How to Cite Wikipedia in APA Format (7th Edition)
Complete guide to citing Wikipedia in APA 7. Covers article citations, when to use Wikipedia, and alternative scholarly sources.
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Understanding Wikipedia Citation Format in APA Style
Citing sources correctly is crucial in any academic writing. The APA (American Psychological Association) citation style has specific rules that help ensure clarity and consistency. This guide will focus on how to cite Wikipedia in APA format, following the 7th edition guidelines.
Basic Structure of a Wikipedia Citation
When citing Wikipedia, the format generally follows the structure for web pages in APA style. The basic format includes the author (often omitted for Wikipedia), the date of the last update, the title of the entry in italics, and the URL. Here is the basic format:
Author. (Year, Month Day). Title of the entry. Website name. URL
Citing Wikipedia Entries
In most cases, Wikipedia does not have a traditional author. Instead, you will treat "Wikipedia" as the group author. Here is how to format a citation for a Wikipedia page.
Example 1: Citing a Wikipedia Entry
Wikipedia. (2023, October 5). Psychology. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology
In this citation:
- Author: Wikipedia
- Date: (2023, October 5) indicates when the last edit was made to the entry.
- Title: Psychology is italicized, as it is the title of the page.
- Website Name: Wikipedia is repeated here.
- URL: The link is presented as a live hyperlink.
Importance of Accurate Citation
Accurate citations are essential for several reasons:
- Credibility: Citing your sources adds credibility to your work. It shows that you have consulted reliable references and are building your argument on established knowledge.
- Avoiding Plagiarism: Proper citation helps you avoid plagiarism, which is the unethical practice of using someone else's ideas or words without credit.
- Reader Guidance: Well-formatted citations guide readers to original sources, allowing them to verify information or explore further.
Common Pitfalls When Citing Wikipedia
When citing Wikipedia, several common mistakes can occur:
- Neglecting the Date: Always include the date of the last update. Wikipedia entries can change frequently, so this information is crucial.
- Forgetting the Italics: Remember to italicize the title of the entry to distinguish it from the rest of the citation.
- Incorrect URL Formatting: Ensure that the URL is complete and starts with http:// or https://. Do not include a period at the end of the URL.
Practical Tips for Citing Wikipedia
- Check the Edit Date: Always check the "View history" tab on the Wikipedia page to find the most recent edit date.
- Use the Search Function: If you are unsure about the title of a Wikipedia entry, use the search function on the website to find the correct title quickly.
- Keep it Simple: When formatting your citation, keep it straightforward. Avoid adding unnecessary information that could clutter your citation.
Additional Examples of Citing Wikipedia
Example 2: Citing a Specific Topic
Wikipedia. (2023, September 15). Cognitive dissonance. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance
Example 3: Citing a Historical Event
Wikipedia. (2023, August 20). The moon landing. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_landing
In each of these examples, you follow the same structure: author, date, title, website name, and URL. This consistency is vital for maintaining clarity in your references.
Why These Rules Matter
The rules for citing Wikipedia in APA format are designed to maintain a standard that benefits both writers and readers. By following these guidelines, you:
- Ensure that your work aligns with academic standards.
- Help readers locate the sources you reference easily.
- Present your work in a professional manner that reflects attention to detail.
Conclusion
Citing Wikipedia in APA style is straightforward if you follow the established guidelines. Remember to treat Wikipedia as the author, include the last updated date, italicize the title, and provide a proper URL. By adhering to these rules, you enhance the credibility of your writing, avoid plagiarism, and guide your readers effectively. Use the examples and tips provided here to avoid common pitfalls and ensure that your citations are accurate and well-formatted.
Step-by-Step Instructions
What You Need
- Access to a computer or device with internet connectivity
- A web browser
- The specific Wikipedia page you wish to cite
- A reference management tool (optional, but helpful for organizing citations)
- Basic understanding of APA 7th edition citation style
Steps to Create a Wikipedia Citation in APA 7th Edition
1. Locate the Wikipedia Page
Action: Open your web browser and navigate to the Wikipedia page that you want to cite.
Verification: Ensure that the page contains the information you wish to reference. Look for the title of the page at the top as this will be part of your citation.
Time Estimate: 2-5 minutes
Tip for Efficiency: Use the search function on Wikipedia for quicker access to specific articles.
2. Identify the Title of the Article
Action: Take note of the title of the Wikipedia article. This title will need to be italicized in your citation.
Verification: Confirm that you have copied the title exactly as it appears, including any punctuation.
Time Estimate: 1 minute
Tip for Efficiency: Highlight the title and copy it to your clipboard to avoid any typos.
3. Find the Publication Date
Action: Scroll down to the bottom of the Wikipedia page to locate the "View history" tab. Click on it to find the last edited date, which you will use as the publication date.
