Stuckey and Nobel (2010) noted, "it has been shown that music can calm neural activity in the brain, which may lead to reductions in anxiety, and that it may help to restore effective functioning in the immune system." |
|
Note: This example is a direct quote. It is an exact quotation directly from the text of the article. All direct quotes should appear in quotation marks: "...."
Try keeping direct quotes to a minimum in your writing. You need to show your understanding of the source material by being able to paraphrase or summarize it.
List the author’s last name only (no initials) and the year the information was published, like this:
(Dodge, 2008 ). ( Author , Date).
IF you use a direct quote, add the page number to your citation, like this:
( Dodge , 2008 , p. 125 ).
( Author , Date , page number )
Credit these sources when you mention their information in any way: direct quotation, paraphrase, or summarize.
What should you credit?
Any information that you learned from another source, including:
● statistics
EXCEPTION: Information that is common knowledge: e.g., The Bronx is a borough of New York City.
Quick help with apa 7 citations.
Download the In-text Citations presentation (above) for an in-depth look at how to correctly cite your sources in the text of your paper.
Paraphrasing activity from the excelsior owl, in-text citation quiz.
Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.
8-How to Cite Sources
Citing sources is often described as a straightforward, rule-based practice. But in fact, there are many gray areas around citation, and learning how to apply citation guidelines takes practice and education. If you are confused by it, you are not alone – in fact you might be doing some good thinking. Here are some guidelines to help you navigate citation practices.
Cite when you are directly quoting. This is the easiest rule to understand. If you are stating word-for-word what someone else has already written, you must put quotes around those words and you must give credit to the original author. Not doing so would mean that you are letting your reader believe these words are your own and represent your own effort.
Cite when you are summarizing and paraphrasing. This is a trickier area to understand. First of all, summarizing and paraphrasing are two related practices but they are not the same. Summarizing is when you read a text, consider the main points, and provide a shorter version of what you learned. Paraphrasing is when you restate what the original author said in your own words and in your own tone. Both summarizing and paraphrasing require good writing skills and an accurate understanding of the material you are trying to convey. Summarizing and paraphrasing are difficult to do when you are a beginning academic researcher, but these skills become easier to perform over time with practice.
Cite when you are citing something that is highly debatable. For example, if you want to claim that the Patriot Act has been an important tool for national security, you should be prepared to give examples of how it has helped and how experts have claimed that it has helped. Many U.S. citizens concerned that it violates privacy rights won’t agree with you, and they will be able to find commentary that the Patriot Act has been more harmful to the nation than helpful. You need to be prepared to show such skeptics that you have experts on your side, too.
This section covers how and when to cite sources. For a discussion of why to cite sources, see Ethical Use of Sources .
Don’t cite when what you are saying is your own insight. As you learned in The Purpose of Academic Argument , research involves forming opinions and insights around what you learn. You may be citing several sources that have helped you learn, but at some point you must integrate your own opinion, conclusion, or insight into the work. The fact that you are not citing it helps the reader understand that this portion of the work is your unique contribution developed through your own research efforts.
Don’t cite when you are stating common knowledge. What is common knowledge is sometimes difficult to discern. In general, quick facts like historical dates or events are not cited because they are common knowledge.
Examples of information that would not need to be cited include:
Some quick facts, such as statistics, are trickier. For example, the number of gun-related deaths per year probably should be cited, because there are a lot of ways this number could be determined (does the number include murder only, or suicides and accidents, as well?) and there might be different numbers provided by different organizations, each with an agenda about gun laws.
A guideline that can help with deciding whether or not to cite facts is to determine whether the same data is repeated in multiple sources. If it is not, it is best to cite.
The other thing that makes this determination difficult might be that what seems new and insightful to you might be common knowledge to an expert in the field. You have to use your best judgment, and probably err on the side of over-citing, as you are learning to do academic research. You can seek the advice of your instructor, a writing tutor, or a librarian. Knowing what is and is not common knowledge is a practiced skill that gets easier with time and with your own increased knowledge.
You’ve likely been told at some point that you can’t cite Wikipedia, or any encyclopedia for that matter, in your scholarly work.
The reason is that such entries are meant to prepare you to do research, not be evidence of your having done it. Wikipedia entries, which are tertiary sources, are already a summary of what is known about the topic. Someone else has already done the labor of synthesizing lots of information into a concise and quick way of learning about the topic.
So while Wikipedia is a great shortcut for getting context, background, and a quick lesson on topics that might not be familiar to you, don’t quote, paraphrase, or summarize from it. Just use it to educate yourself.
Open activity in a web browser.
Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research Copyright © 2015 by Teaching & Learning, Ohio State University Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Listing your sources at the end of your essay in the Works Cited is only the first step in complete and effective documentation. Proper citation of sources is a two-part process . You must also cite, in the body of your essay, the source your paraphrased information or where directly quoted material came from. These citations within the essay are called in-text citations . You must cite all quoted, paraphrased, or summarized words, ideas, and facts from sources. Without in-text citations, you are in danger of plagiarism , even if you have listed your sources at the end of the essay. In-text citations point the reader to the sources’ information in the works cited page, so the in-text citation should be the first item listed in the source’s citation on the works cited page, which is usually the author’s last name (or the title if there is no author) and the page number, if provided.
Parenthetical citation.
Cite your source in parentheses at the end of quoted or paraphrased material.
Example with a page number: In regards to paraphrasing, "It is important to remember to use in-text citations for your paraphrased information, as well as your directly quoted material" (Habib 7).
Example without a page number : Paraphrasing is "often the best choice because direct quotes should be reserved for source material that is especially well-written in style and/or clarity" (Ruiz).
Within the sentence, through the use of a "signal phrase" which signals to the reader the specific source the idea or quote came from. Include the page number(s) in parentheses at the end of the sentence, if provided.
Example with a page number: According to Habib, "It is important to remember to use in-text citations for your paraphrased information, as well as your directly quoted material" (7).
Example without a page number: According to Ruiz, paraphrasing is "often the best choice because direct quotes should be reserved for source material that is especially well-written in style and/or clarity."
*See our handout "Signal Phrases" for more examples and information on effective ways to use signal phrases for in-text citations.
Printed materials such as books, magazines, journals, or internet and digital sources with PDF files that show an actual printed page number need to have a page number in the citation.
Internet and digital sources with a continuously scrolling page without a page number do not need a page number in the citation.
Type of Source | Parenthetical In-text Citation |
---|---|
One author with page number | (Blake 70) |
One author with multiple works | (Harris, 13-14) |
Two authors, no page number | (McGrath and Dowd) |
Three or more authors with page number | (Gooden et al. 445) |
No author, no page number | ("Cheating")[First word(s) of the title of the article] |
Two sources each with one author and page number | (Jones 42; Haller 57) |
A person quoted in another work | (qtd. in Lathrop and Foss 163) |
Video or audio sources | ("Across the Divide" 00:06:25) |
Government source | (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) |
Block quotation format.
When using long quotations that are over four lines of prose or over three lines of poetry in length, you will need to use block quotation format. Block format is indented one inch from the margin (you can hit the "tab" button twice to move it one inch). Additionally, block quotes do not use quotation marks, and the parenthetical citation comes after the period of the last sentence. Please see the following sample essay for an example block quote.
Please see the following sample essay for different kinds of signal phrases and parenthetical in-text citations, which correspond with the sample Works Cited page at the end. The Writing Center also has a handout on signal phrases with many different verb options.
Learn more about the MLA Works Cited page by reviewing this handout .
For information on STLCC's academic integrity policy, check out this website .
Last Updated: February 4, 2023 Fact Checked
This article was co-authored by Diya Chaudhuri, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Diya Chaudhuri holds a PhD in Creative Writing (specializing in Poetry) from Georgia State University. She has over 5 years of experience as a writing tutor and instructor for both the University of Florida and Georgia State University. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 558,995 times.
If you're writing a research paper, whether as a student or a professional researcher, you might want to use an essay as a source. You'll typically find essays published in another source, such as an edited book or collection. When you discuss or quote from the essay in your paper, use an in-text citation to relate back to the full entry listed in your list of references at the end of your paper. While the information in the full reference entry is basically the same, the format differs depending on whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago citation method.
MLA Works Cited Entry Format:
LastName, FirstName. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection , by FirstName Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. ##-##.
APA Reference List Entry Format:
LastName, I. (Year). Title of essay. In I. LastName (Ed.), Title of larger work (pp. ##-##). Publisher.
' Chicago Bibliography Format:
LastName, FirstName. "Title of Essay." In Title of Book or Essay Collection , edited by FirstName LastName, ##-##. Location: Publisher, Year.
Tip: If you use the Chicago author-date system for in-text citation, use the same in-text citation method as APA style.
To cite an essay using MLA format, include the name of the author and the page number of the source you’re citing in the in-text citation. For example, if you’re referencing page 123 from a book by John Smith, you would include “(Smith 123)” at the end of the sentence. Alternatively, include the information as part of the sentence, such as “Rathore and Chauhan determined that Himalayan brown bears eat both plants and animals (6652).” Then, make sure that all your in-text citations match the sources in your Works Cited list. For more advice from our Creative Writing reviewer, including how to cite an essay in APA or Chicago Style, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Yes No
Mbarek Oukhouya
Mar 7, 2017
Sarah Sandy
May 25, 2017
Skyy DeRouge
Nov 14, 2021
Diana Ordaz
Sep 25, 2016
Don’t miss out! Sign up for
wikiHow’s newsletter
Does everything need to be cited, all you need to know about citing sources, get help from libraries and writing centers.
Always give credit where credit is due. If the words that you are including in your research belong to someone else, give credit.
Here is a brief list of what needs to be credited or documented :
There are certain things that do not need documentation or credit, including :
(From Plagiarism FAQs - Purdue Writing Lab )
The following chart from the UT Arlington Library Acknowledging Sources tutorial will guide you in your decision:
What is common knowledge? This refers to facts well known by many people and verifiable in five or more sources. Examples:
If you have any doubts or questions, ask your professor or librarian. Err on the side of caution: when in doubt, cite!
The online guide Citing Your Sources provides information on citation, style guides, citation tools, and more.
Schedule an appointment
AWC Tutor Feedback (submit a paper of six double-spaced pages or less and get feedback from a tutor within 48 hours)
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Submit your work (submit a paper of six double-spaced pages or less and get feedback from a tutor within 24-48 hours)
Email: [email protected]
University of Cincinnati Libraries
PO Box 210033 Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0033
Phone: 513-556-1424
Contact Us | Staff Directory
University of Cincinnati
Alerts | Clery and HEOA Notice | Notice of Non-Discrimination | eAccessibility Concern | Privacy Statement | Copyright Information
© 2021 University of Cincinnati
What is common knowledge, paraphrasing, what does paraphrasing look like, citing generative a.i..
. created by someone else. | thoughts, ideas, opinions, observations, or experimental results. If you're using . |
It does not matter if the work is a web page, book or television program, always cite when using information from someone else's creation. |
|
Common knowledge is general facts and principles about the world we live in. We know that the world is round , that fish swim in the ocean , and that there are 365 days in a year . Information like this would not need to be cited.
Common knowledge can shift depending on the context of the situation. Information that is considered common knowledge for a specific field or college class may be more in-depth than information that is common knowledge to the general public.
Now... imagine you are a U.S. History student writing a paper on Alexander Hamilton. Which statements below would NOT be considered common knowledge and would have to be cited? Click on the sentence below that you think needs a citation.
Alexander Hamilton was one of the founding fathers of the United States . He believed in a strong central government. He successfully argued that the implied powers of the Constitution provided the legal authority to fund the national debt and assume states' debts.
