How to APA Cite an Organization Website
Citing an organization website in APA format is an essential skill for anyone engaged in academic writing or research. Proper citation not only gives credit to the source but also helps readers locate the original material. In this article, we will guide you through the process of citing an organization website in APA style, ensuring that your references are accurate and consistent.
Understanding APA Format
APA (American Psychological Association) format is a widely used citation style in the social sciences, education, business, and other fields. It provides guidelines for citing various types of sources, including books, journal articles, websites, and more. To cite an organization website in APA format, follow these steps:
1. Identify the Organization
First, locate the organization’s name on the website. This is typically found in the header, footer, or “About Us” section. For example, let’s consider the website of the United Nations (UN).
2. Note the Date of Access
Next, note the date you accessed the website. This is important because websites can be updated frequently, and the information you accessed may change over time. For our example, we will use the date “March 15, 2023.”
3. Format the Citation
Now that you have the organization’s name and the date of access, you can format the citation. In APA format, a website citation includes the author, the title of the page, the title of the website, the publisher or sponsor, the publication date, the URL, and the access date. Here’s how to structure the citation for our example:
Author. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. In Title of website. Publisher or sponsor. Retrieved from URL
For our example, the citation would be:
United Nations. (2023, March 15). News. In United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/
Formatting Considerations
When citing an organization website in APA format, keep the following in mind:
– Use a period to separate elements within the citation.
– Capitalize the first letter of each major word in the title of the page and the title of the website.
– Use a comma to separate the title of the page from the title of the website.
– Include the URL in full, including the “http://” or “https://” prefix.
– Use a period to end the citation.
Conclusion
Citing an organization website in APA format is a straightforward process, as long as you follow these guidelines. By doing so, you ensure that your references are accurate, consistent, and give proper credit to the source. Remember to double-check the formatting rules and consult the APA Publication Manual for any specific cases or updates to the style guide.
