How to Write a Bibliography Entry for an Online Encyclopedia Source
Encyclopedias have their own specific format for bibliography entries, just as books and periodicals do. Correctly citing an online encyclopedia article is particularly important because online sources are not static like printed encyclopedias; the information they contain may change over time. An accurate bibliography entry for an online encyclopedia article helps your teacher and anyone else reading your paper to track down the specific source you used more easily, even if that means finding an earlier (archived) version.
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Instructions
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Cite an online encyclopedia article in MLA style using the following format:
"Article Title." Name of Encyclopedia. Publisher of Encyclopedia, Year of Publication. Web. Date Accessed (Day Abbreviated Month Year).
Italicize the name of the encyclopedia.
For example:
"Einstein, Albert." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1999. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
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Cite an online encyclopedia article in Chicago style using the following format:
Name of Encyclopedia, s.v. "Title of Article," URL of Article (accessed Month Day, Year).
Italicize the name of the encyclopedia.
For example:
Encyclopedia Britannica Online, s.v. "Einstein, Albert," http://www.eb.com (accessed February 10, 2010).
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Cite an online encyclopedia article in APA style using the following format:
Article Title. (Year of Publication). In Name of Encyclopedia. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL of Article.
Italicize the name of the encyclopedia.
For example:
Einstein, Albert. (1999). In Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved February 10, 2010, from http://www.eb.com.
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Tips & Warnings
The abbreviation "s.v." (used in Chicago style citations) stands for the Latin "sub verbo," which means "under the word." It's used for sources that don't have an identified author, like an encyclopedia.
References
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