(Sources: Community College of Vermont Hartness Library. (n.d.). Avoiding Plagiarism . and "Alexander Hamilton Biography." Biography.com ,)
Incorrect, this sentence would not need a citation, as this information would be common knowledge to a U.S. History student.
Incorrect, this sentence would not need a citation, as this information would be common knowledge to a U.S. History student.
Correct, this sentences requires citation, as this is not common information.
Quoting is using the EXACT wording of the source material . Direct quotations should be used sparingly , and should be used to strengthen your own arguments and ideas. Some valid reasons for quoting include:
(Image: Dombrowski, Q. (2010, June 10). The “library” . Retrieved from Flikr.)
Paraphrasing is when you create your own wording of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else without directly quoting. Paraphrasing is similar to summarizing, however summaries only include the essential ideas of a work, while paraphrasing includes more details.
Since your paper should only use direct quotations sparingly, you'll probably be paraphrasing frequently. Just remember that you still need to express plenty of your own ideas. Use paraphrasing to support those ideas, and be mindful that you still need to cite paraphrased portions of your paper .
Click on the attempts at paraphrasing below to see which one is an acceptable paraphrase.
Paraphrasing Attempt 1: America has now gone too far toward formal testing, without realizing the costs and limitations of exclusively emphasizing that approach (Gardner 179).
Paraphrasing Attempt 2: In the United States, the education system places too much emphasis on formal testing, overlooking the limitations and expenses imposed when that assessment strategy is employed exclusively (Gardner 179).
Although the source is cited, the paraphrasing is too close to the original statement as it retained too much of the original wording and sentence structure.
This paraphrase is different enough from the original source that it would not be considered plagiarism, so long as Gardner is credited.
(Quotes: Gardner, Howard. Multiple Intelligences: New Horizons in Theory and Practice . BasicBooks, 2006.)
Free All-in-One Office Suite with PDF Editor
Edit Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE.
Read, edit, and convert PDFs with the powerful PDF toolkit.
Microsoft-like interface, easy to use.
Windows • MacOS • Linux • iOS • Android
Select areas that need to improve
Fields marked * are required please
Please leave your suggestions below
Starting from when I entered high school, the importance of submitting assignments in a particular format became a top priority. I quickly realized the significance of adhering to these guidelines, as they remained essential throughout my academic journey. You never know when the need for proper formatting will arise. At first, it may seem overwhelming, but in this simple guide, I'll show you how to write an essay in MLA format [For Students].
MLA format is created by the Modern Language Association which is a standardized way to format academic papers and cite sources. It’s mainly used for subjects in the humanities, like literature, philosophy, and the arts. Unlike APA or Chicago formats, which are used for social sciences and history, MLA puts a strong emphasis on the authorship of sources.
Most students will need to use MLA format at some point, especially in humanities courses. It’s essential for essays, research papers, and other assignments in these subjects.
The first step to learning how to write an essay in MLA format for students is to get familiar with the general guidelines. It's all about following the rules to get your paper formatted in the MLA style:
Margins and Font:
Set 1-inch margins on all sides.
Choose a readable font such as Times New Roman, 12-point size.
Double-space the entire document, including block quotes (quotes longer than four lines), notes, and the works cited page.
Paragraph Indentation:
Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches (press Tab key once).
Punctuation:
Utilize standard punctuation marks and maintain consistency with punctuation, italics, and quotation marks throughout your paper.
Quotations:
Use double quotation marks (" ") for direct quotes.
For quotes longer than four lines, format as a block quote: start on a new line, indent 0.5 inches from the left margin (without quotation marks), and keep double-spacing.
Here is an essay MLA format template for your reference:
So we have seen the general guidelines in the above example and also saw an essay MLA format example/sample showing what our final MLA format will look like. However, going through guidelines is not enough when you're learning how to write an essay in MLA format in Word or PDF format. You need a professional writing software that not only provides the tools but also allows you to use them easily.
Therefore, I will be using WPS Writer as my partner in writing an essay in MLA format, and I would recommend students to download WPS Writer from their website so that you can easily follow this guide. And yes, it is completely free. So let's begin formatting an essay to MLA format in WPS Writer:
So the first step is to ensure that our page margins are set to 1 inch on every side. Setting the margins first would help you avoid any formatting errors if you do this at a later stage. To set page margins in WPS Writer:
Step 1: Open WPS Writer and visit the “Page Layout” tab in the toolbar.
Step 2: Find the Page Margin options on the far left of the Page Layout ribbon.
Step 3: Set all the margin fields—top, bottom, left, and right—to 1 inch.
Next, we need to ensure that the line spacing is set to double spacing . This helps improve readability and ensures your paper meets MLA formatting standards. To set double line spacing in WPS Writer:
Step 1: In WPS Writer, go to the “Home” tab in the toolbar.
Step 2: Find and click the “Line Spacing” option in the Home ribbon.
Step 3: In the Line Spacing drop-down, click on More.
Step 4: The Paragraph window will pop up. Visit the Spacing section and in the Line Spacing field, select “Double”.
Step 5: After that, click on OK to exit the Paragraph window.
Note: We can also use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + 2 to quickly change the line spacing to double.
After setting the page settings, let's move on to the content of the essay, starting with the header in the following order:
Student's Name
Professor's Name
Course and Course Code
Due Date in the format DD Month, Year
Step 1: Follow the order to enter the header into your essay.
Step 2: To make the Header left aligned, visit the Home tab and then click on the “Align Text Left” icon.
Step 3: After entering the header, make sure the Font is set to "Times New Roman" in the Fonts field in the Home ribbon.
Step 4: After the font, the font size should also be set to "12." Therefore, make the change in the "Font Size" field in the Home ribbon.
MLA Format requires a running header that includes your last name along with the page number on the top right corner of every page. Let's see how we can create our running header for the MLA Format:
Step 1: Double-click on the Header area to open the Header/Footer in WPS Writer.
