Skip to Main Content

APA Citation Style (7th edition)

Websites, Webpages and Web Documents

Websites and Webpages (Sec.10.16 APA Publication Manual p. 350-352)

  • Use the webpages and websites category if there is no other reference category that fits and the work has no parent or overarching publication (e.g., journal, blog, conference proceedings) other than the website itself (see Section 9.2).
  • If you cite multiple webpages from a website, create a reference for each.
  • To mention a website in general, do not create a reference list entry or an in-text citation. Instead, include the name of the website in the text and provide the URL in parentheses (see Section 8.22 for an example).
  • For help in determining the author of a webpage or website reference, see section 10.6, Example 113 and section 9.7.
  • Provide the most specific date possible - for example, a year, month, and day; year and month; or year only. (see section 9.15 regarding updated dates)
  • When the author name and the site name are the same, omit the site name from the source element.
  • Include a retrieval date only when the content is designed to change over time and the page is not archived (see Section 9.16).

Use the template shown here to construct references for webpages or websites (section 10.16, APA Publication Manual, p.351)

Author Date Title

Source

Website name. URL

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B.

or

Name of Group.

(2020).

(2020, October 8).

(n.d.).

 Title of work.

Site name. https://xxxxxx

Site name. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://xxxx

____________________________________________________________________________________

Webpage on a news website - no print version (Sec. 10.16 #110, APA Publication Manual, p. 351)

  • Use this format for articles published in online news sources (e.g. BBC News, Bloomberg, CNN, HuffPost, MSNBC, Reuters, Salon, Vox). 
  • To cite articles from online magazines or newspapers, see Examples page: Articles- Print & online and scroll to bottom.

Reference Examples

CBC News. (2020, April 21). Air Canada to temporarily suspend flights to U.S. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-to-temporarily-suspend-flights-to-u-s-1.5539796

Riches, G. (2020, April 22). How food banks prop up a broken system. The Tyee. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2020/04/22/Food-Banks-Prop-Broken-System/

In-text Examples

(CBC News, 2020)

(Riches, 2020)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Webpage on a website with a group author (Sec. 10.16 #111, APA Publication Manual, p. 351)

  • When the author and the site name are the same, omit the site name from the source element.

Reference Examples

Industry Training Authority. (2020, March 27). First Nations school ignites passion for trades. https://www.itabc.ca/success-stories/first-nations-school-ignites-passion-trades

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, January 23). People at high risk of developing flu-related complications. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/aout/disease/high_risk.htm

APA Style Team. (2021, April 19). Buyer beware: Counterfeit copies steal your style. APA Style. http://apastyle.apa.org/blog/counterfeits

In-text Examples

(Industry Training Authority, 2020)

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018)

(APA Style Team, 2021).

____________________________________________________________________________________

Wepage on a website with an individual author (Sec. 10.16 #112, APA Publication Manual, p. 351)

Reference Examples

Sorenson, G. (2019, December 11). Bird flocks in BC’s river estuary inspire awe. Birds Canada. https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-flocks-in-bcs-fraser-river-estuary-inspire-awe/

Martin Lillie, C. M. (2016, December 29). Be kind to yourself: How self-compassion can improve your resiliency. Mayo Clinic. http://www.ethicsguidebook.ac.uk/EthicsPrinciples

In-text Examples

(Sorenson, 2019)

(Martin Lillie, 2016)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Webpage on a website with no date (Sec. 10.16 #113, APA Publication Manual, p. 352)

  • When the author and site name are the same, omit the site name from the source element.

Reference Examples

Engineers Canada. (n.d.). Climate change and other extreme weather events. https://engineerscanada.ca/sites/default/files/public-policy/climatechange-en.pdf

Ricci, J. (n.d.). Indigenous peoples' access to post-secondary engineering programs: A review of practice consensus. Engineers Canada. https://engineerscanada.ca/reports/research/review-practice-consensus-indigenous-peoples-access-post-secondary-engineering-programs

In-text Examples

(Engineers Canada, n.d.)

(Ricci, n.d.)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Webpage on a website with a retrieval date (Sec. 10.16 #114, APA Publication Manual, p. 352)

  • Include a retrieval date because the contents of the page are designed to change over time and the page itself is not archived.

Reference Examples

Center for Systems Science and Engineering. (n.d.) COVID-19 map. Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Environment Canada. (n.d.). Canadian lightning danger map – Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved April 23, 2020 from https://weather.gc.ca/lightning/index_e.html

In-text Examples

(Center for Systems Science and Engineering, n.d.)

(Environment Canada, n.d.)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Web document authored by an individual published by association or government  (10.4, #51 & 52, APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., p.330)

  • If the cover or title page lists the names of individuals,  treat the reference as having individual authors, and include the name of the group as part of the source element (See section 10.4,  examples 51-52, APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.)
  • Include publication number for government or association reports where available.
Reference Example

Tiedemann, M. (2019, December 17). The Canadian Health Act: An overview (2019-54-E). Library of Parliament. https://lop.parl.ca/staticfiles/PublicWebsite/Home/ResearchPublications/BackgroundPapers/PDF/2019-54-e.pdfcontent/lop/researcpublications/944-e.htm

Segart, A., & Bauer, A. (2015). The extent and nature of veteran homelessness in Canada. Employment and Social Development Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/communities/homelessness/publications-bulletins/veterans-report.html

In-text Example

(Tiedemann, 2019)

(Segaert & Bauer, 2015)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Web document authored by an association or government (10.4, #50, #53-55, APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., p.329)

  • If the cover or title page lists only the name of the group (and no names of individuals), treat the reference as having a group author (See section 10.4,  examples 53-55, APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.).
  • When the publisher is the same as the author omit the publisher from the source element.
  • Include publication number for government or association reports where available.
Reference Example

Public Health Canada (2020). Reduce the spread of Covid-19: Wash your hands. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/diseases-conditions/coronovirus/covid-19-handwashing/covid-19-handwashing-eng.pdf. 

Group Author same as publisher, therefore no publisher

Canada Council for the Arts. (2013). What we heard: Summary of key findings: 2013 Canada Council's Inter-Arts Office consultation. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/canadacouncil/K23-65-2013-eng.pdf

In-text Example

(Public Health Canada, 2020)

(Canada Council for the Arts, 2013)

____________________________________________________________________________________