Verification: Make sure that the date you note corresponds to the last edit and that it is formatted correctly (e.g., Year, Month Day).
Time Estimate: 3-5 minutes
Tip for Efficiency: Note the date in the format required by APA (e.g., 2023, October 5).
4. Gather the URL
Action: Copy the URL from the address bar of your browser.
Verification: Ensure that the URL is complete and starts with either "http://" or "https://".
Time Estimate: 1 minute
Tip for Efficiency: Paste the URL into a text document for easy access when you write your citation.
5. Format the Citation
Action: Using the information gathered, format your citation according to APA 7th edition guidelines. Here is the basic structure:
- Title of the article (italicized).
- (Year, Month Day).
- URL
For example:
Wikipedia Article Title. (2023, October 5). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_of_the_article
Verification: Double-check that the title is italicized, the date is in parentheses, and the URL is accurate.
Time Estimate: 5-10 minutes
Tip for Efficiency: Use a citation generator or management tool to help format correctly, but always review for accuracy.
6. Create In-Text Citations
Action: If you are using the Wikipedia source in your writing, you need to create an in-text citation. For a narrative citation, you can mention the article title and year. For a parenthetical citation, use the article title and year in parentheses.
Verification: Ensure that the in-text citation corresponds to the full citation in your reference list.
Time Estimate: 2-3 minutes
Tip for Efficiency: Keep a list of in-text citation formats handy for quick referencing.
7. Compile Your Reference List
Action: Add your formatted citation to your reference list at the end of your document, ensuring that it is in alphabetical order by the first author's last name or by the title if there is no author.
Verification: Confirm that the reference list is correctly formatted according to APA standards, including hanging indentation if required.
Time Estimate: 5 minutes
Tip for Efficiency: Use a reference management tool to maintain and format your reference list automatically.
8. Review and Finalize
Action: Carefully review both your citation and reference list for any errors or formatting issues before finalizing your document.
Verification: Ensure consistency in your citations and that all necessary information is present.
Time Estimate: 5-10 minutes
Tip for Efficiency: Consider having someone else review your citations for a fresh perspective.
By following these steps, you can create accurate and properly formatted Wikipedia citations in APA 7th edition with ease. With practice, this process will become quicker and more intuitive.
Common Errors for Wikipedia Citation Citations
Students focus on sentence case rules but forget that proper nouns are always capitalized regardless of case rules
How to Avoid It:- Identify all proper nouns in the title including names of people
- Ensure names of places, organizations, and institutions are capitalized
- Capitalize specific geographic names and locations mentioned
- Maintain capitalization of brand names and historical events referenced
Students forget that subtitles are treated as separate sentences for capitalization purposes
How to Avoid It:- Locate all colons in the title that separate main title from subtitle
- Capitalize the first word immediately following each colon without exception
- Apply sentence case or title case rules to remaining subtitle words appropriately
- Ensure subtitle capitalization matches the type of title case being used
Students don't know when acronyms should be in all capitals versus following sentence case rules
How to Avoid It:- Identify well-known acronyms like CDC, NASA, APA, FBI that are widely recognized
- Keep these acronyms in all capitals regardless of sentence case rules
- For lesser-known acronyms, follow standard usage or title case rules
- Check if acronym is commonly written in all caps in professional contexts
Students partially apply rules but are inconsistent, mixing sentence and title case
How to Avoid It:- Choose correct case type for the source type first
- Apply rules consistently throughout the entire title without exception
- Double-check all words against the chosen case rules
- Review title for consistent application of capitalization throughout
Students focus on sentence case rules but forget the basic rule to always capitalize the first word
How to Avoid It:- Always capitalize the first word of any title without exception
- This applies regardless of sentence case or title case formatting used
- Check the very first character of the title for proper capitalization
- Ensure first word is capitalized even if it's a minor word type
Students extend italics beyond appropriate boundaries or apply them inconsistently
How to Avoid It:- Review italics boundaries carefully in citation formatting
- Italicize only titles and volume numbers in reference lists
- Keep all other elements like publisher location in plain text
- Ensure italics start and stop at appropriate points
Students omit periods after initials, especially when multiple initials are present
How to Avoid It:- Add period after each initial in author name formatting
- Ensure all initials have periods following them consistently
- Check that no initials are missing periods in reference lists
- Verify spacing between initials with periods is correct
Students space initials like regular words, not realizing they should be compact
How to Avoid It:- Remove spaces between initials in author name formatting
- Keep initials together without spacing between them
- Maintain periods after each initial without extra spacing
- Check that initials appear as M.K. not M. K. in citations
Students focus on the year in parentheses but forget the period after closing parenthesis
How to Avoid It:- Add period after closing parenthesis of year in citations
- Ensure year is in parentheses followed by period consistently
- Check that year information is complete with proper period
- Verify spacing between year period and title is correct
Students focus on internal punctuation but forget the citation must end with a period
How to Avoid It:- Add period at the very end of the citation reference
- Ensure citation ends with proper punctuation consistently
- Check that no citation is missing final period in reference list
- Verify that final period is not preceded by extra spacing
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Validation Checklist
Before submitting your Wikipedia Citation citation, verify:
- In APA 7th edition, single authors are formatted with last name followed by a comma and first and middle initials. The initials should be separated by periods but not spaces. This format applies to all reference types including journal articles, books, and webpages. The author's name should be inverted (last name first) in the reference list only. This rule ensures consistency across all citation formats and makes alphabetical ordering more efficient in reference lists.
