How to Reference an Online Article

But wait! Referencing is important for more than just avoiding plagiarism. Accurately referencing authors, online articles, or journals adds credibility to your essay or research paper. Referencing is, therefore, essential for showing you have done proper research into your chosen topic.

Read our article to see many examples of referencing online articles accurately, so you can make your paper stand out as original and thoroughly researched!

 

Online Referencing List

References are usually at the end of your essay or research paper and are listed in alphabetical order. 

Here is a summary of a typical reference list for online articles: 

• Author’s Last Name
• First Initial of First Name
• Publication date (in Year)
• Title of the article
• Website Name
• URL

Harvard Style Example:

Example: Smith, J. (2023) ‘Understanding Artificial Intelligence’, Tech Today. Available at: https://example.com/understanding-ai (Accessed: 2 July 2024).

APA Style Example:

Example: Smith, J. (2023). Understanding Artificial Intelligence. Tech Today. https://example.com/understanding-ai

How to reference an online article example

Referencing an online article typically involves including the author’s name, publication date, title of the article, website name, and the URL. Here’s a basic format in APA style:

In-Text Citation:

• (Author’s Last Name, Year)
• Example: (Smith, 2023)

Reference List:

• Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the article. Website Name. URL
• Example: Smith, J. (2023). Understanding Artificial Intelligence. Tech Today. https://example.com/understanding-ai

This format ensures that readers can easily locate the original source.

Note: An in-text citation provides a brief mention of the source within the text, while a reference list or bibliography provides the full details of all sources cited in the work.

How to reference an online article with no author

When an online article lacks an author, the title of the article takes the place of the author’s name in the citation. If there’s no publication date, use “n.d.” (no date). Here are the guidelines for APA, Harvard, Chicago, and MHRA Styles:

APA Style

In-Text Citation:

• (“Title of the Article,” Year)
• Example: (“Understanding Artificial Intelligence,” 2023)

Reference List:

• Title of the article. (Year). Website Name. URL
• Example: Understanding Artificial Intelligence. (2023). Tech Today. https://example.com/understanding-ai

Harvard Style

In-Text Citation:

• (Title of the Article, Year)
• Example: (Understanding Artificial Intelligence, 2023)

Reference List:

• Title of the Article (Year) Website Name. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date).
• Example: Understanding Artificial Intelligence (2023) Tech Today. Available at: https://example.com/understanding-ai (Accessed: 2 July 2024).

Chicago Style

In-Text Citation:

• (“Title of the Article,” Year)
• Example: (“Understanding Artificial Intelligence,” 2023)

Reference List:

• “Title of the Article.” Website Name. Publication Date. URL.
• Example: “Understanding Artificial Intelligence.” Tech Today. January 3, 2023. https://example.com/understanding-ai.

MHRA Style

In-Text Citation:

• (“Title of the Article,” Year)
• Example: (“Understanding Artificial Intelligence,” 2023)

Reference List:

• ‘Title of the Article’, Website Name, Publication Date <URL> [accessed Date].
• Example: ‘Understanding Artificial Intelligence’, Tech Today, 3 January 2023 https://example.com/understanding-ai [accessed 2 July 2024].

These formats will help you correctly reference an online article without an author in various citation styles.

 

Referencing Online Articles in an Essay Without a Clear Author or Year

Referencing online articles without a clear author and year date can be challenging. Here are some tips to handle these situations effectively:

1. Use the Title in Place of the Author:
   • When there is no author, use the title of the article in place of the author in both in-text citations and reference lists.
   • Example (APA): (“The Future of AI,” 2023)
2. Use “n.d.” for No Date:
   • If the publication date is not available, use “n.d.” (no date) in place of the year.
   • Example (APA): The Future of AI. (n.d.). Tech News. https://example.com/future-of-ai
3. Include Retrieval Dates:
   • For websites that are likely to change over time, include the retrieval date.
   • Example (APA): The Future of AI. (n.d.). Tech News. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://example.com/future-of-ai
4. Check the Website for Information:
   • Look for publication dates at the bottom of the page or in the URL (e.g., blog posts sometimes include the date in the URL).
   • Example: https://example.com/2023/07/02/future-of-ai
5. Use the Organization as the Author:
   • If an organization is responsible for the content, use the organization’s name as the author.
   • Example (APA): Tech News. (n.d.). The Future of AI. https://example.com/future-of-ai
6. Use Available Dates:
   • If there is no publication date but a last updated date is available, use it.
   • Example (Harvard): The Future of AI (n.d.) Tech News. Available at: https://example.com/future-of-ai (Accessed: 2 July 2024).

