Electronic/Internet Citations

Because Internet sources typically have no page or paragraph numbers, and Web sites often list no author, people are often confused about how to refer to these sources within their papers. The answer is to cite the author's name whenever possible, and use the source's title otherwise (or a shortened version of the title). If no page or paragraph number is provided, leave that portion of the citation blank. Keep in mind that the primary purpose of an in-text citation is simply to point readers to the correct entry on the "Works Cited" page.

Elements of On-Line Entry

1   Author or editor (Last name, First name, ed. for editor) NOTE: The editor's name follows the title in an entry for a project or database.

3   Title of book and printed version information (if part of a book)

4   Title of the site, database, periodical, etc. , or a description such as Home page

5   Version, volume, issue , or other identifying number

6   Date posted (or last update)

7   Name of subscription service, and name and location (city) of library where accessed

8   Listserv or forum name

9   Number of pages (pp.) or paragraphs (pars.) , if numbered

10 Sponsoring organization

11 Date accessed

12 Electronic address (or URL or keyword of the subscription service)

NOTE: If a URL is quite long and complicated, simply give the site's search page or home page URL.

If certain items do not apply or are not available, do not include them.

  Format of On-Line Entry

Author or editor. "Title." Book title. Printed version information. Site title . Volume or issue number. Date posted. Name of subscription service, library name and location. Listserv name. 00 pp. Sponsoring organization. Date accessed <Electronic address>.

Sample Citations

Web Site (Professional)

ESPN.com. 10 Nov. 1999. ESPN Internet Ventures. 24 Nov. 1999 <http://espn.go.com>. 

Article Within a Web Site

Devitt, Terry. "Flying High." The Why Files. 9 Dec. 1999. University of Wisconsin, Board of Regents. 4 Jan. 2000. <http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/shorties/kite.html>.

Article Within a Web Site (Anonymous)

"Becoming a Meteorologist." Weather.com. 12 Nov. 1999. The Weather Channel. 24 Nov. 1999 <http://weather.com/learn_more/resources/metro.html>.

Note: When line length forces you to break a Web address, always break it after a slash mark. 

Web Site (Personal)

Hamilton, Calvin J. Views of the Solar System. 12 Nov. 1999 <http://solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm>.

Note: When a professional or personal site has no title, use the description "Home page" without an underscore. 

Article from On-Line Computer Service (Also in Print)

Williams, Vanessa. "D.C. Votes to Limit Teenage Drivers: Council Sets 18 as Minimum Age for Full License." Washington Post 3 Nov. 1999, final ed.: A1. National     Newspapers. ProQuest. Gateway Technical College, Elkhorn Campus Library. 12 Nov. 1999 <http://proquest.umi.com/pdqweb>.

Note: When you use a library to access a subscription service, include the name of the database if known (underlined), the service, and the library, all before the date of access. Then give the Internet address for the home page of the service, if you know it.

Article from On-Line Computer Service (Volume Number Included)

"Senate Approves New Alternative Fuel." National Petroleum News 90.9 (Sept. 1998): 36 (1/6p.). MasterFILE Premier. EBSCOhost. Lynchburg Public Library. 12 Nov. 1999      <http://www.ebscohost.com>.

Archived Posting to a Discussion List

Matthews, Robert. "Legally Banning Puppy Mills." On-line posting. 15 Nov. 1996. People Caring for Animals Conference. 20 Feb. 1998 <http://www.vet.ucd.ca/animalscience/pcac/ PUP_MILL.txt>.

Note: When citing a posting, place the subject line in quotation marks and use it as the title. Place the name of the discussion list (People Caring . . . ) after the date of the on-line posting.

Articles in Reference Databases

"Astronomy." Collier's Online. Vers. 97.2.2. 1997. Collier's Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 1998 <http:// www.ce.com:362>.

Carlyle, Lois. "Weeping for the Universe?" Rev. of Exploiting the Cosmos, by Charles Lindsey. Houston Herald 15 Nov. 1997, sec. B:6. Human Rights Opinions On-Line. 1997. Human Rights Publications, Inc. 17 Nov. 1997 <http://search.humanrightspub.com/books/97/11/15/reviews/971115.15carlyle.html>.

Note: This last entry begins with original publication information and ends with the name of the on-line database (underlined), the year of electronic publication, the name of the sponsoring company, your date of access, and the electronic address.