When you are doing research to write a paper or article, you may come across “valuable” sources that don't list the author's name. However, you still need to cite these sources so readers know that you are not including the paraphrased information from these sources as your own writing/information. In general, if you are following the American Psychological Association or APA style of citation, you should start the reference list entry with the title of the article/source in place of the author's name. After that, you need to use the abbreviated version of the title for the in-text citation (bracketed citation).
Step
Method 1 of 2: Creating Reference List Entries
Step 1. Double check and make sure the source does not have an institutional author
If you find the source online, you can use the name of the institution that published it as the author's name. This measure applies, especially to sources from educational institutions or non-profit organizations. However, you can also follow the same steps for articles published by companies or corporations.
- For example, if you view a report published on the American Heart Association website, and the report does not include the author's name (individually), you can use the site name (American Heart Association) as the author's name.
- If you have a printed source that does not identify a specific individual as the author, read the copyright information. If a company, non-profit organization, or educational institution owns the copyright to the article, use the name of the company or institution as the author's name.
Step 2. Begin the entry with the title of the post
Type in a title and use capital letters as the first letter of the first word and only your own name (sentence case format). If the source is a separate document (eg independent report or book), type the title in italics. Use a plain font format if the source is a small part of a larger piece of work or writing, such as a book chapter or article.
For example: The dark lord rises
Step 3. Add the date of publication of the source and enter it in parentheses
For most sources without an author, all you need is the year of publication. However, if a more specific publication date is available, include that information as much as possible. If you have full date information, type the year first, insert a comma, then enter the month and date. Spell the full month name. Place the dot outside the closing bracket.
For example: The dark lord rises. (2019, April 22)
Step 4. Include the URL if the source is from the internet
After the date, type in the phrase " Retrieved from ", followed by the full URL of the source. Do not insert a period at the end of the URL or add access dates.
- For example: The dark lord rises. (2019, April 22). Retrieved from
- Example in Indonesian: The dark lord rises. (2019, April 22). Accessed from
Reference List Entry Format in APA Style – Unauthorized Online Source
Article title in sentence case format. (Year, Month Date). Retrieved from URL
Step 5. State the publication information if you are using a print source
If you obtained a hard copy of the source, state the location of the publisher, followed by a colon. After that, include the name of the publisher. If the publisher is in the United States, use the city and state names (in two-letter abbreviations). If the publisher is outside the United States, use the city and country name as the location. Place a period after the publisher's name.
- For example: The rise of the dark lord. (2019). Paris, France: Beauxbatons Press.
- Example in Indonesian: The rise of the dark lord. (2019). Paris, France: Beauxbatons Press.
Reference List Entry Format in APA Style – Unauthorized Print Source
Source title in sentence case format. (Year). City, State/Country: Publisher.
Method 2 of 2: Creating In-Text Quotes
Step 1. Include the first few words of the title and enclose it in quotation marks
At the end of the sentence you are paraphrasing or quoting from the source, add an in-text citation (bracketed citation) that directs the reader to the full entry in the reference list. Since the first part of the entry is the title, take the first few words of the title. Use the title case format (capitalize all first letters of the first word and all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs). Insert a comma after the title, before the closing quotation marks.
For example: ("The Dark Lord,"
Step 2. Add source publication date
After a few words from the title, include the year the source was published. If you mention the month and date of publication in your reference list entry, you do not need to include them in the in-text citation. Insert a period after the closing parenthesis.
For example: ("The Dark Lord," 2019)
Tip:
If you are adding a direct quote from the source, type a comma after the date and add the number or page range that contains the cited information. Use " p. " to denote a single page or " pp. " for multiple pages. In Indonesian, just use the abbreviation “hal.”
Step 3. Incorporate citation information into your writing
If you add citation information directly in the text, you don't need to use in-text citations. Usually, this method makes your writing easier to read, especially if you add multiple in-text citations in a row.
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For example, you could write: In 2019, an article titled "The Rise of the Dark Lord" shed new light on the politics behind Voldemort's power grab.
For English: In 2019, an article titled The Rise of the Dark Lord provides a new perspective on the politics behind Voldemort's reins of power
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If you only mention the title of the source in your article, include the year the source was published (in parentheses) immediately after the title. For example, you might write it like this: Although there is no attributed author, "The Rise of the Dark Lord" (2019) is considered the most thorough documentation of Voldemort's attempted rise to power.
For English: Although no author's name is mentioned, The Rise of the Dark Lord (2019) is considered the most complete documentation of Voldemort's attempted seizure of power
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If you are citing directly from the source, add the page information (in parentheses) at the end of the citation. For example, you might write it as follows: According to "The Rise of the Dark Lord" (2019), Voldemort sought not only political control but also control over "the very hearts and minds of every witch and wizard young and old" (p 92).
For English: According to The Rise of the Dark Lord (2019), Voldemort seeks not only political control, but also control over “the heart and mind of every wizard, young or old” (p. 92)
