Citing websites that don't include author, date, or page numbers can be tricky. However, the process is easier than you might think! You can cite a website using the article title, the organization that published the web page, or the words "anonymous" or "anonymous", depending on the information available. With this information, you can create in-text citations and reference page entries.
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Method 1 of 2: Creating In-Text Quotes
Step 1. Use the title of the article or article in place of the author's name if you don't have any author information
Write the full title of the article if you mention it in a sentence. If you are using in-text citations (bracketed citations), mention only the first 1-2 words of the title.
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Here are some alternative examples of citing the page titled “Robotics for Beginners”:
- According to “Robotics for Beginners" (2018), titanium parts make for a sturdier robot.
- Titanium parts are the best choice for building robust robots (“Robotics”, 2018).
Step 2. Use the name of the organization as the author's name if the organization publishes the website you cite
You can find trusted information from a variety of groups and organizations, but they don't always include the name of the actual author of the information. In this situation, you can name the organization as the author because that organization published the information or article.
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For example, you might take information from the American Cancer Society's website. If no author's name is listed, you can use the name of the organization instead. Your in-text quote should look something like this:
- According to the American Cancer Society (2018), people undergoing chemotherapy get a greater benefit from free headbands and wigs.
- People undergoing chemotherapy treatment will have a better experience if free headbands and wigs are provided for them (American Cancer Society, 2018).
Step 3. List “Anonymous” or “Anonymous” as the author if it is mentioned in the website
You may come across a web page that mentions an anonymous author. For sources like this, you can type “Anonymous” or “Anonymous” as the author in the citation.
For anonymous authors, your citation will look like this: (Anonymous, 2018). For Indonesian, replace “Anonymous” with “Anonymous”
Step 4. Use "n.d
" if there is no date information on your quote.
The APA style of citation usually mentions author information and the date of publication of the source. Of course, you can't include a date if that information isn't available. Use of the abbreviation "n.d." notify readers that no date information is available or displayed on the site.
- A quote that uses the title as the author and without the date will look like this: (“Robotics”, n.d.)
- If you used the name of the organization, your in-text citation would look like this: (National Robotics Society, n.d.)
- For anonymous authors, your in-text citation might look something like this: (Anonymous, n.d.) or (Anonymous, n.d.)
Step 5. Include paragraphs to quote a particular section or sentence if there is no page number
The APA citation format only requires you to add page numbers when you quote a specific word, paraphrase (which is very similar to the original sentence), or summary of a particular section. If the website doesn't display page number information, you can use paragraph numbers instead. Count the paragraph numbers to find out which paragraphs you quoted. After that, write "para." (abbreviation for "paragraph"), followed by the appropriate paragraph number.
- For example, let's say you quote the fourth paragraph of an article titled “Building a Healthy Relationship” that doesn't have author information, page numbers, or dates.
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You can quote it like this:
- According to “Building a Healthy Relationship” (n.d., para. 4), communication is an important aspect of a healthy relationship.
- Couples must communicate if they are to have a healthy relationship (“Building”, n.d., para. 4).
Step 6. Use 1-2 words from the title or segment header as the page number if available
Segment headings or subheadings are good information to let readers know where the information you are quoting is located. You can use headings or segment headings instead of paragraph numbers if there are no page numbers. If the page you are citing has a heading or segment header as a marker, use that title or heading instead of the page number to cite the specific section that contains the information you are citing.
- You may find valuable information on the web page entitled “Reducing Congestion in Large Cities” which has segments entitled “Improving Transit Networks”, “Increasing Highway Capacity”, “Collecting Tolls”, “HOV Lanes”, and “Metered Ramps”. However, this page has no publication date or page number information.
- Your in-text quote should look something like this: "(“Reducing”, n.d., “HOV”)”
Method 2 of 2: Creating a Reference Page
Step 1. State the title of the article first if the author information is not available
Use capital letters as the first letter in the first word, words that appear after the colon, and only your own name (sentence case format). Do not enclose the title in quotation marks. Place a period after the title.
- Let's say the title of the article you want to cite is “Ecuador: History and Culture”. Start your reference entry like this: Ecuador: History and culture"
- If the article includes the name of an anonymous organization or author, use the name of the organization or “Anonymous” instead of the title.
Step 2. Write “n.d
” (stands for " no date " in parentheses after the title.
This term informs readers that the date of publication is not included in the article or source. Use lowercase letters and insert a period after the letters “n” and “d”. Outside the closing parenthesis, reinsert the period.
Your reference entry should look like this: Ecuador: History and culture. (n.d.)
Step 3. Include the name of the organization, publication, or website in italics
Use the title case format (capitalize as the first letter in every word, except for prepositions or the words “of”, “and”, and “to” in English). Insert a period after the name.
At this point, your entry should look like this: Ecuador: History and culture. (n.d.). Select Latin America
Step 4. Write down the phrase “Retrieved from”, then include the URL of the website
Enter the full URL of the site containing the information you quoted. Don't add punctuation at the end of the URL, unless it's part of the URL.
- Your final entry should look like this: Ecuador: History and culture. (n.d.). Select Latin America. Retrieved from
- For Indonesian: Ecuador: History and culture. (n.d.). Select Latin America. Taken from
Step 5. Name the organization first in the reference entry if the name is mentioned in the source
As with in-text citations, you can use the name of the publisher's organization if that name is available. Write the name of the organization first in the reference entry, where the author's name should be.
- If the website name is the same as the organization's name, don't re-enter the name after the page title. You can skip this section of the reference entry and just add the phrase " Retrieved from ".
- For example, let's say you cite an article entitled “Relaxing with Deep Breathing” published by the American Psychological Foundation. No publication date is listed in the article.
- Your entry should look like this: American Psychological Foundation. (n.d.). Relaxing with deep breathing. Retrieved from
- For Indonesian: American Psychological Foundation. (n.d.). Relaxing with deep breathing. Taken from
Step 6. Include “Anonymous” or “Anonymous” at the beginning of the entry if it is mentioned in the article as the author
Write “Anonymous” or “Anonymous” in place of the author's name in the reference entry, then format the entry as a website reference as usual.
- You might cite a webpage titled “Being Mindful During a Dog Walk” created by an anonymous author. This page was uploaded to a website called Bark Bark Friends, but it does not display publishing date information.
- Your entry should look like this: Anonymous. (n.d.) Being Mindful During a Dog Walk. Bark Bark Friends. Retrieved from
- For Indonesian: Anonymous. (n.d.) Being Mindful During a Dog Walk. Bark Bark Friends. Taken from
Tips
- You no longer need to mention access or download dates in reference entries. In previous editions of the APA citation style guide, you are required to include a website access date.
- If you are unsure how to cite a source, talk to your professor or teacher, or check with the writing center staff at your institution. They can help determine the best way to write your quote.
