APA Citation Style for Web Pages

This PDF document provides examples of how to properly format Web page citations in a References list. (To view this document, you will need the Adobe Reader software - a free download available from http://www.adobe.com .)

In-text Parenthetical References

A standard in-text parenthetical reference for a Web page includes the author's last name and the date the page was published or last updated. The period goes after the reference. For example,

"Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty" (Miller, 2002).

If you use a signal phrase that includes the author's name, the date the page was published or last updated goes directly after the author's name. For example,

According to Juanita Miller (2002), "Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty."

For a Web page with	you will use	Your in-text parenthetical reference would look like this:
two authors	both authors' last names.	(Paradis and Worden, 2003)
three authors	all three authors' last names.	(French, Archer, and McCoy, 2000)
more than three authors	the last name of the first author followed by "et al."	(Skillings et al., 2001)
a corporate author	the name of the corporation, association, or committee (minus any initial articles - A, An, The)	(National Rifle Association, 2003)
no author	the title of the Web page (if brief) or the first word/few words of the title in italics.	(Crime Library, 2003) (Stratospheric, 2002)

Formatting Long Quotes APA Style

If a quote you are using in your paper is 40 or more words long, you need to insert it as a block quote. On a new line, indent one-half inch from the left margin (one tab). Double space the quote and do not include quotation marks. Place the in-text parenthetical reference at the end of the last line of the quotation. Insert the period before the reference. Below is an excerpt from a research paper that includes a block quote.

The cost of housing is an issue for poor people in general and for poor homeless people as well.

Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, child care, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income, that must be dropped. Being poor means being an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets. (Miller, 2002)

A lack of affordable housing in this country is forcing poor people onto the streets and keeping those already on the street from finding places to live.

Back to APA Citation Style

Writing Center -- 144 Quebec Street Farmington, Maine, 04938 Phone: (207) 778-7187 TDD: (207) 778-7000 E-mail contact: teresa.roberts@maine.edu	Mantor Library -- 116 South Street Farmington, Maine, 04938 Phone: (207) 778-7210 TDD: (207) 778--7000 E-mail contact: shellyd@maine.edu
Last Updated 03/29/2007 09:55 AM