly citing your sources is essential for
acknowledging the contributions of others to your research and upholding academic integrity. For
assistance with citing web sources and other aspects of academic writing, consider seeking
professional help from services like ⇒ BuyPapers.club ⇔, where experienced writers can provide
guidance and support tailored to your specific needs.
Despite his short tenure as Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri left a lasting impact on India. Just
use a free generator provided by GradeMiners, and your papers will always have a perfect
referencing. These free, online tools that you download will organize your PDFs, automatically insert
the in-text citation with a plug-in with Word or Google Docs, and then create the bibliography in
seconds in which ever citation style you need for your assignment. Regularly review your citations
and make any necessary updates or revisions to reflect the most current information. But there are a
number of other reasons to cite sources. Make sure the URL you use is a permalink for the
information you're citing. It allows readers to locate and access the original sources for further
reading or verification. How to set Outline of a Research Paper in MLA Style in Google Docs.
Parenthetical citations for direct quotations do not go inside the quotation marks. Place your closing
punctuation after the closing parentheses. Please Check the Library Calendar Lawrenceville Campus
Alpharetta-North Fulton Campus. You can combine them with your own thoughts and ideas in your
writing. Another potential source that you might use when writing a research paper is a book
encyclopedia or an official online source such as demographic data drawn from a government
website. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. For example: Kent Portney,
Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2003). The idea must be relevant and
accurate, and it must be simple if possible. In nearly all citation styles, the reference entry begins
with the last name of the author. Generally, you'll cite an image the same way you would a book,
listing the artist or photographer's name, the title for the image, the year the image was published or
produced, and where the original image is located. This is not true. ALWAYS CITE in the following
cases. This ensures that your article remains accurate and up-to-date. For example: Allison (1987)
demonstrated that leaving the ground in sod increases the organic matter of the soil by 15 percent in
10 years. The MLA recommends using the most relevant information you can find (like an author’s
name or title) when citing such sources. Instead of an individual, use the organization's name in place
of the author's name. This will usually be the case if you're citing a PDF document that appears on a
website. Cite avoid this confusion, you citation include a shortened version of the essay's title, so the
readers know cite essay to look for. For instance, you might cite an article in a journal that is hosted
on JSTOR, a television series episode you watched via Netflix, or see a music video that is hosted on
YouTube. The format of the reference list or bibliography will depend on the citation style you are
using. Add the city of publication, a comma, and the state's abbreviation. Use the author's last name,
either in the sentence or in parentheses before the end punctuation. Place the year in parentheses, and
follow it by a period.
Capitalize the journal title like the journal does it, and put the name in italics. If you're using MLA,
for example, write the author's name and the page number being cited. For example, if you’re citing
a chapter from a book, check the title page for information about publishing company and the place
and date of publication. Putting information from different sources, along with your own ideas, is
vital to create a compelling and informative paper. A can be used with any source, and special
formatting based on source type (e.g., use “p.” for one type of source, but leave it out for another)
has been eliminated. If you’re citing a source that’s on its way to being published, you’ll need to
show in your citation where it is in the publication process. In these situations, provide the name of
the author, the date of writing or presentation, the title (in italics), and the context of the paper (i.e.,
where and for what purpose it was written). If you reference the same work several times in row, you
can use a short form parenthetical citation. Shastri died unexpectedly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in
1966, just a few hours after signing the Tashkent Agreement. Properly citing sources also helps you
avoid plagiarism, which can have serious consequences. Your summary provides an overview in your
own words. Copy the full direct URL or permalink of the content you want to cite. Using books
shouldnt be challenging if you learn how to cite literature well. Sources sure MLA is how correct
style for your document. For example: “Hill, M. (n.d.). Egypt in the Ptolemaic Period. Its approach to
the research theory is simply outstanding and has gained favor in the eyes of the majority. If you cite
an academic thesis or dissertation that is only available as a print source, you’ll need to indicate that
it is unpublished. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management, and educational
technology. To simplify the in-text citation, place the last name of the author in the text to introduce
the quote and then the publication date for the text in parentheses. It is copying half of one sentence
and pasting it with half of another sentence. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the
University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College. If there’s no author, use the
name of the organization that published the paper or the first few words from the title. Use brief
quotations sparingly (your reader usually prefers to hear your voice, and using your own words
shows your instructor that you comprehend a text). This answer was written by one of our trained
team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This guide shows you how
to cite sources in MLA format. The citation list may be called a reference list, bibliography, or
Works Cited, depending on the type of citation style you're using. As you do this, you need to “cite”
your sources. “Citing” means telling your reader (usually your professor) who’s words or ideas you
are using. If that is also not an option, simply start your Works Cited entry with the title of the page.
In nearly all citation styles, the reference entry begins with the last name of the author. For some
citation styles, you must also include the name of the database in your reference entry.
