How to Cite a Website in ASA (7th Edition)

This guide explains how to format a website citation in ASA (7th Edition). Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a website in ASA (7th Edition):

Template

Author (or Organization). Year. "Title of Page." *Website Name*. Retrieved Month Day, Year (URL).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(U.S. Census Bureau 2024)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

U.S. Census Bureau. 2024. "Income and Poverty in the United States: 2023." *U.S. Census Bureau*. Retrieved January 15, 2026 (https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/p60-280.html).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author or organization
Use the individual author or organizational name.
2
Add the year
Write the publication year. If no date, use "N.d."
3
Write the page title
Place in double quotation marks with headline-style capitalization.
4
Add the website name
Italicize the website name. If the website name is the same as the author, you may still include it.
5
Include retrieval date and URL
Write "Retrieved" followed by the date in Month Day, Year format, then the URL in parentheses. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using "accessed" instead of ASA's "Retrieved Month Day, Year (URL)" format.
Placing the URL outside the parentheses.
Not including the retrieval date for web sources.
Forgetting to place the page title in quotation marks.
Omitting the website name.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does ASA format the URL differently from other styles?

ASA places the URL in parentheses after the retrieval date: Retrieved March 15, 2026 (https://...). This is unique to ASA.

Is the retrieval date always required?

Yes. ASA requires a retrieval date for all online sources. The format is: Retrieved Month Day, Year (URL).

How do I cite a data set from a website?

Use the same format: Organization. Year. "Data Set Title." *Website*. Retrieved Date (URL).

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your website:

Author(s) or Organization
Date of publication or last update
Title of page or article
Website name
URL
Date accessed (if no publication date)

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author or organization

Use the individual author or organizational name.

Add the year

Write the publication year. If no date, use "N.d."

Write the page title

Place in double quotation marks with headline-style capitalization.

Add the website name

Italicize the website name. If the website name is the same as the author, you may still include it.

Include retrieval date and URL

Write "Retrieved" followed by the date in Month Day, Year format, then the URL in parentheses. End with a period.