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Build a Citation: Web Sites

Use the format templates below to build a correct citation.

Intro

Most of the web is made up of freely accessible sites. These are sites that you normally come across when using a search engine like Yahoo, Excite, Google, etc. Many are commercial and organizational sites. Most do not require registration, membership, licensing, or passwords for basic access. (Some do provide special services to members.) Personal web pages are also abundant. Some examples include

American Cancer Society
Milwaukee Brewers
Ford Motor Company
Somebody's personal homepage

MLA Works Cited Format

(See additional examples at the MLA site under Frequently Asked Questions.)

Formula:

1. author's name (the author may be an organization)
2. title of the page or document used
3. title of the overall site
4. date when the material was last updated or was posted
5. name of any organization that sponsors the site, if not already listed
6. date when you accessed the information
7. URL, or web address, for the specific page that you used

It would look like this:

    Lastname, Firstname."Page Title." Title of Overall Site. Date updated
          or posted. Organizational sponsor. Date accessed <http://
          address.for.specific.page>.

In the examples that follow, notice that when a web address (URL) does not fit on a line, the appropriate place to break the address is at a slash mark (/).

Examples:

    Burt, Martha R., et al. "Homelessness: Programs and the People They 
          Serve." The Urban Institute. 7 Dec 1999. 17 June 2000 http://
          www.urban.org/housing/homeless/ homeless.html>.

    "FDA's Pediatric Rule Challenged." Consumer Alert. 2 Dec.1999. 17  
          June 2000 <http://www.consumeralert.org/press/pedpr.html>.

    Harley-Davidson Motor Company. "Harley-Davidson History."  Harley-
          Davidson Motor Company. 17 June 2000 <http://
          www.harley-davidson.com/company/history/history.asp>.

    Wisconsin Department of Tourism. "Lighthouse tours." Wisconsin: Stay
          Just a Little Bit Longer.  17 June 2000 <http://tourism.state.wi.us/
          activities/light.html>.

    Zwick, Jim. "Mark Twain First Editions: A Good Investment?"  About: The
          Human Internet. 17 June 2000 <http://marktwain.about.com/arts/
          marktwain/library/weekly/aa990309.htm>.

APA References Format

APA Style Guide to Electronic References

Note: The information below relates to the most common type of reference used for material from web sites. For complete information on the appropriate format for distinct types of material, please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition, 2001. In Raynor Library, a copy is available at the information desk using the call number BF 76.7 .P83.

Formula:

1. author's name (the author may be an organization)
2. date when the material was created or last updated,
or year that a report was published
3. title of the page or document used
4. date when you accessed the information
5. name of the provider or host organization, if markedly
different from the author
6. URL, or web address, for the specific page that you used

It would look like this

With the organization's name:

    Lastname, Firstinitial. (year, month date). Page title. Retrieved  
          month date, year, from Organization Name Web site: http://
          address.for.specific.page

Without the organization's name:

    Lastname, Firstinitial. (year, month date). Page title. Retrieved  
          month date, year, from http://address.for.specific.page

Examples:

Notice that when a web address (URL) does not fit on a line, the appropriate place to break the address is at a slash mark (/).

    Burt, M.R. (1999, December 7). Homelessness: Programs and the
          people they serve. Retrieved June 17, 2000, from the Urban
          Institute Web site: http://www.urban.org/housing/homeless/
          homeless.html

    FDA's pediatric rule challenged. (1999, December 2). Retrieved 
          June 17, 2000, from Consumer Alert Web site: http://
          www.consumeralert.org/press/pedpr.html

    Harley-Davidson Motor Company. (n.d.). Harley-Davidson history. 
          Retrieved June 17, 2000, from http://www.harley-davidson.com/
          company/history/history.asp

    Wisconsin Department of Tourism. (n.d.). Lighthouse tours. Retrieved 
          June 17, 2000, from http://tourism.state.wi.us/activities/light.html

    Zwick, J. (n.d.). Mark Twain first editions: A good investment? 
          Retrieved June 17, 2000, from About Web site: http://
          marktwain.about.com/arts/marktwain/library/weekly/aa990309.htm

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