How to Cite a Website in APA 7th Edition: A Comprehensive Guide

In this article, we provide a comprehensive guide on how to cite a website in APA 7th edition. We also share common mistakes to avoid, examples of website citations, and answers to frequently asked questions. Proper citation is important for accuracy and credibility, especially in academic writing.

I. Introduction

Proper citation is essential in academic writing. Citations not only lend credibility to your work but also give credit to the sources you have used. The APA (American Psychological Association) Style is widely used in social science disciplines for citing sources. The APA 7th edition provides updated guidelines for citing sources, including websites. In this article, we walk you through the step-by-step process of citing a website in APA 7th edition, share common mistakes to avoid, and provide examples of website citations.

II. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Cite a Website in APA 7th Edition

When citing a website in APA 7th edition, follow these guidelines:

Start with the author’s name. If the webpage does not list an author, skip this step.
Follow with the date of publication (if available). If the webpage does not list a date, use “n.d.” to indicate no date.
Include the title of the webpage or website in sentence case, which means only the first word in the title and any proper nouns are capitalized.
Indicate the name of the website in italics, if different from the webpage title.
Provide the URL of the webpage. Avoid using shortened URLs.
Conclude with the date you accessed the webpage, in the format of Month Day, Year.

Here is an example of a citation for a webpage with an author:

Smith, J. (2021). How to Cite a Website in APA 7th Edition. Citation Guide. Retrieved from https://www.citationguide.com/how-to-cite-a-website-apa-7th-edition/ on July 1, 2021.

III. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when citing a website in APA 7th edition:

Neglecting to include all required information
Comma, period, and capitalization errors
Formatting issues, such as incorrect use of italics or quotation marks

IV. Comparison of Guidelines: APA 6th vs APA 7th Editions

The APA 7th edition includes some updated guidelines and removes or adjusts some elements from the previous edition. Here are some notable differences:

The names of up to 20 authors can be listed in an in-text citation (in APA 6th edition, only the first six authors were listed).
The use of “et al.” in in-text citations now applies to references with three or more authors, rather than six or more.
The DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is now preferred over the URL for electronic sources (when available).
Italics are now used for website and webpage titles, rather than quotation marks.

V. Examples of Website Citations

Here are some examples of website citations in APA 7th edition:

Online Article (Single Author):

Johnson, A. (2020). The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/202002/the-impact-social-media-mental-health on July 1, 2021.

Online Article (Multiple Authors):

Lee, J., Park, J., & Kim, S. (2019). The Effects of Positive Emotions on Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis. Psychology of Well-Being. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13612-019-0067-6 on July 1, 2021.

Blog Post:

Jones, K. (2021, June 15). 10 Tips for Writing Engaging Blog Posts. The Write Life. Retrieved from https://thewritelife.com/how-to-write-engaging-blog-posts/ on July 1, 2021.

Website with No Author:

CDC. (2021). COVID-19 Vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html on July 1, 2021.

Screenshot of Examples:

Screenshot of examples of website citations in APA 7th edition

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

What if the author is unknown?

If the website does not provide an author’s name, begin the citation with the title of the webpage or article in sentence case.

What if there is no date of publication?

If the website does not list a date of publication, use “n.d.” to indicate no date.

What if I need to cite multiple pages from a single website?

If you are citing multiple pages from a single website, include the URL of the homepage of the website, as well as the specific URLs of the pages you are citing.

What if I am citing a website that is part of a database?

If the article or webpage you are citing is part of a database, include the name of the database and the DOI or URL.

What if I am citing an entire website?

If you are citing an entire website, you can include the URL of the website in the text or as a reference.

Why is correct citation important?

Correct citation ensures accuracy and credibility in academic writing. It also gives credit to the sources you have used and avoids plagiarism.

VII. Conclusion

In conclusion, citing websites in APA 7th edition follows a simple set of guidelines. It is important to avoid common mistakes, such as neglecting to include all required information, as accuracy is crucial in academic writing. Furthermore, learning to cite websites using APA 7th edition is beneficial, as it ensures credibility and accuracy of your work. By following the guide outlined in this article, you can correctly cite any website you are using as a source.