You will always need to cite your sources, and more particularly when it comes to sources that come from the internet, this is required by all the different universities around the world. Knowing the right methodology is essential.
Whether you are researching articles, the press, or writing a dissertation or your final year thesis, using content produced by a third party always requires taking certain measures. The goal is to avoid any plagiarism, because this is now a crime.
There are several reference styles, but the three main ones that you need to know and that you can adapt according to your academic world are:
MLA (Modern Language Association) / APA (American Psychological Association) / Chicago.
Each of these three formats follows its own specific rules. And it is essential for you to master them when you are about to cite a site or a source. Moreover, the accuracy of your bibliography depends on it.
Here we will give you the keys to success in this field, moreover it is a method that we create for you, with a single goal, that of promoting your academic success, and of avoiding the most common mistakes.
Citing a website in MLA
This MLA style is useful of course, but not in any field, because it is indeed the humanities that seize it, in other words, do not use it all the time!
This format is not more difficult to master than any other, and it must as always use the name of the author, the title of the web page if applicable, the name of the site on which you are evolving, and obviously the dates as well as a URL which must be available.
Example of citation in MLA:
Dupont, Jean. "The secrets of the French Revolution." History and Heritage, August 15, 2021, www.histoirepatrimoine.fr/secrets-revolution-francaise.
Details:
• Author: If the author is available, he is mentioned first. If no author is indicated, the citation begins with the title of the page.
• Page title: The title is placed in quotation marks.
• Site name: It is mentioned in italics.
• Date: Indicate the date of publication or update of the article. If it is not available, indicate "n.d." (without date).
• URL: Never end with a period after the URL, to avoid the latter being part of the link.
Common mistakes to avoid in MLA:
• Omitting the author when he is available.
• Putting the title of the site in italics instead of leaving it in quotation marks.
• Neglecting to mention the date of publication or update.
Citing a website in APA
APA style is the most widespread, it is the one that each university imposes first of all, more in particular it comes from the social sciences and philosophy. It allows to emphasize the precision of dates, and a more explicit mention of the authors.
Example of citation in APA:
Dupont, J. (2021, August 15). The secrets of the French Revolution. History and Heritage. https://www.histoirepatrimoine.fr/secrets-revolution-francaise
Details of APA
• Author: First names are abbreviated to initials. If no author is mentioned, the citation begins with the title of the page.
• Date: It follows the format (year, month, day). If no date is available, use "n.d." (no date).
• Page title: It is in italics, and only the first word and proper names are capitalized.
• Site name: It is indicated after the title, in normal text (not in italics), followed by a period.
• URL: No period at the end of the URL.
Common mistakes to avoid in APA:
• Forgetting to include the date if it is available.
• Italicizing the name of the site.
• Not respecting the order of the information or punctuation.
How to Cite a Website in APA Style : Format & Examples
Citing a website in Chicago style
Chicago style is often used in the fields of historical and political sciences. This format is flexible and offers two main systems: the author-date system and the notes-bibliography system. The author-date system is closer to APA, while the notes-bibliography system includes footnotes or endnotes.
Example of a Chicago style citation (author-date):
Dupont, Jean. 2021. "The secrets of the French Revolution." History and Heritage. August 15, 2021. https://www.histoirepatrimoine.fr/secrets-revolution-francaise.
Example of a Chicago style citation (bibliography notes):
1. Jean Dupont, "Les secrets de la Révolution française," Histoire et Patrimoine, August 15, 2021, https://www.histoirepatrimoine.fr/secrets-revolution-francaise.
Details of Chicago style
• Author: As in MLA and APA, mention the author first.
• Page title: In italics, followed by the name of the site and the date.
• Date: Mention the publication date immediately after the name of the site, before the URL.
• URL: End with the URL without a full stop.
Common mistakes to avoid in Chicago:
• Using an incorrect date format.
• Omitting necessary information in the author-date system.
• Do not add footnotes or endnotes in the notes-bibliography system.
Comparing MLA, APA, and Chicago Styles
Although the three styles have similarities, including the inclusion of the author, page title, and URL, they differ in their treatment of dates and text formats:
• MLA: Uses a more informal format, with no requirement to abbreviate authors’ first names.
• APA: Emphasizes precision and abbreviations, with a focus on the social sciences.
• Chicago: Offers flexibility between an author-date style similar to APA and a more traditional notes-bibliography style.
Comparison table of key elements:
Element MLA APA Chicago
Author Full name Initials + Name Full name
Date Full date (if possible) Year, month, day Year (author-date), notes
Title In quotation marks In italics In italics
Website name Italics Normal text Normal text
URL Without a period at the end Without a period at the end Without a period at the end
Conclusion
Citing a source, and in particular a website, requires an appropriate method, which is why you can always refer to our method concerning the three formats that are MLA, APA, or Chicago. This is a necessary skill to ensure the credibility of your academic work. But even more so, it is about respecting the legislation, because plagiarizing is a serious and reprehensible act that could cause you great harm. The interest for you in following this information note is to avoid this kind of pitfall, and to make your references more professional and above all, they will be adapted to the strictest requirements of your universities.