Step 2: Now type your last name and set its alignment to right by clicking on the “Align Text Right” icon in the Home ribbon.
Step 3: To add the page number, click on the "Page Number" option in the Header/Footer ribbon and select the "Header right" option to insert a page number in the right corner.
Once the running header has been added, it is important to set the font size of the running header to 12 and the font to "Times New Roman".
Step 4: Simply select your running header and click on the Home tab.
Step 5: In the Home tab, change the Font to "Times New Roman" in the Fonts field.
Step 6: To change the font size, in the Home ribbon, enter "12" in the Font size field.
The last setting for the running header is to set the header margin to "0.5 inches":
Step 7: Head over to the Header/Footer tab.
Step 8: In the Header/Footer ribbon, enter "0.5 in" in the “Header Height” field to set the header margin to 0.5 inches.
After the header and running header, let's begin our essay with the title of our essay. Remember the rules:
The title should be center aligned.
The title should not be bolded, italicized, or placed in quotation marks unless it includes the title of a source (e.g., a book or movie title).
Step 1: Insert the title right below the header and visit the Home tab.
Step 2: In the Home ribbon, click on the “Center” icon to center align the title.
Headings and subheadings are important as they give reference to the reader. There are no hard and fast rules for their formatting, except that they need to be center aligned. You can set the font style to bold to help the reader distinguish them.
Step 1: Enter your heading below the title of the essay and visit the Home tab.
Step 2: In the Home ribbon, click on “Center” to align the heading to the center.
Step 3: To change the font style to bold, in the Home ribbon, click on the “Bold” icon right below the font field.
In MLA format, in-text citations use parenthetical references to indicate quotes or ideas from another author. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do in-text citations:
Step 1: When you quote or paraphrase from a source, use the author's last name and the page number where the information is found.
Step 2: After the quote or paraphrase, place the citation in parentheses. The citation should include the author's last name followed by the page number without a comma between them.
Step 3: The parenthetical citation should be placed before the period at the end of the sentence.
Finally, you will need to cite all the sources you took assistance from in writing your paper. Follow the following steps to understand how to cite your work in MLA format.
Step 1: Use a page break to start a fresh new page with the title "Works Cited." The heading "Works Cited" will follow similar heading guidelines as before.
Step 2: Double-space all entries and do not add extra spaces between entries.
Step 3: Use a hanging indent for each entry. The first line of each citation is flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches simply using the “Tab” key..
Step 4: List entries in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If a work has no author, alphabetize it by the first significant word in the title.
Step 5: Format your sources as mentioned below for respective source medium:
Books Format: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.
Articles in Journals Format: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Year, pages.
Websites Format: Author's Last Name, First Name (if available). "Title of Webpage." Title of Website, Publisher, Date of Publication, URL.
Once you finish writing your essay, the next challenge is converting it from Microsoft Word to PDF without losing formatting. This can be frustrating because sometimes the formatting doesn't stay the same.
To avoid this issue, use WPS Office . It offers strong PDF features and keeps APA and MLA formatting intact. On the other hand, Microsoft Word 365, though widely used, may occasionally struggle to keep formatting consistent when converting to PDF. It's important to choose tools that prioritize preserving the look and structure of your academic work.
Here is how you can use WPS PDF to convert your essay documents to PDF without compromising on the quality:
Step 1: On WPS Writer, click on the Menu button on the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: Now simply click on the “Export to PDF” option in the Menu.
Step 3: The Export to PDF window will open. Here, you can alter a few settings such as the output path. After going through the settings, simply click on Export to PDF to save the essay document as a PDF.
1. how to cite an image in mla.
To cite an image in MLA style, you need to format the citation based on where the image was viewed. For online images, the citation should follow this structure:
MLA format:
Creator’s last name, First name. “Image Title” or Description of the image. Website Name in italics, Day Month Year, URL.
MLA Works Cited entry:
Smith, Jamie. “Vintage Cars.” Travel With Us, 15 Mar. 2023, www.travelwithus.com/vintage-cars.
MLA in-text citation:
(Smith) Note: If you discover an image through a search engine such as Google, ensure that you credit and link to the website that hosts the image, rather than the search engine.
In most instances, an MLA-formatted essay does not necessitate a separate title page unless instructed otherwise by your instructor. Instead, begin your essay with a header and center the title on the subsequent line.
To cite a website in MLA style, you should include the author’s name (if known), the title of the page in quotation marks, the name of the website in italics, the publication date, and the URL without "https://". If the identity of the author is not known, start with the title of the page. If the publication date is unavailable or if there's a possibility of content modifications, include an access date at the end.
Author’s last name, First name. “Title of Page.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Adams, John. "Explore with us." Random Discoveries, 15 Sept. 2023, www.randomdiscoveries.com/explore-with-us.
It’s so easy! The great thing about MLA format is that it’s not vastly different from APA and Chicago formats. There are only a few distinctions, and once you learn how to write an essay in MLA format [For Students], everything will become much easier for your academic life. Also, WPS Office is an incredibly handy tool for students. Not only can you format comfortably, but it’s also designed to be student-friendly, avoiding complex procedures. Simple yet advanced, and best of all, free. Get WPS Office today and write essays with ease and comfort!
15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.
Published on March 5, 2021 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 17, 2024.
To cite a page from a website, you need a short in-text citation and a corresponding reference stating the author’s name, the date of publication, the title of the page, the website name, and the URL.
This information is presented differently in different citation styles. APA , MLA , and Chicago are the most commonly used styles.
Use the interactive example generator below to explore APA and MLA website citations.
Note that the format is slightly different for citing YouTube and other online video platforms, or for citing an image .
Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes
Citing a website in mla style, citing a website in apa style, citing a website in chicago style, frequently asked questions about citations.
An MLA Works Cited entry for a webpage lists the author’s name , the title of the page (in quotation marks), the name of the site (in italics), the date of publication, and the URL.
