How to Cite The Wall Street Journal in APA Format

Complete guide to citing The Wall Street Journal in APA 7th edition with examples, unique formatting requirements, and common issues specific to this source.

The Wall Street Journal presents unique citation challenges that require specific guidance beyond general source type rules. This page provides targeted help for finding citation information, handling The Wall Street Journal's particular format requirements, and avoiding common mistakes specific to this platform.

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Quick Reference: The Wall Street Journal Citations

Reference List Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Name of Newspaper. URL

The Wall Street Journal-Specific Notes:
Citing The Wall Street Journal in APA 7th edition requires special attention to its format and publication details. Unlike standard journal articles, The Wall Street Journal is a newspaper, which necessitates citing the full publication date, including the year, month, and day. The reference format for a print article looks like this: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. The Wall Street Journal, p. Page number. For online articles, replace the page number with a URL: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. The Wall Street Journal. URL.

Where The Wall Street Journal differs from standard citation rules is primarily in the use of the full date and the newspaper format. Unlike scholarly journals that typically require volume and issue numbers, newspapers like The Wall Street Journal rely on the specific date to direct readers to the correct article. This requirement can be a source of confusion for students accustomed to omitting the month and day in other citations.

To avoid common mistakes, students should ensure they distinguish between print and online versions, accurately incorporating URLs when citing digital articles. Additionally, students should verify author names, as newspaper articles can sometimes list authors differently than academic journals. It's crucial to pay attention to the article's title and ensure it is italicized, along with the newspaper's name, to adhere to APA guidelines. These best practices will help ensure accurate and effective citations for The Wall Street Journal.

In-Text Citation:
- Parenthetical: ([Author], [Year])
- Narrative: [Author] ([Year])

Key Points:
- Use Newspaper Article format with The Wall Street Journal specifics
- Locate citation info on The Wall Street Journal's website
- Handle The Wall Street Journal's unique formatting requirements

Last Updated: 2025-10-29 | Reading Time: 5 minutes

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Where to Find Citation Information on The Wall Street Journal

When conducting academic research and needing to cite articles from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), it's essential to know where to find the necessary citation details such as the author, publication date, title, and URL. Here's a detailed guide to help you navigate the WSJ website and locate these elements efficiently:

  1. Author: On The Wall Street Journal website, identifying the author is straightforward. When you open an article, look for the author byline, which is typically situated just below the article's headline. The author’s name is usually hyperlinked, allowing you to click through for more details about their other works or biography. In cases where an article has multiple authors, each name will be listed in this area.

  2. Publication Date: The publication date is crucial for accurate citation and is prominently displayed beneath the article's headline, along with the author byline. It is formatted in the month-day-year style, such as "September 15, 2023." This information is essential to include as it indicates the timeliness and context of the article.

  3. Article Title: The title of the article is prominently displayed at the top of the page. It usually appears in a bold, larger font, making it one of the easiest pieces of information to locate. Ensure you record the title exactly as it appears, including any punctuation, as this is crucial for a correct citation.

  4. URL/Access Information: The URL, or web address, is found in the browser's address bar at the top of your web browser. It is unique to the article and should be copied in full for your citation. The Wall Street Journal often uses a paywall, meaning full access to articles might require a subscription. If you accessed the article via a library database or alternative source, note this in your citation as well.

When citing the information from The Wall Street Journal in APA 7th edition, ensure you follow this format:

Author(s). (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. The Wall Street Journal. URL

For instance:
Smith, J. (2023, September 15). How market trends are shifting in 2023. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-market-trends-are-shifting-in-2023

By following these steps, you can efficiently gather the necessary details for citing articles from The Wall Street Journal, ensuring accuracy and compliance with academic standards.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your The Wall Street Journal Citation

How to Create a Wall Street Journal Citation in APA Format

Creating a citation for an article from The Wall Street Journal can seem daunting if you are unfamiliar with APA format. However, with a step-by-step approach, you can easily master this process. This guide will provide clear instructions to help you create a proper citation.

What You Need

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Identify the Article
    - Action: Locate the article you want to cite on The Wall Street Journal website.
    - Verification: Ensure you have the correct article by checking both the title and the author.
    - Time Estimate: 5 minutes.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Use the search bar on the website to find the article quickly by entering relevant keywords.

  2. Find the Author's Name
    - Action: Look for the author's name at the beginning or end of the article. It is usually displayed prominently.
    - Verification: Confirm that you have the full name of the author. In APA format, you will need the last name followed by the initials of the first and middle names, if available.
    - Time Estimate: 2 minutes.
    - Tip for Efficiency: If the author's full name is not displayed, check the article's byline or the author’s profile link.

