Understanding APA and Wikipedia Citations
Understanding how to cite sources correctly is a crucial skill, especially when it comes to academic writing. APA (American Psychological Association) style is one common method of citation used in many academic fields. Of particular interest is how to cite digital sources like Wikipedia, an open-collaboration encyclopedia which is frequently used in research. This tutorial will make it clear how to cite Wikipedia APA-style and how to in-text cite Wikipedia.
Why and When to Cite Wikipedia
Being an open-source platform, Wikipedia offers valuable information on a wide range of topics. It is always important to cite your sources to acknowledge the original author’s work, avoid plagiarism, and provide readers with the source of information for further reading. Although Wikipedia might not typically be preferred in most scholarly works due to its open-edit nature, certain contexts may call for its usage, making it essential to know how to cite Wikipedia in APA.
Basic Rules for an APA Wikipedia Citation
APA citations typically include the authors name, publication year, title of the work, and source. However, Wikipedia, being a collaborative platform, doesn’t have a traditional author. Thus, some adjustments are needed for an APA Wikipedia citation.
How to Cite Wikipedia APA
Considering Wikipedia has no designated authors, the title of the entry is listed first. For example:
Entry Title. (Year, Month Day of last revision). In Wikipedia. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
Here’s an actual example for a topic like ‘Artificial Intelligence’:
Artificial Intelligence. (2022, March 30) In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 01, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_Intelligence
How to In-Text Cite Wikipedia
Just as with other online sources, Wikipedia articles, when used as a reference, must also be acknowledged in the body of the text. These are known as in-text citations and they typically contain the title and the year of publication/last update.
Following is the format:
(“Entry Title,” Year)
For example:
(“Artificial Intelligence,” 2022)
FAQs: APA Wikipedia Citation
1. Do I need to cite Wikipedia?
Yes, if you used information from Wikipedia as part of your research, it should be cited just like any other source to avoid plagiarism.
2. How reliable is Wikipedia for academic writing?
Due to the nature of open-editing, Wikipedias reliability is often questioned in academia. However, each entry usually lists references at the end, which are potentially reliable sources useful for academic research.
Wrapping Up
Familiarizing yourself with how to cite Wikipedia in APA, refine your research skills – a great tool for language learners and scholars alike. Practice makes perfect, so experiment with the techniques above to proficiently master APA citation for Wikipedia.
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