Academics
Citing Internet and Online Sources
Major Distinctions Citing Online and Print Sources The major distinctions between citing online sources and citing print sources are HOW and WHEN the material is accessed. The print version of a source is often seen as the official or archival source. An Internet version of the print source may not include the pagination, pictures, graphs, or the advertising on the print version pages. In some cases the online source may be more authoritative or current than the print version. Also, how the material is transcribed, if it's scanned, if it is modified in any way, or if it is created only in an online version is difficult to determine for Internet sources. So HOW the document is accessed is an important part of citing online sources. It determines a certain credibility about the source. WHEN a document is accessed is another important part of the citation. Even though documents may disappear on the Internet or change URL addresses, one may establish the date the "virtual information" was accessed. Often this may be the only "date" for an online citation because information is not provided that documents when it was published or created. To establish authenticity that the material ever existed, in a particular form or "edition," one must give the date the material was accessed. Basic Elements in Citing Online Sources:
Many Internet sites will not provide you with the basic information for a citation. You should consult with your professor or a librarian to decide whether you want to use a source if it can not be cited adequately. The following citations use guidelines from the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Seventh Edition. See MLA update for more information. All students should ask their instructors as to the citing guidelines required for their courses. Use hanging indentation for works cited list for MLA Style. See page 131 of the MLA Handbook.
Parenthetical Citation in Text [MLA] "Lake Champlain's ecosystem is under enormous pressure from urban growth" (Cushman 3). Cohen noted that eating disorders are common place in America (3). The following citations are examples using the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition and Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by the American Psychological Association @ http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html All students should ask their instructors as to the citing guidelines required for their courses. According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Internet articles based on print sources, particularly in pdf format, are unlikely to change. Cite these articles as print sources. Add [Electronic version] in brackets after the article title in a citation if only viewed electronically (page 271 Publication Manual). Note on indentation: According to the APA, "For papers or manuscripts, either a regular paragraph indent or a hanging indent is appropriate for references, as long as the format is consistent throughout."
Parenthetical Citation in Text [APA] - When there is no pagination within an electronic document, count the paragraphs within the document (see page 213 of the APA Publication Manual). "Lake Champlain's ecosystem is under enormous pressure from urban growth" (Cushman, 1997, para. 3). Cohen noted that eating disorders are common place in America (1997, para. 7).
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