How Do You Cite A Website In An APA Style Research Paper?

It is important that you properly cite different types of information that you input into any paper that you write. If you don’t do this correctly, you may be accused of plagiarism by your professor which is a very serious offense. This type of accusation can result in a failing grade if the professor believes that you did this intentionally as well as a reputation as a cheater that can follow you throughout your collegiate career. Sometimes it is even advisable to purchase a software package that can properly complete these citations for you so you can confidently hand in your paper knowing everyone has received the credit they deserve.

The APA style doesn’t give specific formats for websites but they do give guidance for citing information derived from different types of places to get information such as online books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias or journals. Here are the basics about how to cite a website in the APA style for any type of research paper:

• If you are citing an online book you can use the following format: Authors (last name, first name) followed by period then the publication year in parenthesis followed by a period. Then the title of the work followed by a period and then where the website the information was retrieved from.


• If you are citing from an online magazine you can use the following format: Authors (last name, first name) followed by a period then the year and month of publication in parenthesis followed by a period. Then indicate the Article title followed by a period then the Magazine Title and Volume in italics separated by comma followed by the Issue in parenthesis followed by a comma. Lastly, you would put the website where the information was found.


• Online newspapers can be cited using the following format: Begin with the Authors (last name, first name) followed by a period. Then in parenthesis put the year and date of publication followed by a period. Next indicate the Article title followed by a period then the Newspaper Title in italics followed by a period. Lastly indicate the URL of the newspaper homepage.


• Online journals can be cited basically the same way with this format: Begin with the Author (Last name, first name) followed by a period. Then the publication year in parenthesis followed by a period. Then the Article title with a period followed by the Periodical Title and volume separated by comma in italics with the Issue in parenthesis after that then a comma. After that you indicate the page numbers and then the URL of the journal that you received the information from.