To reference a webpage, you must first determine who it belongs to. For example, if the webpage is from an author named James, the source element should be the last name and first or middle initial of James. If it is from a group of people, you should write the group’s name. For a website, the name of the company or group should be used instead. Then, add a period after the author’s name.
Source element
If you want to properly reference a website article, you should first know the APA style for citing website articles. You should not use the same citation style for both the website and author. For instance, if the author is the same as the site’s name, you should use the author’s last name instead of a first name. The author of the website should also be listed in the reference list.
APA style dictates that you use the title of the website when citing it. It’s not uncommon to encounter websites without an author, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use this citation style. Use the website’s name when possible to avoid confusion with your citation. Also, it’s best to include the date if you’re using the website as the source for your paper.
Section heading
If you have a website article that you used in your writing, you must mention its source in the document. The APA 7th edition manual specifies the proper format for referencing electronic sources. You must include the title and URL of the website in the body of your paper. If the source article does not have an author, you can also include the website’s title, as long as it is reputable.
The DOI, or Digital Object Identifier, is a unique number that can only be obtained for the citation of an online source. The DOI is the preferred format for citing web articles because URLs can change. Instead of using a URL, APA recommends giving the Digital Object Identifier (DOI), which is an alphanumeric code. Most publishers provide a DOI on the first page of their documents.
Paragraph number
How to reference a website article in the body of your paper depends on the citation style you use for the source. If you cite a webpage that contains an article, make sure you use the authors’ last name and first initial in the reference list. Then, list the article number and the name of the website in the body of the paper. You don’t have to use page numbers if the source has more than one author.
Most websites do not list the author or the date, but you can use an organization instead. You can list the organization’s name after the title of the web page and make sure it is not italicized. For the date, include the year, month, and day the article was published. If the website is under copyright, use the word “n.d.” Instead. It will make the paper appear more professional and credible.
Author(s) name
APA style has some differences from APA 6 and vice versa, but most people will follow these rules in most cases. APA 7 format requires the title of the website first, and you can also cite the website article itself without identifying the author. However, it is recommended to cite a reliable website, such as a government entity, a university, or other reputable organization.
When citing a website article, it is important to use the URL in your APA reference list. However, a URL can change, making it difficult to keep track of the original content. To avoid this issue, APA recommends using a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for each website article. This long alphanumeric code can be found on the first page of a document, and many publishers provide it on the first page of the document.
Using a digital object identifier (DOI)
A DOI is an alphanumeric string that provides a persistent link to an online document. When a website article is published electronically, the publisher assigns the DOI to the article. The DOI is unique for each piece of content, but not all publishers participate. Because it is unique, DOI numbers start with 10 and include a prefix and suffix, making it flexible and consistent with publisher identification standards.
A DOI is assigned to digital works by the International DOI Foundation, a not-for-profit membership organization. Like an ISBN number for a print book, the DOI enables readers to find cited documents quickly and easily. It serves as an article’s “social security number.” Because the DOI is unique, it never changes, but the website address may. If the DOI is assigned to a website article, it will appear with the article, usually on the first page, below the title. It may also appear in the footer or header of the article.