The in-text citation usually just lists the author’s name. For a long page, you may specify a (shortened) section heading to locate the specific passage. Don’t use paragraph numbers unless they’re specifically numbered on the page.
MLA format | Author last name, First name. “Page Title.” , Day Month Year, URL. |
---|---|
Brice, Makini. “U.S. Senate Expected to Begin Debating Coronavirus Package on Thursday.” , 4 March 2021, www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress/u-s-senate-expected-to-begin-debating-coronavirus-package-on-thursday-idUSKBN2AW18U. | |
(Brice) |
The same format is used for blog posts and online articles from newspapers and magazines.
You can also use our free MLA Citation Generator to generate your website citations.
Citing a whole website.
When you cite an entire website rather than a specific page, include the author if one can be identified for the whole site (e.g. for a single-authored blog). Otherwise, just start with the site name.
List the copyright date displayed on the site; if there isn’t one, provide an access date after the URL.
MLA format | Author last name, First name. . Year or Year range, URL. Accessed Day Month Year. |
---|---|
. www.scribbr.com. Accessed 4 March 2021. | |
( ) |
When no author is listed, cite the organization as author only if it differs from the website name.
If the organization name is also the website name, start the Works Cited entry with the title instead, and use a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation.
When no publication date is listed, leave it out and include an access date at the end instead.
MLA format | Organization Name. “Page Title.” , URL. Accessed Day Month Year. |
---|---|
“Citing Sources in Academic Writing.” . www.scribbr.com/category/citing-sources/. Accessed 4 March 2021. | |
(“Citing Sources”) |
Discover proofreading & editing
An APA reference for a webpage lists the author’s last name and initials, the full date of publication, the title of the page (in italics), the website name (in plain text), and the URL.
The in-text citation lists the author’s last name and the year. If it’s a long page, you may include a locator to identify the quote or paraphrase (e.g. a paragraph number and/or section title).
APA format | Author last name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). . Website Name. URL |
---|---|
Brice, M. (2021, March 4). . Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress/u-s-senate-expected-to-begin-debating-coronavirus-package-on-thursday-idUSKBN2AW18U | |
(Brice, 2021, para. 6) |
Note that a general reference to an entire website doesn’t require a citation in APA Style; just include the URL in parentheses after you mention the site.
You can also use our free APA Citation Generator to create your webpage citations. Search for a URL to retrieve the details.
Blog posts and online articles.
Blog posts follow a slightly different format: the title of the post is not italicized, and the name of the blog is.
The same format is used for online newspaper and magazine articles—but not for articles from news sites like Reuters and BBC News (see the previous example).
APA format | Author last name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). Article title. . URL |
---|---|
McKenna, J. (2021, March 3). Assisted reproduction science could be a lifeline for koalas. . https://jmckenna.scienceblog.com/2021/03/03/assisted-reproduction-science-could-be-a-lifeline-for-koalas/ | |
(McKenna, 2021) |
When a page has no author specified, list the name of the organization that created it instead (and omit it later if it’s the same as the website name).
When it doesn’t list a date of publication, use “n.d.” in place of the date. You can also include an access date if the page seems likely to change over time.
APA format | Organization Name. (n.d.). . Website Name. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL |
---|---|
Scribbr. (n.d.). . Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://www.scribbr.com/category/citing-sources/ | |
(Scribbr, n.d.) |
In Chicago notes and bibliography style, footnotes are used to cite sources. They refer to a bibliography at the end that lists all your sources in full.
A Chicago bibliography entry for a website lists the author’s name, the page title (in quotation marks), the website name, the publication date, and the URL.
Chicago format | Author last name, First name. “Page Title.” Website Name. Month Day, Year. URL. |
---|---|
Brice, Makini. “U.S. Senate Expected to Begin Debating Coronavirus Package on Thursday.” Reuters. March 4, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress/u-s-senate-expected-to-begin-debating-coronavirus-package-on-thursday-idUSKBN2AW18U. | |
1. Makini Brice, “U.S. Senate Expected to Begin Debating Coronavirus Package on Thursday,” Reuters, March 4, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress/u-s-senate-expected-to-begin-debating-coronavirus-package-on-thursday-idUSKBN2AW18U. 2. Brice, “Coronavirus Package.” |
Chicago also has an alternative author-date citation style . Examples of website citations in this style can be found here .
For blog posts and online articles from newspapers, the name of the publication is italicized. For a blog post, you should also add the word “blog” in parentheses, unless it’s already part of the blog’s name.
Chicago format | Author last name, First name. “Page Title.” (blog). Month Day, Year. URL. |
---|---|
McKenna, Jarrod. “Assisted Reproduction Science Could Be a Lifeline for Koalas.” . March 3, 2021. https://jmckenna.scienceblog.com/2021/03/03/assisted-reproduction-science-could-be-a-lifeline-for-koalas/. | |
1. Jarrod McKenna, “Assisted Reproduction Science Could Be a Lifeline for Koalas,” , March 3, 2021, https://jmckenna.scienceblog.com/2021/03/03/assisted-reproduction-science-could-be-a-lifeline-for-koalas/. 2. McKenna, “Assisted Reproduction.” |
When a web source doesn’t list an author , you can usually begin your bibliography entry and short note with the name of the organization responsible. Don’t repeat it later if it’s also the name of the website. A full note should begin with the title instead.
When no publication or revision date is shown, include an access date instead in your bibliography entry.
Chicago format | Organization Name. “Page Title.” Website Name. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL. |
---|---|
Scribbr. “Citing Sources in Academic Writing.” Accessed March 4, 2021. https://www.scribbr.com/category/citing-sources/. | |
1. “Citing Sources in Academic Writing,” Scribbr, accessed March 4, 2021, https://www.scribbr.com/category/citing-sources/. 2. Scribbr, “Citing Sources.” |
The main elements included in website citations across APA , MLA , and Chicago style are the author, the date of publication, the page title, the website name, and the URL. The information is presented differently in each style.