- For works with two authors, both names should be inverted (last name first) and separated by an ampersand (&) rather than the word 'and'. Each author's name follows the single author format (Last name, initials). The ampersand should be preceded by a comma. This format is used in both reference lists and parenthetical citations, but narrative citations use 'and' instead of '&'. This rule distinguishes APA from other citation styles and maintains consistency across multi-author works.
- For works with 21 or more authors, list the first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis (...), then list the final author. The ellipsis replaces authors 20 through the second-to-last author. All listed authors follow the standard inverted format. This rule prevents extremely long citation lists while still providing key attribution information. The ellipsis should not be italicized or bracketed. This change from APA 6th edition's 7+ author rule provides more comprehensive author listing.
- Author titles, suffixes, and credentials (like Jr., Sr., II, III, Ph.D., M.D.) should be included in the reference list. Suffixes like Jr., Sr., II, and III follow the initials, separated by commas. Academic and professional credentials are generally omitted from reference list entries but may be included in special circumstances. Titles like Dr., Professor, or military ranks are not included in reference list citations. This rule provides complete identification when needed while avoiding unnecessary credential inflation.
- When including URLs for websites, online documents, or other sources without DOIs, present them as live hyperlinks without any special formatting or punctuation. APA 7 removes the 'Retrieved from' prefix that was required in APA 6 for most URLs. URLs should be presented in their simplest form, beginning with http:// or https://, and should be hyperlinks in digital documents. Do not add a period at the end of a URL unless it is part of the original URL. This simplification makes citations cleaner while maintaining functionality for digital access to sources.
- When a URL or DOI leads to a broken or inactive link, APA 7 provides several options for handling the citation. If the source is available through an archive like the Internet Archive, include the archived URL. If the source cannot be located, include as much information as possible and note that the resource is no longer available. For journal articles with broken DOIs, include the DOI but add a note indicating it's inactive. The principle is to provide enough information for readers to locate the source if possible, while acknowledging access limitations. This represents more detailed guidance than APA 6 provided for handling broken links.
Special Cases
Understanding Special and Edge Cases in Wikipedia Citations for APA Style
Citing Wikipedia entries in APA format involves understanding specific rules and potential special cases. Wikipedia, as a collaborative online encyclopedia, presents unique challenges for citations. Still, following the APA 7th edition guidelines can ensure clarity and consistency. This guide will explore these special cases and edge cases, provide examples, and offer practical tips for accurate citations.
General Guidelines for Citing Wikipedia
Before delving into special cases, it is essential to understand the general format for citing Wikipedia in APA style. The basic citation format for a Wikipedia entry includes the author (Wikipedia contributors), the title of the entry, the date of last update, and the URL. Here is the standard format:
Reference format:
Wikipedia contributors. (Year, Month Day). Title of the entry. Wikipedia. URL
Special Cases in Wikipedia Citations
1. No Individual Author
Wikipedia articles do not have individual authors as they are collaboratively written. Instead, the citation starts with "Wikipedia contributors," followed by the title and the rest of the citation. This format is crucial because it acknowledges that the work is a collective effort, not the work of a single author.
Example:
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, October 1). Artificial intelligence. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence
This example shows how to attribute the work to the community of contributors rather than to an individual.
2. Content That May Change Frequently
Since Wikipedia entries are continually updated, the date of retrieval is typically omitted. However, if you are citing a version of the article for a specific purpose, such as an academic assignment, it is advisable to note the date you accessed the article.
Example:
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, October 1). Climate change. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change
In this case, the citation reflects the entry as it stood on the last edit date. If you were to reference the article on a different date, you might state that in your text. For instance, "As of October 1, 2023, climate change is defined as..."
3. Citing a Specific Section or Subsection
When referencing a specific section within a Wikipedia entry, it can be helpful to include the section title in your in-text citation. This helps readers locate the exact information you are referencing without confusion.
Example:
In your text, you might write: "According to the section 'Impacts' in the Wikipedia article on climate change (Wikipedia contributors, 2023), the effects are widespread."
This approach directs readers to the specific part of the entry, making your citation more precise.
