Citing: Websites, Web pages, Files, Articles
Considerations
The final part of our chapter scenario asks you to create a bibliography of the websites and online documents that you have found. Citing (including the meaning of “annotated bibliography”) is covered more fully in a later chapter, but for the purposes of this scenario, there are some things to consider:
- Some online academic search tools (such as PubMed) will provide you with citation guidance for resources.
- Websites and web pages are different. Unsure what you are citing? Ask a librarian, or a writing tutor!
- Always check with your professor to confirm what they expect. Some may have customized requirements, and you will need to make sure you create citations that meet those expectations.
- Use online citation generators (such as EasyBib or Citation Machine) cautiously. They can be great timesavers, but they can also create headaches! Make sure you have an authoritative resource to double-check any citation that is created for you, such as Excelsior Owl or your library’s own resources.
Example
Let’s try to cite the following web page together: https://ceo.lacounty.gov/antiracism/
The format for a web page in MLA:
Author’s Last name, First name. “Name of Web Page.” Name of Website, date of publication, website address.
MLA citation for our web page:
“Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative.” Chief Executive Office of Los Angeles County, 2020, ceo.lacounty.gov/antiracism/.