University Library: Referencing: Web Resources

Website Reference Main Elements

Overview: This page covers general websites, social media, government reports, and other online documents. See also our Other Sources page, which covers more unusual content you may find online.

New to this Guide? Key Questions:

How do I include organisations as authors?

What kind of locator information (URL) should I use?

How do I reference different types of web materials such as...
• Social media
• Powerpoint presentations
• PDF documents
• Government reports

Click on the links below to learn more about:

Author(s) | Date | Title of Document | Format Type | URL

Author(s)

Multiple authors: Author rules for web resources are the same as for books and journals.

See author rules and examples for books

Groups as authors: If a company, institution, government body, religious organisation or other type of organisation is the author, use the organisation’s name as the author. If the organisation’s name is commonly abbreviated, use the full name in the first reference together with the abbreviation. In subsequent references, only the abbreviated form should be used.

Webpage - corporate author: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Red Cross, 2014) OR Red Cross (2014)

Reference List

Red Cross. (2014). Ways of working. Retrieved from http://www.redcross.org.au/ways-of-working.aspx
Government report - online: in-text and reference list examples
First In-text Citation
(Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2010) OR Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, 2010)

Subsequest In-text Citations
(AIHW, 2010) OR AIHW (2010)

Reference List

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2010). 2010 pandemic vaccination survey: Summary results (Cat. No. PHE 128). Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/11374

Screen names: If a screen name (alias) is used instead of a formal name, use the screen name provided (e.g. WanderingPsych82).

No author: If there is no author listed, put the title of the document in place of the author (note: always question the validity of web resources that have no author). Use first few words of the title for the in-text citation, enclosed in quote marks, and the year.

Webpage - no author: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
("Workshop", 2004) OR "Workshop" (2004)

Reference List

Workshop: Tapping into multiple intelligences. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/index.html

Date

If content is published regularly (for example,social media posts) provide the full date. If not, provide the year only. If there is no date, include the abbreviation (n.d.).

Webpage - with date: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(D'Olimpio, 2014) OR D'Olimpio (2014)

Reference List

D'Olimpio, L. (2014). Why children should study philosophy. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/why-children-should-study-philosophy-23404
Blog post - with periodic date: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Burgess, 2014) OR Burgess (2014)

Reference List

Burgess, M. (2014, August 9). Inverting the gaze: Pagan political philosophy [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/2014/08/09/inverting-the-gaze-pagan-political-philosophy/
Webpage - no date: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Drug Aware, n.d.) OR Drug Aware (n.d.)

Reference List

Drug Aware. (n.d.). Ecstasy. Retrieved from http://www1.drugaware.com.au/Drug Information/Ecstasy.aspx

Title of Document

Titles of all web resources should be in sentence case (only the first word of the title and the first word of any subtitle capitalised).

Generally, webpage titles (e.g. most HTML pages) are not italicised.

However, titles of "standalone" documents (e.g. PDF, Word, PowerPoint, or other document formats ) on a website are italicised. Standalone documents in this context are resources that do not fall into "regular" categories, including reports, presentations, white papers and other grey literature.

Blog post: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Burgess, 2014) OR Burgess (2014)

Reference List

Burgess, M. (2014, August 9). Inverting the gaze: Pagan political philosophy [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/2014/08/09/inverting-the-gaze-pagan-political-philosophy/
Blog comment: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Schroeder, 2014) OR Schroeder (2014)

Reference List

Schroeder, W. (2014, August 9). Re: Inverting the gaze: Pagan political philosophy [Blog comment]. Retrieved from http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/2014/08/09/inverting-the-gaze-pagan-political-philosophy/
Tweet (Twitter): in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(De Botton, 2014) OR De Botton (2014)

Reference List

De Botton, A. [alaindebotton]. (2014, September 18). For paranoia about 'what other people think': remember that only some hate, a very few love - and almost all just don't care [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/alaindebotton/status/512549387596476416
Facebook status update: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Khan Academy, 2014) OR Khan Academy (2014)

Reference List

Khan Academy (2014, September 5). Today we’re happy to announce that Khan Academy is live en Français. You can access our content all in French whether you’re from Paris or Port-au-Prince. Just visit https://fr.khanacademy.org/ to start learning in French. [Facebook status update]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/khanacademy/posts/10152674247853442
PDF (or standalone document) found on website: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Department of Education, 2017) OR Department of Education (2017)

Reference List

Department of Education. (2017). Final report 2016-17. Retrieved from https://www.education.wa.edu.au/documents/32706620/0/Annual+Report+2016-17+-+Final+-+With+addendum+changes.pdf

Format Type

Describe the format type in square brackets for certain formats, according to the examples listed above, e.g. [Tweet], [Blog post]

Powerpoint slides - online: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Casey, 2014) OR Casey (2014)

Reference List

Casey, A. (2014). Developing a pedagogy of technology in physical education [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/DrAshCasey/developing-a-pedagogy-of-technology-in-physical-education
Blog post: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Burgess, 2014) OR Burgess (2014)

Reference List

Burgess, M. (2014, August 9). Inverting the gaze: Pagan political philosophy [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/2014/08/09/inverting-the-gaze-pagan-political-philosophy/
Blog comment: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Schroeder, 2014) OR Schroeder (2014)

Reference List

Schroeder, W. (2014, August 9). Re: Inverting the gaze: Pagan political philosophy [Blog comment]. Retrieved from http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/2014/08/09/inverting-the-gaze-pagan-political-philosophy/
Tweet (Twitter): in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(De Botton, 2014) OR De Botton (2014)

Reference List

De Botton, A. [alaindebotton]. (2014, September 18). For paranoia about 'what other people think': remember that only some hate, a very few love - and almost all just don't care [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/alaindebotton/status/512549387596476416
Facebook status update: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Khan Academy, 2014) OR Khan Academy (2014)

Reference List

Khan Academy (2014, September 5). Today we’re happy to announce that Khan Academy is live en Français. You can access our content all in French whether you’re from Paris or Port-au-Prince. Just visit https://fr.khanacademy.org/ to start learning in French. [Facebook status update]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/khanacademy/posts/10152674247853442

URL

Include a retrieval statement and the full URL of the web resource.

Webpage: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(D'Olimpio, 2014) OR D'Olimpio (2014)

Reference List

D'Olimpio, L. (2014). Why children should study philosophy. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/why-children-should-study-philosophy-23404
Entire Website: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(http://www.kidspsych.org)

Reference List
When citing an entire website, only provide the web URL in the text - no reference list entry needed.
PDF (or standalone document) found on website: in-text and reference list examples
In-text
(Save the Children UK, 2007) OR Save the Children UK (2007)

Reference List

Save the Children UK. (2007). Legacy of disasters: The impact of climate change on children. Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/docs/legacy-of-disasters_1.pdf