How to Cite a Website in Bluebook (21st Edition)

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a website in Bluebook (21st Edition):

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Identify the author

   Write the individual author's full name or organisation name.

2. 2

   Write the page title

   Italicise the title of the specific page or article.

3. 3

   Add the website name

   Write the abbreviated name of the website or publishing organisation.

4. 4

   Include the URL

   Provide the direct URL to the page.

5. 5

   Add the 'last visited' date

   In parentheses, write 'last visited' followed by the date using Bluebook month abbreviations (e.g., Mar. 28, 2026). End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using 'accessed' instead of 'last visited'.
• Not italicising the page title.
• Abbreviating month names incorrectly (Bluebook has specific abbreviations).
• Adding a period after the URL before the parenthetical.
• Omitting the website/organisation name when it differs from the author.

Frequently Asked Questions

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)