By following these tips, you can ensure that your references are as complete and accurate as possible, even when dealing with incomplete information.

How to reference a sentence from an article online

Referencing a specific sentence from an online article involves proper in-text citation and a full reference entry in the bibliography or reference list. Here’s how to do it in APA, Harvard, Chicago, and MHRA styles:

APA Style

In-Text Citation:

• Include the author, year, and if possible, the paragraph number or section.
• Example: According to Smith (2023), “Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the tech industry” (para. 4).

Reference List:

• Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the article. Website Name. URL
• Example: Smith, J. (2023). Understanding Artificial Intelligence. Tech Today. https://example.com/understanding-ai

Harvard Style

In-Text Citation:

• Include the author, year, and if possible, the paragraph number.
• Example: According to Smith (2023, para. 4), “Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the tech industry.”

Reference List:

• Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year) ‘Title of the article’, Website Name. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date).
• Example: Smith, J. (2023) ‘Understanding Artificial Intelligence’, Tech Today. Available at: https://example.com/understanding-ai (Accessed: 2 July 2024).

Chicago Style

In-Text Citation:

• Include the author, year, and if possible, the paragraph number.
• Example: According to John Smith, “Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the tech industry” (Smith 2023, para. 4).

Reference List:

• Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Website Name. Publication Date. URL.
• Example: Smith, John. “Understanding Artificial Intelligence.” Tech Today. January 3, 2023. https://example.com/understanding-ai.

MHRA Style

In-Text Citation:

• Include the author, year, and if possible, the paragraph number.
• Example: According to John Smith, “Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the tech industry” (Smith, 2023, para. 4).

Reference List:

• Author’s Last Name, First Name, ‘Title of the Article’, Website Name, Publication Date <URL> [accessed Date].
• Example: Smith, John, ‘Understanding Artificial Intelligence’, Tech Today, 3 January 2023 https://example.com/understanding-ai [accessed 2 July 2024].

How to reference an online article in a bibliography

Finally, here are examples of structuring your references for a bibliography using APA, Harvard, Chicago, and MHRA styles:

Double-Checking Your References for Online Articles

It’s useful to create a checklist that goes over your In-Text Citations and Reference List to make sure they are clear, the links are up to date, and all names are spelled correctly. Here’s a handy list to get you started!

• Verify Author Information: Ensure that the author’s name is correctly spelled and formatted.
• Check Dates: Confirm that the publication date is accurate. If no date is available, use “n.d.” for no date.
• Title Accuracy: Make sure the title of the article is complete and correctly capitalized.
• Correct URLs: Ensure that the URL is working and directs to the correct page.
• Consistent Style: Follow the specific citation style guidelines (APA, Harvard, Chicago, MHRA) consistently.
• Include Access Dates: For styles that require it (e.g., Harvard, MHRA), include the date you accessed the online article.
• Cross-Reference Entries: Match in-text citations with entries in the reference list to ensure every cited source is included.
• Use Citation Tools: Utilize citation management tools or software to help format and organize your references.
• Check for Updates: Ensure the referenced webpage or article has not been significantly updated or changed.
• Proofread: Carefully proofread your reference list for any typos or formatting errors.

 

When should I not reference an online article?

• Unreliable Sources: Avoid referencing articles from dubious or non-credible sources, such as personal blogs or websites with biased or unverified information.
• Lack of Originality: Do not reference articles that do not provide original content or primary information, such as summaries or reposts.
• Non-Academic Content: Steer clear of referencing online articles that are not scholarly or peer-reviewed, especially in academic work.
• Outdated Information: Avoid articles that contain outdated or superseded information unless you are discussing historical perspectives.
• Plagiarized Content: Do not reference articles that appear to have copied content from other sources without proper attribution.
• Promotional Material: Refrain from citing articles that are primarily advertisements or promotional content for products or services.
• Paywalled Content: Be cautious with referencing articles that are behind paywalls, as your readers may not have access to them, unless they are crucial and there is no alternative source.

For more information please visit our explanation on referencing.