  3. Determine the Publication Date
    - Action: Look for the publication date, which is typically found near the title or at the top of the article.
    - Verification: Make sure you capture the full date, including the year, month, and day.
    - Time Estimate: 1 minute.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Note this information down immediately, as it is essential for creating a complete citation.

  4. Write the Title of the Article
    - Action: Identify the title of the article. This should be in sentence case, meaning only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized.
    - Verification: Ensure that you have copied the title exactly as it appears in the article.
    - Time Estimate: 1 minute.
    - Tip for Efficiency: If you are using a digital document, copy and paste the title directly to avoid errors.

  5. Add the Name of the Newspaper
    - Action: You will need to include the name of the newspaper, which in this case is The Wall Street Journal.
    - Verification: Check that you have formatted the newspaper name in italics, as per APA guidelines.
    - Time Estimate: 30 seconds.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Write the newspaper name down in advance if you are preparing multiple citations.

  6. Locate the Article's URL
    - Action: Copy the URL from the address bar of your web browser while you are viewing the article.
    - Verification: Make sure that the URL is complete and leads directly to the article you are citing.
    - Time Estimate: 1 minute.
    - Tip for Efficiency: If you are citing multiple sources, bookmark the articles for easier access.

  7. Format Your Citation
    - Action: Combine all the elements you have gathered into the APA citation format:
    Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Name of Newspaper. URL.
    - Verification: Double-check your citation against the APA format template to ensure it is correct.
    - Time Estimate: 3 minutes.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Use a citation generator tool to help format the citation if you are unsure.

  8. Review and Revise
    - Action: Read through your citation to check for any typos or formatting errors.
    - Verification: Ensure all parts of the citation are included and correctly formatted.
    - Time Estimate: 2 minutes.
    - Tip for Efficiency: Consider having a peer review your citation to catch any mistakes you may have overlooked.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully create a citation for an article from The Wall Street Journal in APA format. This process will become easier with practice, and you will find that these skills are valuable not only for your current project but for future academic writing as well. Remember to take your time and verify each component of your citation to ensure accuracy. Happy citing!

Real Examples from The Wall Street Journal

This section provides authentic citation examples from The Wall Street Journal using recent publications from 2023-2024.

I don't have direct access to external websites like The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) to pull recent articles directly. However, I can guide you on how to create APA 7th edition citations and provide hypothetical examples based on typical WSJ articles. Here’s how you can format and cite WSJ articles:

Example 1: Standard Individual Author

Scenario Description: This is a news article written by a single journalist discussing recent economic trends.

Complete Reference List Citation:
Smith, J. (2023, September 15). Economic growth shows signs of slowing. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/economic-growth-shows-signs-of-slowing

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
(Smith, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative Format):
Smith (2023) discusses the recent signs of slowing economic growth.

Notes: This example represents a standard article format with a single author, which is the most straightforward citation case.

Example 2: Corporate Author

Scenario Description: An editorial piece published by The Wall Street Journal editorial board on political developments.

Complete Reference List Citation:
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board. (2023, October 10). The implications of the latest policy changes. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/implications-of-latest-policy-changes

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
(The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative Format):
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board (2023) outlines the implications of recent policy changes.

Notes: This example is unique because it uses a corporate author, which is common for editorials or opinion pieces from the publication's editorial board.

Example 3: Multiple Authors

Scenario Description: A collaborative investigative article on a major financial scandal, written by two journalists.

Complete Reference List Citation:
Johnson, L., & Lee, R. (2023, August 20). Uncovering the financial scandal: A deeper dive. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/uncovering-financial-scandal

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
(Johnson & Lee, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative Format):
Johnson and Lee (2023) investigate the details of a significant financial scandal.

Notes: This citation involves multiple authors, showcasing how to format such cases in APA. Only the first author's surname is inverted.

Example 4: Special Formatting Case

Scenario Description: A feature article with an unusual title format, perhaps containing a subtitle or special emphasis (e.g., all caps for emphasis).

Complete Reference List Citation:
Davis, M. (2023, July 5). INSIDE THE TECH GIANT: A revolution in innovation. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-the-tech-giant

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
(Davis, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative Format):
Davis (2023) explores the innovative strategies within a major tech company.

Notes: Titles with special formatting such as all caps for emphasis in the original must be presented in sentence case in the reference list, while maintaining the original emphasis in the article title if it’s significant.

