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Formatting a Webpage Reference (APA 7)

Graysen
Updated

Webpages appear in research more often now, but not all online content is a webpage. In APA 7, the webpage reference type fits content that was originally published as a page on a website. If the content is a journal article that appears online, it remains a journal article.

Let's talk about how you can cite a true webpage.

 

What This Article Covers

  • The main parts of a webpage reference
  • When to add a retrieval date
  • How to handle missing authors
  • A complete sample entry

 

The Standard Pattern

The webpage reference type – like other APA 7 references – includes four parts: an author part, the date part, the title part, and the source part. Each part of the reference is separated by a period but has its own individual styling & punctuation as well.

When formatting a webpage – it will almost be a cross-over between the Book & Journal Article reference types.

Here's how the four parts are organized for a standard Website reference:

Author part. (Date part). Title part. Source part.

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of webpage in sentence case and italics. Website Name. URL

  1. Author Part
    Invert the name of the author(s) and use initials. If a screen name is provided, place it in brackets after the inverted name, but only include a "@" if it is included on the page. If there isn't a personal author, you can usually use an organization as the author instead.
  2. Date Part
    Include the full date if available: (2022, July 12). Use (n.d.) if no date is shown.
  3. Title Part
    Italicize the title of the web page and use sentence case. End with a period.
    FYI: The title of the web page may be different from the name of the website.
  4. Source Part

    Website name
    Provide the name of the website or organization. Not italicized. End with a period. If the Website name is the same as the author, only list it in the Author part.

    URL
    Present an active link. Do not add a period at the end.

FYI: Add a retrieval date when content changes frequently (for example, wikis). If you include a retrieval date, format it with the URL in the following pattern: "Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL."

 

Final Example

Author, F. M., Author, F. M., & Author, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Web page title in sentence case. Website Name. https://www.perrla.com

Lin, J. Y. (2022, July 12). Exploring cryptid migration patterns. National Institute for Cryptozoological Studies. https://www.nics.org/articles/cryptid-migration

Tip: Don't forget to use a hanging indent on your references pages (unlike the above).

 

Quick Checklist

▢ Author name is inverted, or organization as author
▢ Full date when available, or (n.d.)
▢ Webpage title italicized in sentence case
▢ Website name present, not italicized
▢ URL active, no period at end
▢ Retrieval date added only when content changes often

 

With PERRLA

PERRLA can create a webpage reference from a pasted URL in seconds! PERRLA collects the web page details, formats it all for you, and puts it on the References page with correct italics and spacing.

 

Download PERRLA's APA 7 Checklist

It's a lot to remember all the rules, and if you aren't letting PERRLA do the formatting for you, use our brief checklist for your next APA 7 paper. Get your copy now.

 

Next Article: Why and What to Cite

 

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Note for instructors & students: This article follows APA 7 student paper conventions.

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