How to cite websites, legal acts and industry reports
Unorthodox sources make it difficult because they don't always have a personal author, year, or traditional place of publication.
Key information
- ✓First, identify the type of document and the style required.
- ✓The author of the report may be the institution responsible.
- ✓Do not replace the page title with the URL itself.
- ✓Only record the date of access if you need style or content variability.
The website and the online document
An article, a PDF report, an official communication and an entry on the page are not the same kind of source. Open the material and search for the author, institution, title, update date, report number and DOI. Create a description based on the document, not just a search engine result.
Reports and statistics
For the report, enter the institution or author, the title, year and address or DOI. Enter the name of the collection, the range of data and the date of download, if the database is updated, in the statistical database tables.
Legal acts
A description of the act should allow for a clear identification of its title, date, place of publication and appropriate version.The method of recording depends on the style and guidelines of the department.
Final inspection
Check that each reference is consistent with the bibliography, address function, and a uniform record of institution names. If the source has a durable DOI, it's usually a better identifier than a long session address.
Summary
The reader should be able to identify the author or institution, the title, version or date of the document and the place where the material was made available.
Frequently asked questions
Is the link alone enough in the bibliography?
No, the address is just one element of the description, and you also need to identify the author or institution, title and date, if available.
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