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Citation Help for APA, 7th Edition: Webpages & Websites

Help with common issues and questions with APA 7th edition

Variation - Group Author?

Example

American Psychological Association. (2019). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Explanation

Group authors include the name of a study group, government agency, association, corporation, task force, hospital, organization, etc. Put the name of the group author in the author position followed by a period. Do not include an abbreviation for the group author within the reference. Abbreviations should only be introduced and used within the body of the paper.

Parenthetical Citation

(American Psychological Association, 2019)

Narrative Citation

American Psychological Association (2019) ....

More information

For more information about group authors, see Section 9.11 on pages 288-289 of the APA Manual, 7th edition.

Variations - Live Hyperlinks?

Should my URLs be live?

It depends. When adding URLs to a paper or other work, first, be sure to include the full hyperlink. This includes the http:// or the https://. Additionally, consider where and how the paper or work will be published or read. If the work will only be read in print or as a Word doc or Google Doc, then the URLs should not be live (i.e., they are not blue or underlined). However, if the work will be published or read online, then APA advises to include live URLs. This would allow the reader to click on a link and go to the source. 
 

More Information

For more information, see Section 9.35 on pages 299-300 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE: Check your instructor's preference about using live URLs. Some instructors may not want you to use live URLs. 

Variations - URLs?

Long, Complicated URL?

 

Some URLs may be long and complicated. APA 7th edition allows the use of shorter URLs. Shortened URLs can be created using any URL shortener service; however, if you choose to shorten the URL, you must double-check that the URL is functioning and brings the reader to the correct website. 

Common URL Shortner websites include:

More Information

For more information about URLs, see Section 9.36 on page 300 of APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE: Check your instructor's preference about using short URLs. Some instructors may want the full URL. 

Website

Example

 

The CSS Library website (http://libguides.css.edu/CSSLibrary) provides services and resources for all faculty, staff, and students who are currently affiliated with the institution.

 

Explanation

 

When referring to an entire website in general and not citing specific content on the website, such as a particular document, it is sufficient to name the website in text and include the URL in parentheses.  Only include this information within the body of the paper and do not include a reference in the reference list.


More Information:

For more information about webpages and websites, see Section 10.16 on page 350 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 
 

Webpage on a Website with a Group Author

Example

 

Minnesota Department of Health. (n.d.). Workplace wellness: Making good health a priority at

work. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/workwellness/index.html

 

Explanation

 

Author: Minnesota Department of Health. 

Begin the reference with the author of the webpage. For a personal name, list the last name of the author, followed by the first and middle initial (if there is one provided). For group authors or companies, list the group author or company name. Do not abbreviate group authors or the company name in the reference list. Add a period after the author.  

 

Date: (n.d.).

Next, add the date. If there is no identifiable date, then use the abbreviation for no date, which is "n.d.". Add a period after each letter and do not add a space between the letters. Put the date in parentheses. Then, add a period after the parentheses. NOTE: The date should be the date the webpage was created or the date the webpage was last updated.

 

Title & Subtitle of the Webpage: Workplace wellness: Making good health a priority at work. 

Next, add the title of the webpage. Follow the general capitalization rule by capitalizing the first word of the title and subtitle as well as any proper nouns. Italicize the title and add a period after the title.  

 

Source Information: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/workwellness/index.html​

Complete the reference by adding the web address (URL) where the webpage can be found. Remove the hyperlink. Do not add a period after the URL. NOTE: In APA 7th edition, most webpages will identify the website where the webpage was found; however, when the author and the website are the same, skip the website name. Instead, just add the URL. Additionally, check the instructor's preference about live hyperlinks. In general, if the assignment is an online resource (e.g., Brightspace discussion, webpage, etc.), then keep live hyperlinks. If the assignment is a paper, then remove the hyperlinks.

 

More Information:

For more information about websites and webpages, see Section 10.16 on pages 350-352 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

 

Parenthetical & Narrative Citation Examples

 

Parenthetical Citations:

(Minnesota Department of Health, n.d.)

Narrative Citation:

The Minnesota Department of Health (n.d.) provided suggestions ...

 

More Information:

For more information about author format in parenthetical and narrative citations, see Section 8.17 and Table 8.1 on page 266 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

 

Webpage on a Website with an Individual Author

Example

 

Hamman, J. (2019, November 21). What teachers should know about dysgraphia. Edutopia. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/what-teachers-should-know-about-dysgraphia

Explanation

 

Author: Hamman, J. 

Begin the reference with the author of the webpage. For a personal name, list the last name of the author, followed by the first and middle initial (if there is one provided). For group authors or companies, list the group author or company name. Do not abbreviate group authors or the company name in the reference list. Add a period after the author.  

 

Date: (2019, November 21).

Next, add the date. If the date includes a month and day, begin the date with the year followed by a comma. Then, add the month and the day. Fully spell out the month. Do not abbreviate. Put the date in parentheses. Then, add a period after the parentheses. NOTE: The date should be the date the webpage was created or the date the webpage was last updated.

 

Title & Subtitle of the Webpage: What teachers should know about dysgraphia

Next, add the title of the webpage. Follow the general capitalization rule by capitalizing the first word of the title and subtitle as well as any proper nouns. Italicize the title. Add a period after the title.  

 

Source Information: Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/what-teachers-should-know-about-dysgraphia

Complete the reference by identifying the website where the webpage was found. Add a period after the website name. Then, add the web address (URL) where the webpage can be found. Remove the hyperlink. Do not add a period after the URL. NOTE: check the instructor's preference about live hyperlinks. In general, if the assignment is an online resource (e.g., Brightspace discussion, webpage, etc.), then keep live hyperlinks. If the assignment is a paper, then remove the hyperlinks.

 

More Information:

For more information about websites and webpages, see Section 10.16 on pages 350-352 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

 

Parenthetical & Narrative Citation Examples

 

Parenthetical Citation:

(Hamman, 2019)

Narrative Citation:

Hamman (2019) shared ...

 

More Information:

For more information about author format in parenthetical and narrative citations, see Section 8.17 and Table 8.1 on page 266 of the APA Manual, 7th edition.