Making references matters a lot. Papers you write differ in style and format, and the way you should attribute original sources differs as well. As a rule, there are no strict instructions as to how references in your essays should be made unless your teacher or professor asks you to stick to a particular format (APA or MLA style, etc).
Additionally, you can use a plagiarism check tool. Make sure you quoted all the sources properly to avoid plagiarism and prevent yourself from the violation.
If you are writing a thesis, the requirements for a reference list will be a lot more demanding. You’ll need to consult your professor in order to find out what citing rules you need to follow. You should also ask if it is acceptable to use Internet sources or just printed materials.
General quotation guidelines
What are some tips on how to quote online press and web documents to pass a plagiarism website checker examination? Here is a short list for you to see whether you’ve mentioned all the details about the sources you used:
- Author/compiler
- Year/date of article/book/etc.
- Title
- Website name
- Media type
- Publisher or sponsor
- Medium of publication
- Date of access
All the points above are obligatory. You may also include more details, which are optional: nickname/pen name, issue number, page name, page number, time of posting, version number, the name of the database, etc.
Mentioning a URL is not obligatory, though. Use “n.p.” if no publisher name is available and “n.d.” if no publishing date is given.
Samples of references tips to pass plagiarism tester checks successfully
When you quote a magazine article, follow this pattern:
Author’s name. Article name. Page name. Web magazine title. Publisher. Publication date. Medium of publication. Date of access.
Example:
Bernstein, Mark. “10 Tips on Writing the Living Web.” A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites. A List Apart Mag., 16 Aug. 2002. Web. 4 May 2009.
When you quote a journal article with DOI (digital object identifier), follow this pattern:
Author. Year. Article title. Journal name. Page number. DOI
Example:
Marsh, H. W., Trautwein, U., Lüdtke, O., Baumert, J., & Köller, O. (2007). The big-fish-little-pond effect: Persistent negative effects of selective high schools on self-concept after graduation. American Educational Research Journal, 44, 631. doi: 10.3102/0002831207306728
When you quote an article published in an online-only scholarly journal, follow this pattern:
Author. “Article name”. Journal name. Page number. Date of access.
Example:
Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” Social Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal 6.2 (2008): n. pag. Web. 20 May 2009.
When you quote an online newspaper article, follow this pattern:
Author. “Article name.” Magazine title. Publisher name. Publication date. Medium of publication. Date of access.
Example:
Bernstein, Mark. “10 Tips on Writing the Living Web.” A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites. A List Apart Mag., 16 Aug. 2002. Web. 4 May 2009.
When you quote an article taken from an online database (or another electronic subscription service), follow this pattern:
Author. “Article name.” Database title: pages. Medium of publication. Date of access.
Example:
Junge, Wolfgang, and Nathan Nelson. “Nature’s Rotary Electromotors.”Science 29 Apr. 2005: 642-44. Science Online. Web. 5 Mar. 2009.
When you quote a government document, follow this pattern:
Documents, websites, and other materials written/compiled by an organization or a government body require mentioning the organization as the author of the text.
Title. (year). The medium of publication. Retrieved from URL.
Example:
Alberta. Alberta Learning. Special Education Branch. (2006). Essential components of educational programming for students with behavioral disabilities. Retrieved from http://education.alberta.ca/media/511687/ecep_behaviour_disabilities.pdf
When you quote a web document, follow this pattern:
Title. (year). Medium of publication. Retrieved from URL
Example:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Electronic References. Retrieved from http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html
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