When citing a webpage with no title or author, consider seriously if this is a reputable source appropriate for inclusion in a college-level paper. If you can find the information in a source that does provide details on the author, it is preferable.
Here's how to handle missing information in a reference:
| Type |
Description |
Example |
| No Date |
If there isn't a date available for the document use (n.d.) for no date. |
Smith, J., & Jones, S. (n.d.). Sleeping habits of the modern zombie. ZombieNews. https://www.zombie.com/sleeping
|
| No Author |
When there is no author listed on a web page, the title moves to the first position of the reference entry (APA Manual 8.14, p.264). Cite in-text the title of the webpage and the year. Use title case and double quotation marks around the title or abbreviated title (if the title is long). For example: ("Zombies Attack Denver," 2001). |
Zombies attack Denver. (2001). ZombieNews. https://news.zombies.com/health/story_13.asp
|
| No Title |
On rare occasions, a webpage will not have a title. If that is the case, you can make up a title and identify it with square brackets [ ]. If there is also no author, move the title in front of the date as normal. |
Example 1:
Smith, J. (2001). [Zombies attack Denver]. ZombieNews. https://news.zombies.com/health/story_13.asp
Example 2:
Zombies attack Denver]. (2001). ZombieNews. https://news.zombies.com/health/story_13.asp
|
