Internet research has become increasingly important as a source for information and ideas when writing research papers, term papers, and essays. As with printed materials, it is just as important to cite the source of online information or significant ideas.
“Broadly, a citation is a reference to a published or unpublished source” (Wikipedia (2011). Citation. Retrieved 13 January 2011 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation).
When directly quoting from another source you should enclose the quoted material in quotation marks as illustrated above. You should then cite the source of the quoted item either inline in a parenthetical citation or in a footnote.
Two of the most popular citation formats are:
Using the above example, we know the following information about the cited article:
- Author name: unknown
- Title: Citation
- Date first published: unknown
- Date last updated: January 13, 2011 10:40 AM
- Date accessed: January 13, 2011
- Source: Wikipedia
- URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation
Internet Citation Using the APA Format
To cite a document from an Internet site, begin the citation with the author’s name, if given. Follow this with the date of publication or last updated date in parenthesis and then the title of the work. Continue with the project, site or database name in italics. Follow this with “Retrieved” followed by the date of retrieval and the word “from”, followed by the URL of the specific work or document.
Using the above example:
(January 13, 2011). Citation. In Wikipedia. Retrieved January 13, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation.
Internet Citation Using the MLA Format
To cite a document from an Internet site begin the citation with the author’s name and, in quotation marks, the title of the work. If no author is given, begin the citation with the title of the material, in quotation marks. Continue with the Date of publication (or date page was last modified). Follow this with the date of access. Finally follow with the URL enclosed in angle brackets (<url>).
Using the above example:
“Citation”. Wikipedia. January 13, 2011 10:40 AM. Accessed: January 13, 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation>
When directly quoting online sources, or paraphrasing online ideas, it is very important to cite the source of the information above using one of the formats outlined for a couple of reasons:
- It gives the true author credit for their work
- It will help to prevent you from being accused of plagiarism