In APA , MLA , and Chicago style citations for sources that don’t list a specific author (e.g. many websites ), you can usually list the organization responsible for the source as the author.
If the organization is the same as the website or publisher, you shouldn’t repeat it twice in your reference:
If there’s no appropriate organization to list as author, you will usually have to begin the citation and reference entry with the title of the source instead.
When you want to cite a specific passage in a source without page numbers (e.g. an e-book or website ), all the main citation styles recommend using an alternate locator in your in-text citation . You might use a heading or chapter number, e.g. (Smith, 2016, ch. 1)
In APA Style , you can count the paragraph numbers in a text to identify a location by paragraph number. MLA and Chicago recommend that you only use paragraph numbers if they’re explicitly marked in the text.
For audiovisual sources (e.g. videos ), all styles recommend using a timestamp to show a specific point in the video when relevant.
Check if your university or course guidelines specify which citation style to use. If the choice is left up to you, consider which style is most commonly used in your field.
Other more specialized styles exist for certain fields, such as Bluebook and OSCOLA for law.
The most important thing is to choose one style and use it consistently throughout your text.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Caulfield, J. (2024, January 17). How to Cite a Website | MLA, APA & Chicago Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/citing-sources/cite-a-website/
Other students also liked, how to cite an image | photographs, figures, diagrams, how to cite a lecture | apa, mla & chicago examples, how to cite a youtube video | mla, apa & chicago, what is your plagiarism score.
Considering credibility, familiarity, and patience when citing research..
Posted June 12, 2024 | Reviewed by Davia Sills
I came across an interesting social media post recently in preparation for a professional skills development workshop that I was presenting. The post discussed how academics tend to “cite up” in terms of referencing older, more famous scholars relative to more junior researchers. I thought about this proposition in light of my own citation strategies and knowledge of bibliometrics and concluded that this statement is likely true, but probably not for any explicit bias against junior researchers, as some might posit.
First and foremost, we must consider the purpose of citing research—to represent a source of evidence and indicate that someone didn’t just make up what they’re saying. It’s been established in previous work, and we pay that research kudos to further our argument in context. References are also useful for “ cutting a long story short”—one can cite another’s work that can more fully explain a concept without having to reiterate the whole thing. When I use a reference in my arguments, given that I’m trying to convince the reader of my point, I want to use the most credible source(s) that I can find.
If Author A is at the apex of credible sources in the field, I’m going to cite them where appropriate. Indeed, if I was reviewing a relevant paper and didn’t see Author A cited, I might be concerned. Of course, one can include multiple citations, but perhaps the reason why more junior or early career researchers are not cited (relative to the Author As out there) is that other researchers may not be as familiar with the early career researchers”—Author Es’—research.
Maybe the citing researcher remembers the research but not the name of the author. Obviously, Author E’s work hasn’t seemed to “stick” yet, maybe because they’re yet to make a bigger impact in the field. Sure, that’s largely the citing researcher’s issue for not having better organized their reading and note-taking, but simply, it’s also an issue of accessibility. If a researcher can’t remember Author E’s name in this context, the credibility of Author A will more than suffice. “Citing up” is not a slight here; it’s just that Author E’s contribution might not be that impactful, accessible, or memorable to a more established researcher. Moreover, I must admit there might be a level of laziness here.
For example, the scenario above is context-dependent. If I can’t remember Author E, that’s fine; I have Author A to cite. However, if Author E is the only appropriate citation, the citing strategy will change. If I know a claim is fundamental to my rationale but I can’t remember where it came from, despite knowing I’ve seen solid evidence for it in the past, I will search for Author E’s paper until I find it (because I have to if there’s no Author A to rely on). This might take time and effort.
I can imagine that some researchers will be reading this and thinking, “Surely, others are reading the new literature and taking notes as they go along or maybe even writing the rationale as they engage the new literature.” Ideally, this should be the case; indeed, it’s a handy way of keeping up-to-date with the literature. However, this does not always happen.
I imagine more established researchers in a field are “familiar enough” with it to write a rationale without having to look up papers every few lines and, instead, are more likely to write what they know. Such is human nature. When they eventually get some free time, they might dedicate a few hours to reading recently published papers. I’m also aware that some researchers are better at this than others. Obviously, this is worrying in the realm of research—perhaps more worrying altogether than the issue of “citing-up.”
With that, what are the chances that a researcher has read every paper in their field? Slim-to-none. Given the exponential increase in the amount of information available to people in the past 25 years and, likewise, the increase in the amount of Ph.D. degrees awarded and research being conducted, being up-to-date with all work in a field just isn’t feasible.
So, maybe “lazy” is unfair in context. Maybe these researchers are indeed reading as much as they can, but because the amount that’s feasible is finite relative to the seemingly endless new research that’s coming out, they might be “pickier” in what they read; for example, prioritizing known and credible researchers in their field. So, there’s a good chance that when only Author A is cited regarding a particular finding, it’s quite possible that it’s because the citing researcher has never even heard of Author E’s paper, let alone read it.
“New” papers—regardless of when and by whom they’re read, need “sticking power,” and by that, I mean that the research is well-conducted: It is well-written, and interesting food for thought is provided. I compile and read new papers every month—maybe one per session has any sticking power—and that’s not because I’m some kind of research snob; rather, it’s the case that much of it failed some of the criteria above. With that, if the paper had well-conducted research, was well-written, and provided either something novel or some food for thought, then regardless of familiarity, this paper (and its author) would be on my radar for the future. So, just as much as older researchers may be set in their bibliographies or “lazy” referencing, it is most definitely up to younger researchers to publish impactful work.
I completely understand how this is frustrating for early career researchers. I was there once, too. Even though it’s been well over 10 years since I received my Ph.D., I still find myself trying to make the aforementioned impact necessary to be considered one of those “A” researchers in the field. Of course, I get annoyed when I see missed opportunities for other researchers to cite my work. But I’m realistic enough to recognize that maybe they have not come across my work, I have not made a large enough impact for it to be noticed, or the research they did cite was sufficient to make their point. I don’t take it personally, and neither should young researchers. Their time will come, but they must be patient.