To write an in-text citation for a book in APA, start with the author’s last name, then the year the
material was published, and finally the page number. Place a comma between the author's full last
name and their first and second initials (if you know them). Include the name of the author, the date
of completion, and the title of the dissertation or thesis in italics. Place a comma after the author's
name, then type the year the source was published. Cite sources in different parts of your research
paper. You’ll also need to check that you’re allowed to use unpublished or non-peer-reviewed
sources in your writing assignment. For most citation styles, your in-text citation goes at the end of
the sentence where the paraphrased or quoted material is used. Therefore, you have to acknowledge
all the sources you have used to support your ideas. She specializes in secondary education,
classroom management, and educational technology. Look for reputable sources such as peer-
reviewed journals, academic books, and government publications. If you do not want to name the
author in the text, start the citation with their last name in parentheses at the end of the quote or the
information you wish to cite. Add the city of publication, a comma, and the state's abbreviation. For
instance, having some sort of bibliography can be very helpful when it comes to organizing your
research. When it’s time to write your bibliography, alphabetize all of your references or works cited,
then format your document based on whichever style you’re using. If you don't know the author's
name, use the name of the web page instead. This guide shows you how to cite sources in MLA
format. If you're using APA formatting, include the author's last name followed by a comma and the
year of publication in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Some pamphlets and informative
documents are authored by organizations or corporations. If you need to include an identifier for a
quote, you include the paragraph number or section. You may also be able to find this information at
the bottom of the homepage. You can combine them with your own thoughts and ideas in your
writing. Then type the month and day the article was published. A citation that does not provide the
minimum amount of information is considered incomplete. This rule applies to papers written in this
format, to avoid any confusion. When they look up the source on your Works Cited sheet, they
sources find two different articles by James Smith. While the information you need to provide is
generally the same across all methods, the way you format that information may vary depending on
whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association
(APA), or Chicago style of citation. Include the author's last name, a comma, the publication date, a
comma, and the page number. Sources those are there in the main content as an in-text citation or as
footnotes should be there in the reference list. You’ll need to cite unpublished research papers a little
differently from published ones.
A citation that does not provide the minimum amount of information is considered incomplete. He is
remembered as a statesman who worked tirelessly for the betterment of his country. Then, while
you’re writing your paper, be sure to put an appropriate reference next to each cited statement.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 29, 111-117. MLA uses parenthetical citations in the body
of your work. If there’s no author, use the name of the organization that published the paper or the
first few words from the title. Familiarize yourself with the specific rules of the chosen citation style
to ensure accurate and consistent citations throughout your article. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts
in English from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College. How
to set Outline of a Research Paper in MLA Style in Google Docs. You can combine them with your
own thoughts and ideas in your writing. This image is not licensed under the Creative Commons
license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Typically you
will close this portion of the reference entry with a period. Titles for shorter sources, such as
magazine and journal articles, are typically placed in quotes. One doesn’t have to go to the library,
search for a relevant source, and spend hours turning the pages of a book, making notes with one’s
pen trying to figure out which of those notes can serve as in-text citations. Example: Ernest
Hemingway has written numerous art pieces: The Torrents of Spring, The Sun Also Rises, To Have
and Have Not, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Across the River and into the Trees, and The Old Man and
the Sea. The location is typically followed by a colon, after which the name of the publisher is listed.
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and
comprehensiveness. Use sentence case, capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns. Avoid
relying solely on unreliable or biased sources, as this can undermine the credibility of your article. If
the web page has an individual author listed, type that author's last name first, followed by a comma,
then their first name. Finally, add the city of publication, the state’s abbreviation, and the publisher.
However, for APA, place the year the source was published in parentheses after the name of the
author. Title: Past Civilizations' Systems and Technologies. For more tips from our Teaching co-
author, including how to cite texts written by multiple authors in MLA format, read on. To learn
more about citing books, newspapers, and online magazines, read on. Sources those are there in the
main content as an in-text citation or as footnotes should be there in the reference list. All citation
styles require a direct URL, or permalink, for any source that you found online. She received her MA
in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State
University in 2015. The variety of options allows one to choose differently as circumstances change.
Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia.
Sources sure MLA is how correct style for your document. First, make sure that your source is
definitely considered unpublished. How to Write A Research Paper Outline In MLA Format MLA
stands for Modern Language Association and assumes a specific writing style. She specializes in
secondary education, classroom management, and educational technology. But if you include that
how information in the language of the sentence itself, you should not include the parenthetical
citation. In print magazines and journals, this information typically appears on the same page as the
table of contents, or on the page that lists the periodical's staff. Diane Stubbs is a Secondary English
Teacher with over 22 years of experience teaching all high school grade levels and AP courses. By
continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Since websites don't have page numbers,
simply include the author's last name in the parenthetical, or the title of the web page if there is no
author. In subsequent citations, write only the first author’s name, followed by et al.: (Hammett et
al., 1928). Essay should read assignment sheets and course syllabi. These free, online tools that you
download will organize your PDFs, automatically insert the in-text citation with a plug-in with Word
or Google Docs, and then create the bibliography in seconds in which ever citation style you need
for your assignment. For a source like a chapter in a book or a journal article, you could provide page
numbers. This image is not licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and
some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Please log in with your username or email to
continue. But specific strategies, quotes cite important figures in the war, and statistics about how
many people were involved in the war are all examples of specific, proprietary information. List your
citations alphabetically by the authors’ last names. If it doesn't, use the name of the business,
organization, or government agency that produces the website. Professional editing and proofreading
can significantly enhance the overall quality and credibility of your article. This is not true.
