Cite Right! ? Your Guide to Online Article Citations

Citing Online Articles: A Comprehensive Guide ?

In today's digital age, online articles are a primary source of information. Knowing how to cite online article correctly is crucial for academic integrity and giving credit where it's due. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of citing online articles in various styles.

Why is Knowing How to Cite Online Article Important?

Proper citation does more than just avoid plagiarism. It allows readers to:

  • Verify your sources: They can easily find and check the information you used.
  • Understand the context: Citations provide valuable background information about the sources.
  • Give credit: Acknowledging the authors and publishers of the original work is essential.
  • Strengthen your credibility: Accurate citations demonstrate thorough research.

How to Cite Online Article: Understanding the Basics

Before diving into specific citation styles, let's cover some fundamental elements:

  • Author: The person or organization that wrote the article.
  • Title: The title of the specific article.
  • Publication/Website: The name of the website or journal where the article appears.
  • Date: The date the article was published or last updated.
  • URL: The web address where the article can be found.
  • Access Date (Optional): The date you accessed the article. This is often required for online sources, as content can change.

How to Cite Online Article: Mastering Different Citation Styles

Different academic disciplines often favor specific citation styles. Here are some of the most common:

1. MLA (Modern Language Association)

MLA is commonly used in humanities disciplines. Here's how to cite an online article in MLA:

Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." Website Name, Date Published, URL. Accessed Date.

Example:

Smith, Jane. "The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers." Psychology Today, 15 Jan. 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-teen-brain/202301/the-impact-of-social-media-teenagers. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.

Key Points for How to Cite Online Article in MLA:

  • Italicize the Website Name.
  • Use "Accessed" before the access date.
  • Include a period after the URL.

2. APA (American Psychological Association)

APA style is widely used in social sciences, psychology, and education.

Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Article title. Website Name. URL

Example:

Smith, J. (2023, January 15). The impact of social media on teenagers. Psychology Today. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-teen-brain/202301/the-impact-of-social-media-teenagers

Key Points for How to Cite Online Article in APA:

  • Only the first word of the article title is capitalized, except for proper nouns.
  • Italicize the Website Name.
  • The year comes first in the date.

3. Chicago/Turabian

Chicago and Turabian styles are often used in history and some humanities disciplines. There are two main versions: Notes and Bibliography, and Author-Date.

Notes and Bibliography:

  1. Jane Smith, "The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers," Psychology Today, January 15, 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-teen-brain/202301/the-impact-of-social-media-teenagers.

Author-Date:

Smith, Jane. 2023. "The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers." Psychology Today, January 15, 2023. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-teen-brain/202301/the-impact-of-social-media-teenagers.

Key Points for How to Cite Online Article in Chicago/Turabian:

  • Full footnote style includes the author's full name.
  • Bibliography entries are similar to footnotes but with the author's last name first.
  • Author-Date style uses in-text citations (Smith, 2023).

How to Cite Online Article: Dealing with Missing Information

Sometimes, you might encounter an online article that lacks certain information. Here's how to handle it:

  • No Author: Use the website or organization name as the author.
  • No Date: Use "n.d." (no date) in place of the date.
  • No Page Numbers: For direct quotes, try to use paragraph numbers or section headings if available. If not, omit the page number.

Tools and Resources for How to Cite Online Article

Several online tools can help you generate citations automatically:

  • Citation Machine: Generates citations in various styles.
  • EasyBib: A popular citation generator with a user-friendly interface.
  • Zotero: A powerful research management tool that can automatically generate citations and bibliographies.

Tip: Always double-check the citations generated by these tools to ensure accuracy.

How to Cite Online Article: Staying Updated

Citation styles can change over time. It's important to:

  • Consult the official style guides for the most up-to-date information.
  • Pay attention to any specific guidelines provided by your instructor or publisher.

Q&A: Common Questions About Citing Online Articles

Q: Do I always need to include the access date?

A: While not always required, it's a good practice to include the access date, especially for online sources, as content can change. Some styles, like MLA, specifically require it.

Q: What if an online article is behind a paywall?

A: Cite it as you normally would, including the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available.

Q: How do I cite a blog post?

A: Treat it similarly to an online article. Include the author, title of the post, blog name, date, and URL.

Q: What is a DOI and how do I use it?

A: A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to a digital object, such as a journal article. If available, include the DOI in your citation instead of the URL for greater stability.

Q: Are there differences in citing a journal article found online versus one found in print?

A: Yes. When citing a journal article found online, include the URL or DOI. For print articles, you would typically include the page numbers and journal volume/issue information.

Conclusion

Mastering how to cite online article is a vital skill for students, researchers, and anyone who uses online sources in their work. By understanding the different citation styles and following the guidelines outlined in this guide, you can ensure your work is accurate, credible, and free from plagiarism.

Keywords: how to cite online article, citation styles, MLA citation, APA citation, Chicago citation, online sources, research, academic writing, plagiarism, citation generator Summary: This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to cite online articles in various citation styles, including MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian, addressing common questions and providing helpful resources.