Edge Cases in Wikipedia Citations
1. Wikipedia Articles with Multiple Language Versions
Wikipedia articles exist in multiple languages. If you are referencing an article in a language other than English, you should specify the language in the citation.
Example:
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, October 1). Cambio climático [Climate change]. Wikipedia. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambio_climático
This citation indicates that the article being referenced is in Spanish, providing clarity to the reader.
2. Citing Images or Media from Wikipedia
If you reference an image or media file hosted on Wikipedia, you should cite it separately. Include the title of the media and the URL where it can be found, following a similar structure.
Example:
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, October 1). Image of climate change impacts. Wikipedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Climate_change_impacts.jpg
This format allows you to properly attribute the media while adhering to APA citation standards.
Importance of Following APA Citation Rules
Adhering to APA citation rules is crucial for several reasons. First, it ensures academic integrity by giving proper credit to original authors and sources. Second, it helps readers locate the sources you used, facilitating further research. Third, consistent formatting enhances the professionalism of your work, making it easier to read and understand.
Practical Tips for Citing Wikipedia
- Always Check for Updates: Since Wikipedia entries are frequently updated, ensure you are referencing the most current version of the article.
- Use the Talk Page: Each Wikipedia entry has a talk page where contributors discuss updates and changes. This can provide insight into the article's reliability.
- Be Mindful of Bias: Wikipedia is a collaborative effort and can sometimes reflect bias. It is good practice to verify information from additional, credible sources.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Including a Retrieval Date: Unless you are citing for a specific version, avoid including a retrieval date in your citation.
- Forgetting to Specify Language: If citing a non-English article, ensure to mention the language in the citation.
- Neglecting to Check URLs: Ensure the URL is accurate and leads directly to the source you are referencing.
Conclusion
Citing Wikipedia in APA format necessitates an understanding of its unique characteristics. By following the guidelines and examples provided, you can effectively navigate special and edge cases in your citations. The importance of clear and consistent citations cannot be overstated, as they underpin academic writing and research integrity. Always strive for accuracy and clarity in your citations to enhance the quality of your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a Wikipedia article in APA format?
To cite a Wikipedia article in APA format, you should include the title of the article, the year of the last update, the title of the website, and the URL. For example, the citation might look like this: Title of the article. (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. URL. Remember to use the date of the last edit, which you can find in the history section of the article. It is important to note that Wikipedia is not considered a reliable source for academic work. However, it can be useful for preliminary research or to guide you to more credible sources.
What should I include when citing a specific section of a Wikipedia article?
When citing a specific section of a Wikipedia article, it is essential to include the title of the article, the date of the last update, and the URL. If you are referencing a specific section, you may add a section heading after the article title. For example: Title of the article (Section heading). (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. URL. This practice helps clarify which part of the article you are referencing, especially if the article is lengthy or covers multiple topics. Always verify the information you gather from Wikipedia by consulting more authoritative sources.
Can I use Wikipedia as a source for my research paper?
While Wikipedia can provide a general overview of a topic, it is not considered a reliable source for research papers. This is due to the fact that its articles can be edited by anyone, which raises concerns about accuracy and credibility. However, you can use Wikipedia as a starting point to identify credible sources. Look at the references and citations at the bottom of the Wikipedia article. These references can lead you to primary and secondary sources that are more suitable for academic work. Always cross-check the information before including it in your research.
What if I can't find the author of the Wikipedia article?
Most Wikipedia articles do not have a specific author because they are collaboratively written by many users. When you are citing a Wikipedia article, you can simply use the title of the article in place of the author. For example: Title of the article. (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. URL. This approach is acceptable in APA style, as Wikipedia articles are treated as group authors when no individual author is identified. Ensure that you still include the date of the last update and the URL to provide complete citation details.
How do I format my in-text citation for a Wikipedia article?
For in-text citations of a Wikipedia article in APA format, you would typically use the title of the article and the year of the last update. If the title is lengthy, you can shorten it. For example: (Title of the article, Year). If you are quoting directly, include a paragraph number if available, for instance: (Title of the article, Year, para. 2). Remember that in-text citations should correspond to a full citation in your reference list. It's important to ensure that your in-text citation is clear and allows readers to easily find the source in your reference section.
Is it acceptable to cite Wikipedia in a professional or academic context?
Citing Wikipedia in a professional or academic context is generally discouraged. Many educators and academic institutions view it as an unreliable source due to its open-edit nature. However, citing Wikipedia can be acceptable in specific cases, such as when you are discussing the Wikipedia platform itself or when it serves as a gateway to reputable sources. If you do choose to cite Wikipedia, ensure that you critically evaluate the information and supplement it with more authoritative sources to strengthen your work. Always check your institution’s guidelines for citing sources to ensure compliance.
Last Updated: 2025-10-26
Reading Time: 10 minutes
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