Consider the research by Morris, Wooding, and Grant (2011), where it was suggested that it takes approximately 17 years on average for health research implementation from “bench to bedside.” That’s a long time for “research to be realized.” I know citations are different and should be more visible quicker in the land of research, but the same logic applies. Patience—and continued hard work (i.e., to advance one’s research acumen)—are necessary for citation success.
Again, I don’t think that “citing up” is consciously done to slight early career academics; researchers are not conspiring against their junior colleagues—at least, not in my field. If anything, they want to see them and their field flourish. Instead, I think it’s more likely that this issue boils down to an implicit bias (which we all face on a day-to-day basis) toward what we know as familiar, accessible, and credible.
Morris, Z. S., Wooding, S., & Grant, J. (2011). The answer is 17 years, what is the question: understanding time lags in translational research. Journal of the royal society of medicine , 104 (12), 510-520.
Christopher Dwyer, Ph.D., is a lecturer at the Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone, Ireland.
At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that could derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face triggers with less reactivity and get on with our lives.
This essay is about the four branches of government, highlighting the executive, legislative, judicial, and administrative branches. It explains the distinct roles and responsibilities of each branch in maintaining a balanced and effective governance system. The executive branch enforces laws and manages state operations, the legislative branch creates laws and controls budgets, and the judicial branch interprets laws and ensures constitutional compliance. The administrative branch, though often seen as part of the executive, handles the daily implementation of policies and public services. The essay underscores the importance of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances in preventing the abuse of power and ensuring good governance.
How it works
Within the complex realm of governance, a country’s organizational structure is essential to maintaining the balance of power and facilitating smooth operations. The idea of the three parts of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—is well known, but the administrative branch is also an important but sometimes disregarded part of the government. The entire foundation that supports democratic governance is created by these four branches working together.
Among all the branches, the executive is arguably the most visible. This branch, which is led by the president or prime minister, depending on the nation, is in charge of upholding the law, running the government on a daily basis, and representing the country abroad.
The executive branch has significant power because it frequently determines legislative priorities and sets the policy agenda. The executive branch guarantees that the laws established by the legislature are carried out efficiently through a cabinet of ministers or secretaries who are in charge of different departments and agencies.
The responsibility for enacting laws rests with the legislative branch, which is made up of elected officials. Since lawmakers are chosen by the general public to represent their interests and concerns during the legislative process, this branch exemplifies the democratic ideal of representation. Bicameral systems, which have two houses, like the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, are popular and intended to offer checks and balances on the legislative branch. In addition to creating and passing laws, the legislative branch also controls the purse, approving the spending plans and budgets that provide funding for government operations.
The judicial branch interprets the laws and ensures they are applied fairly and consistently. This branch includes a system of courts, with the highest court often being the supreme court. Judges and justices in the judicial branch are typically appointed rather than elected, providing them with the independence necessary to make impartial decisions. The judiciary serves as a critical check on the powers of the executive and legislative branches, ensuring that laws and executive actions comply with the constitution and protecting the rights of individuals against government overreach.
The administrative branch, while sometimes considered part of the executive, deserves distinct recognition due to its unique role in governance. This branch encompasses the various government agencies and civil services that manage the day-to-day administration of government policies and programs. Unlike elected officials, civil servants are career employees who provide continuity and expertise within the government. They ensure the implementation of policies and the delivery of public services, from education and healthcare to infrastructure and public safety. The administrative branch plays a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations, often working behind the scenes to support the broader objectives of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
Together, these four branches form a robust and balanced system of government. The separation of powers ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful, fostering accountability and transparency. Each branch has its distinct functions and responsibilities, yet they are interdependent, working together to achieve the common goal of good governance. For instance, while the legislature creates laws, the executive enforces them, the judiciary interprets them, and the administrative branch implements them on a practical level.
This intricate system of checks and balances is designed to prevent the abuse of power and protect the rights of citizens. It ensures that each branch can limit the powers of the others, promoting a dynamic equilibrium that adapts to changing societal needs. The executive can veto legislation, the legislature can override vetoes and impeach officials, the judiciary can strike down unconstitutional laws, and the administrative branch can offer expert advice and efficient implementation of policies.
Understanding the four branches of government provides valuable insights into the complexity and functionality of modern democratic systems. It highlights the importance of each branch in contributing to the overall health and stability of the nation. By appreciating the distinct roles and collaborative dynamics of these branches, citizens can better engage with their government, advocate for their rights, and participate in the democratic process. This comprehensive framework not only safeguards democracy but also ensures that the government remains responsive, accountable, and effective in serving the people.
Understanding the Four Branches of Government: An In-Depth Analysis. (2024, Jun 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-the-four-branches-of-government-an-in-depth-analysis/
"Understanding the Four Branches of Government: An In-Depth Analysis." PapersOwl.com , 28 Jun 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-the-four-branches-of-government-an-in-depth-analysis/
PapersOwl.com. (2024). Understanding the Four Branches of Government: An In-Depth Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-the-four-branches-of-government-an-in-depth-analysis/ [Accessed: 30 Jun. 2024]
"Understanding the Four Branches of Government: An In-Depth Analysis." PapersOwl.com, Jun 28, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-the-four-branches-of-government-an-in-depth-analysis/
"Understanding the Four Branches of Government: An In-Depth Analysis," PapersOwl.com , 28-Jun-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-the-four-branches-of-government-an-in-depth-analysis/. [Accessed: 30-Jun-2024]
PapersOwl.com. (2024). Understanding the Four Branches of Government: An In-Depth Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-the-four-branches-of-government-an-in-depth-analysis/ [Accessed: 30-Jun-2024]
Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.
Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!
Please check your inbox.
You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.
Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide
1. Tell Us Your Requirements
2. Pick your perfect writer
3. Get Your Paper and Pay
Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!
Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.
short deadlines
100% Plagiarism-Free
Certified writers
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, like, for example, (Jones, 1998). One complete reference for each source should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.
The point of an in-text citation is to show your reader where your information comes from. Including citations: Avoids plagiarism by acknowledging the original author's contribution. Allows readers to verify your claims and do follow-up research. Shows you are engaging with the literature of your field.
When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in Nature in 1921, you might write ...
A citation should be used when content that did not originate with you is used to support your writing. Content includes: words (quotations, phrases, sayings, etc.) thoughts or ideas (summarizations and paraphrases) audio or visual material (photos, videos, screencaptures, powerpoint slides, social media content, audio recordings, etc.)
Scribbr offers citation generators for both APA and MLA style. Both are quick, easy to use, and 100% free, with no ads and no registration required. Just input a URL or DOI or add the source details manually, and the generator will automatically produce an in-text citation and reference entry in the correct format.
At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays, research papers, and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises). Add a citation whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text ...
In-text citations point the reader to the sources' information on the references page. The in-text citation typically includes the author's last name and the year of publication. If you use a direct quote, the page number is also provided. More information can be found on p. 253 of the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American ...
Cite a source when: you copy information exactly from it; this includes primary sources, such as when you have interviewed someone or are referring to a work of art or image that you are referencing you paraphrase, summarize or use your own words to describe ideas from a work; you cite statistics, data or other numerical information that was compiled by someone other than yourself.
Create manual citation. The guidelines for citing an essay in MLA format are similar to those for citing a chapter in a book. Include the author of the essay, the title of the essay, the name of the collection if the essay belongs to one, the editor of the collection or other contributors, the publication information, and the page number (s).
The following are guidelines to follow when writing in-text citations: Ensure that the spelling of author names and the publication dates in reference list entries match those in the corresponding in-text citations. Cite only works that you have read and ideas that you have incorporated into your writing. The works you cite may provide key ...
When learning how to write an academic essay with references, you must identify reliable sources that support your argument. As you read, think critically and evaluate sources for: Accuracy. Objectivity. Currency. Authority. Keep detailed notes on the sources so that you can easily find them again, if needed.
Figure 8.1 in Chapter 8 of the Publication Manual provides an example of an appropriate level of citation. The number of sources you cite in your paper depends on the purpose of your work. For most papers, cite one or two of the most representative sources for each key point. Literature review papers typically include a more exhaustive list of ...
When to cite sources. While professors and scholars may have specific requirements based on the needs of their discipline, there are cases where you should always cite your sources. 1. Direct quotes of more than one word. If the author's words are powerful or you need to be specific for your argument, the authors' words can be used as a ...
When to Cite a Source. You should use evidence ( citations) any time you make a claim that is not based on a well-known fact or common knowledge. Here's a list of situations when your teacher would expect a citation: You make a specific claim that could be challenged--like London is the foggiest city in the world. You quote somebody.
In-text citations. Using references in text. For APA, you use the authors' surnames only and the year in text. If you are using a direct quote, you will also need to use a page number. Narrative citations: If an in-text citation has the authors' names as part of the sentence (that is, outside of brackets) place the year and page numbers in ...
When citing sources in the text of your paper, you must list: The author's last name. The year the information was published. Types of In-Text Citations: Narrative vs Parenthetical. A narrative citation gives the author's name as part of the sentence. Example of a Narrative Citation: According to Edwards (2017), although Smith and Carlos's ...
Cite when you are directly quoting. This is the easiest rule to understand. If you are stating word-for-word what someone else has already written, you must put quotes around those words and you must give credit to the original author. Not doing so would mean that you are letting your reader believe these words are your own and represent your ...
These citations within the essay are called in-text citations. You must cite all quoted, paraphrased, or summarized words, ideas, and facts from sources. Without in-text citations, you are in danger of plagiarism, even if you have listed your sources at the end of the essay. In-text citations point the reader to the sources' information in ...
To cite an essay using MLA format, include the name of the author and the page number of the source you're citing in the in-text citation. For example, if you're referencing page 123 from a book by John Smith, you would include "(Smith 123)" at the end of the sentence. Alternatively, include the information as part of the sentence, such ...
Err on the side of caution: when in doubt, cite! All you need to know about citing sources. The online guide Citing Your Sources provides information on citation, style guides, citation tools, and more. Get Help from Libraries and Writing Centers. Libraries. Ask a Question (UC Libraries form)
So when do you cite what you are writing? You DO need to cite: You DO NOT need to cite: When you're quoting from, paraphrasing, or summarizing another author's work.; If you are using an image, chart, or diagram created by someone else.; If you are using a generative AI program to create content for a project.
FAQs about writing an essay in MLA format 1. How to cite an image in MLA? To cite an image in MLA style, you need to format the citation based on where the image was viewed. For online images, the citation should follow this structure: MLA format: Creator's last name, First name. "Image Title" or Description of the image.
Citing a website in MLA Style. An MLA Works Cited entry for a webpage lists the author's name, the title of the page (in quotation marks), the name of the site (in italics), the date of publication, and the URL. The in-text citation usually just lists the author's name. For a long page, you may specify a (shortened) section heading to ...
Maybe the citing researcher remembers the research but not the name of the author. Obviously, Author E's work hasn't seemed to "stick" yet, maybe because they're yet to make a bigger ...
In this essay, I explore how cognitive bias, rather than racial or ethnic bias, may inhibit the ability of school psychologists to advance social justice through research and practice. I begin with the argument that tests advance the cause of social justice because they define problems (i.e., disparities among groups) in objective, measurable ...
Essay Example: Within the complex realm of governance, a country's organizational structure is essential to maintaining the balance of power and facilitating smooth operations. The idea of the three parts of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—is well known, but the administrative ... Cite this. Summary. This essay is about the ...