ALWAYS CITE in the following cases. For example, you may write, “American Cancer Society” or
“The Reading Room.”. Familiarize yourself with the specific rules of the chosen citation style to
ensure accurate and consistent citations throughout your article. Properly citing sources also helps
you avoid plagiarism, which can have serious consequences. In MLA, in-text citations always come
at the end of the sentence. Maxwell McCormick 2010 If a book has multiple writers at the start you
must mention them all but you may use et al afterward. Your summary provides an overview in your
own words. If an individual author is listed, type their last name first, followed by a comma, then
their first and middle initials (if a middle initial is given. Typically you will close this portion of the
reference entry with a period. Each style has its own specific guidelines for formatting in-text
citations and references. Over 15,763 SEO agencies and brands are using AtOnce to rank higher on
Google.
Type a space after the period that follows the date, then type the title of the web page, which will
usually appear as a header at the top of the page. Include the name of the author, the date of
completion, and the title of the dissertation or thesis in italics. Please Check the Library Calendar
Lawrenceville Campus Alpharetta-North Fulton Campus. Cite avoid this confusion, you citation
include a shortened version of the essay's title, so the readers know cite essay to look for. The
numbers in the parentheses after the title (in italics) are the page numbers of the essay in the book.
Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in
Texas. Otherwise, your readers believe you are trying to pass this information off as your original
thought. It could be APA or MLA or Chicago or Turabian or Science citation style or something
else. Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College
in Texas. Additionally, you should include a full reference in the bibliography or works cited page at
the end of the article. The basic format of in-text citations is useful and acceptable for many forms
of writing. You should cite anytime you use someone else’s words or ideas — even if they are from
websites. If you’re citing a source that’s on its way to being published, you’ll need to show in your
citation where it is in the publication process. Some works may have contributors other than the
primary author. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and
comprehensiveness. At the end of your quote, put the page number in parentheses. Take into account
what your readers may already know about the text. His sudden death was a great shock to the
nation and he is still remembered with great respect and admiration in India. For example: Hawking,
S. W. (1998). A brief history of time. Place your closing punctuation after the closing parentheses.
Putting information from different sources, along with your own ideas, is vital to create a compelling
and informative paper. Add the city of publication, a comma, and the state's abbreviation. You have
to pay attention to everything, such as, whether or not punctuation is included, whether or not there
is an extra space, or whether or not something should be capitalized or italicized. In print magazines
and journals, this information typically appears on the same page as the table of contents, or on the
page that lists the periodical's staff. However, this new simplicity comes with new challenges. You
can use direct quotations from the text or paraphrased ones, but each time you do so, don’t forget to
include the source information in brackets and give full information about the source on your
reference page. Learn four common tools that will make citing resources much easier. When citing an
essay, you include information in two places. Instead of an individual, use the organization's name in
place of the author's name. This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who
validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Otherwise, place the author's last name, a comma, the year of publication, a comma, and the page
number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. When citing a website, the title of the webpage or
article is placed in quotation marks, with a period before the end quotation. The MLA's guidelines
are frequently updated, however, and keeping track of the details can be a handful. Inconsistencies
or errors in formatting can confuse readers and undermine the credibility of your article. This image
is not licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images
posted to the wikiHow website. And identifying what to include in each field in the template
requires an understanding of the source and its unique qualities. It allows readers to verify the
information you present, demonstrates your research skills, and gives credit to the original authors. It
requires writers to cite sources in endnotes or footnotes. By continuing to use our site, you agree to
our cookie policy. This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it
for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Frame your words well, and present your ideas in a sequence
that allows one topic to prepare readers for the next. The variety of options allows one to choose
differently as circumstances change. Do not put it in italics, and use sentence-style capitalization.
Because MLA style is most often used in the humanities, it is unlikely that you will include raw
scientific data in an MLA-style paper, but you may be asked to include other kinds of research in
your writing. The only period in a Chicago-style footnote occurs at the very end. Please log in with
your username or email to continue. An MLA works cited entry should list information about where
the information was found. This image is not licensed under the Creative Commons license applied
to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The temporary nature of blog
and social media posts make them hard to reference, according to Chicago. Typically only the year is
needed, although for periodical publications, such as newspapers or magazines, you may need a
more specific date. Otherwise, your readers believe you are trying to pass this information off as
your original thought. What Is A Citation Research Skills Tutorial Libguides At Empire State College
Some students think that its important to use citing for the body part only. Post Description. Social
Media Platform, Day Month Year of Post, Time of Post, URL. However remember that only a peer-
reviewed academic article should be included in a paper. Capitalize the journal title like the journal
does it, and put the name in italics. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management,
and educational technology. For example: Allison (1987) demonstrated that leaving the ground in sod
increases the organic matter of the soil by 15 percent in 10 years. If you found the image online, your
citation will likely include a URL for the image and the date you accessed it. There are several
different citation styles used in different research fields. He received his PhD in English Literature
and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.