Navigating the complexities of academic citation can be daunting, particularly when encountering unfamiliar styles like APA and CDC. This comprehensive guide will provide a clear and concise overview of how to cite a CDC website using both the APA and CDC citation styles. Understanding these citation formats is essential for students, researchers, and professionals who need to acknowledge sources accurately and maintain academic integrity.
The APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used in social sciences, education, and behavioral research. To cite a CDC website in APA style, follow these steps: First, include the name of the organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Next, provide the year of publication, enclosed in parentheses. Then, state the title of the specific webpage or document being cited. Include the web address in angle brackets (< >) at the end of the reference.
In contrast, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) citation style is used exclusively for citing CDC publications and websites. The format for citing a CDC website in CDC style is slightly different. Start by including the name of the organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Next, provide the year of publication in parentheses. Then, state the title of the specific webpage or document being cited. Finally, include the full URL in parentheses at the end of the reference.
Navigating Website Citations in APA Style
When referencing a website in APA style, it’s crucial to capture essential details to ensure proper citation. The following guide will provide step-by-step instructions for creating accurate citations for websites, including the necessary elements and formatting.
**Locating Key Website Information:**
– **Webpage Title:** The title appears at the top of the webpage, usually in a prominent font.
– **Author:** If available, identify the author(s) of the webpage content. Note that some websites may not provide author information.
– **Organization:** Determine the organization or institution responsible for publishing the webpage.
– **Date of Publication:** Locate the date the webpage was published or last updated. If no date is provided, use “n.d.” (no date).
– **URL:** The webpage’s uniform resource locator (URL) serves as its unique web address.
**Creating the Citation:**
| Element | How to Find in Webpage |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Listed under “Author” or “By” |
| Date of Publication | Usually included next to the author information or at the bottom of the page |
| Title | Appears prominently at the top of the page |
| Organization/Publisher | Often displayed in the header or footer of the webpage |
| URL | Copy the web address from the browser |
APA vs. CDC Website Citation Formats
APA Format
To cite a CDC website in APA style, use the following format:
- Author. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Retrieved from Website URL
Example:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 10). COVID-19 pandemic: CDC guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
CDC Format
The CDC provides its own style guide for citing its websites, which is different from APA style. The CDC format is used when you are submitting a document to the CDC or to a journal or organization that requires CDC format.
To cite a CDC website in CDC format, use the following format:
- Organization Name. Title of Document. Date published (Year, Month Day). Available from: URL.
Example:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 pandemic: CDC guidelines. May 10, 2021. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Table:
| Feature | APA Format | CDC Format |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Included | Not included |
| Year | Included | Included |
| Month | Included | Included |
| Day | Included | Included |
| Title of article | Included | Included |
| URL | Included | Included |
| Retrieval statement | "Retrieved from" | "Available from" |
Identifying Key Elements for Website Citation
1. Document Title
The document title is typically displayed at the top of the web page. It provides a brief overview of the content on the page.
2. Author
The author of the website is usually listed at the bottom of the page or in the “About Us” section. If no author is listed, the organization that published the website can be used instead.
3. Publication Date
The publication date is the date when the website was first published or updated. It is often listed in the footer of the page or in the “Last Updated” section. If no publication date is listed, the current date can be used.
| Element | Where to Find |
|---|---|
| Document Title | Top of the web page |
| Author | Bottom of the page or “About Us” section |
| Publication Date | Footer of the page or “Last Updated” section |
4. URL
The URL is the unique address of the website. It is essential for identifying the specific page you are citing.
Formatting the Website Citation in APA 7th Edition
When citing a CDC website in APA 7th Edition, follow these guidelines:
1. Author
If the website provides an author, include their name in the citation. If no author is provided, use the name of the organization (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
2. Date
Include the date the website was published or last updated. If no date is provided, use “n.d.” (no date).
3. Title
Use the title of the specific page or document you are citing. If no title is provided, use a brief description of the content.
4. URL
Include the full URL of the website. To do this, follow these steps:
- Remove any unnecessary text from the URL, such as tracking parameters or session IDs.
- If the URL is more than 40 characters long, shorten it using a URL shortener, such as Bitly or TinyURL.
- Place the URL in angle brackets (e.g.,
Example Citation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Incorporating the Citation into Your Text
When citing a CDC website in the text of your paper, include the organization’s short name (CDC) and the year of publication in parentheses, followed by a period. If there is no publication year, use “n.d.” (for “no date”). For example:
(CDC, 2022).
If you are referring to a specific page or document within the CDC website, include the title of the page or document in quotation marks after the year of publication. For example:
(CDC, 2022, “COVID-19 Prevention”).
Using a Signal Phrase
You can also use a signal phrase to introduce the citation. A signal phrase is a short phrase that tells the reader that you are about to quote or paraphrase from another source. Common signal phrases include “According to,” “The CDC states that,” and “As reported by the CDC.” For example:
According to the CDC (2022), COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Citing Multiple Sources
If you are citing multiple sources in the same sentence, separate the citations with a semicolon (;). For example:
The CDC (2022) recommends wearing a mask in public indoor settings; the World Health Organization (2022) also recommends social distancing.
Citing a Website with No Author
If the CDC website does not have an author, use the title of the page or document in place of the author’s name. For example:
(“COVID-19 Prevention,” 2022).
Citing a Website with Multiple Authors
If the CDC website has multiple authors, list the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (for “et alii,” meaning “and others”). For example:
(Smith et al., 2022).
Citing Specific Pages or Sections of a Website
To cite a specific page or section of a website using the APA style, follow these guidelines:
Provide the title of the specific page or section:
Include the exact title of the webpage or section you are citing. Use quotation marks if the webpage has a separate title from the overall website.
Provide the date of publication or last update:
If the date of publication is given, include it in parentheses after the title. If there is no publication date, use the date you accessed the webpage in parentheses.
Include the Uniform Resource Locator (URL):
Provide the complete URL of the specific webpage or section. Note that URLs may change over time, so it’s important to check for the most up-to-date version.
Structure the citation:
The basic structure of a citation for a specific webpage or section is as follows:
