How to Cite Websites in a Parenthetical Citation

Correctly citing websites is an important component to internet research.

Websites are an increasingly popular research source due to the availability of information online. Similar to print sources, websites must be cited properly within the paper. Usually, research papers include two methods of citation: parenthetical citations and a Works Cited page. Parenthetical citations are in-text citations which provide signal phrases to let readers know which source on the Works Cited page includes the cited information. Parenthetical citations of websites will differ slightly depending upon the specific citation format.

Instructions

1. According to the Modern Language Association (MLA), the author's last name should go inside the parenthesis followed by the page number of the quoted or paraphrased material. If no author is given, include part of the website title. Many websites lack pagination; so page numbers may be omitted. When page numbers are unavailable, it might be necessary to include the paragraph (par.) number instead.

   Sherman notes that the "immediate, interactive, and on-the-spot" nature of Internet information can make nondigital media seem outdated (par. 32).

2. The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends citing a website the same as a print source. Include the author's last name and the year of publication. Only the year of publication is inside the parenthesis. If the author is not given, include a shortened version of the website title. If the year is unknown, include n.d. (for "no date"). Similar to MLA style, if page numbers are unavailable, including paragraph (para.) numbers is an option.

   Jacobs and Johnson (2007) have argued that "the South African media is still highly concentrated and not very diverse in terms of race and class" (para. 3).

3. Associated Press (AP) Style cites websites in-text by using the name of the website. Parentheses are not used; rather, the name of the website is integrated directly into the sentence. Page and/or paragraph numbers are not used in AP Style.

   MySpace boasts that the site includes "all your favorite music, movies, celebs, and TV."

References

• "The Everyday Writer": Andrea Lunsford; 2009
• "The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law": Darrell Christian; 2009