These examples are for illustration purposes and reflect typical scenarios and citation styles you might encounter with WSJ articles. Be sure to replace the hypothetical details with actual article information when you find real articles.

Common Issues When Citing The Wall Street Journal

Identifying Authors

Issue Description

Students often struggle to identify the correct author(s) when citing articles from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). This can occur because the authors' names are not always prominently displayed.

Why It Happens

The WSJ often lists multiple contributors, or the author’s name might be embedded within the article rather than at the top, making it less visible compared to other publications.

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Look for the Byline: Check at the beginning of the article for a byline that usually states "By [Author's Name]."
  2. Check the End of the Article: If the byline is not immediately visible, scroll down to the end of the article where the author’s name might be repeated.
  3. Verify with the WSJ Website: If multiple names are listed, choose the primary author mentioned in the byline or the first name if no primary author is specified.

Before: Citing the article with no author: (Wall Street Journal, 2023).

After: Citing with author: (Smith, 2023).

Date Formats

Issue Description

Students often use incorrect date formats when citing WSJ articles, leading to inconsistencies in their reference lists.

Why It Happens

The WSJ articles often include the time of publication alongside the date, which can confuse students about what to include.

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Focus on the Date: Ignore the time of publication and focus on the date only.
  2. Use APA Format: Format the date as Year, Month Day (e.g., 2023, October 5).
  3. Check the Top or Bottom of the Article: The date is usually listed near the article title or at the bottom.

Before: Using the full date and time: (2023, October 5, 10:30 AM).

After: Using the correct format: (2023, October 5).

URL Handling

Issue Description

Students often struggle with how to correctly format and include URLs for WSJ articles in their citations.

Why It Happens

The WSJ may have complex URLs or require subscription access, leading to confusion about what URL to use or whether to include it at all.

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Use the Stable URL: Copy the URL directly from the address bar when viewing the article.
  2. Subscription Notice: If subscription access is required, note this in your citation.
  3. Omit Retrieval Dates: APA 7th edition does not require retrieval dates for articles from stable sources like WSJ.

Before: Omitting URL or using a redirect link: Retrieved from http://wsj.com.

After: Correct URL usage: Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/article-title-123456.

Access Requirements

Issue Description

Citing WSJ articles can be challenging due to access restrictions, which may prevent students from accessing full-text articles without a subscription.

Why It Happens

The WSJ is a subscription-based service, and full access typically requires a paid account, limiting the ability to view and cite articles directly.

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Access Through Libraries: Many academic institutions provide access to WSJ for students. Check your library's electronic resources.
  2. Use Library Databases: Search for the WSJ article in databases like ProQuest or EBSCOhost, which might have full-text access.
  3. Note Subscription Requirement: If necessary, include a note in your citation that the article is from a subscription-based source.

Before: Attempting to cite without access: Smith, J. (2023, October 5). Retrieved from http://wsj.com.

After: Citing with access note: Smith, J. (2023, October 5). Article title. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/article-title-123456. (Access requires subscription)

By addressing these common issues, students can more accurately and effectively cite The Wall Street Journal, ensuring their work adheres to APA 7th edition guidelines.

Note: For general Newspaper Article citation errors, see How to Cite Newspaper Article.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Wall Street Journal

Q: How do I find the necessary citation information on The Wall Street Journal's website?

A: To locate citation information on The Wall Street Journal's website, navigate to the specific article and look for the byline, which typically includes the author's name and date of publication. Ensure you also capture the full title of the article and the URL for your reference list entry.

Q: How should I handle The Wall Street Journal articles with multiple authors or no byline?

A: For articles with multiple authors, list up to 20 authors by their last name and initials in your reference. If no author is listed, begin the citation with the article title in the reference list and use a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation.

Q: What should I do if The Wall Street Journal uses a date format different from standard APA?

A: Convert The Wall Street Journal's date format to the standard APA format (Year, Month Day). For example, if the article lists "October 5, 2023," format it as "2023, October 5" in your citation.

Q: How important is it to include the URL when citing The Wall Street Journal, and are there access requirements?

A: Always include the URL of the specific article at the end of your citation. If the article is behind a paywall, note that access may be restricted and consider indicating "Retrieved from [URL]" without an access date unless the content is likely to change.

Q: How does citing The Wall Street Journal differ from other newspaper articles in APA format?

A: Citing The Wall Street Journal is similar to other newspaper articles, but it often requires attention to access restrictions due to its paywall. Ensure to include the URL and adapt to any specific author or date formats used by the journal while following standard APA guidelines for newspaper articles.

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