How to Cite a Website in ASA
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
Author. Year. "Title." Site Name. Retrieved Month Day, Year (URL).
Citation Components
Author(s)
Invert only the first author and use the full given name (Smith, John D.). Later authors appear first name first, with and before the last.
Year
The year of publication follows the author.
Title
Article and chapter titles take quotation marks with headline capitalization.
Source Details
Italicize journal and book titles. Journal locator is Volume(Issue):pages.
Real-World Example
Example Source
World Health Organization
2024
Global tuberculosis report
World Health Organization
Geneva
https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme
July 11, 2026
Formatted Citation
World Health Organization. 2024. "Global Tuberculosis Report." World Health Organization. Retrieved July 11, 2026 (https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme).
In-Text Citation
(World Health Organization 2024)
(Author Year) or (Author Year:Page) for a direct quote
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
Smith, John D., Jones, Jane A. 2024. "Title." American Sociological Review 89(3):211-220.
Right:
Smith, John D., and Jane A. Jones. 2024. "Title." American Sociological Review 89(3):211-220.
Why: Only the first author is inverted; later authors appear first name first, with and before the last.
Wrong:
Smith, J. D. 2024. "Title." American Sociological Review 89(3):211-220.
Right:
Smith, John D. 2024. "Title." American Sociological Review 89(3):211-220.
Why: ASA uses full given names for authors, not initials.
Wrong:
Smith, John D. 2024. Effects of Sleep. American Sociological Review 89(3):211-220.
Right:
Smith, John D. 2024. "Effects of Sleep." American Sociological Review 89(3):211-220.
Why: Article titles take quotation marks and the journal title is italicized.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I format a website in ASA style? ▼
Follow the template above: invert only the first author, give the year, then the title with the correct styling, and the source details. Entries in the References list are alphabetical by first author surname.
How do ASA in-text citations work? ▼
Use the author surname and year: (Smith 2024). Add a page number after a colon for a direct quote: (Smith 2024:15). For three or more authors use the first author followed by et al.
When does ASA use quotation marks versus italics? ▼
Article and chapter titles take quotation marks; journal and book titles are italicized. Both use headline capitalization.
Need to Generate a Citation?
Use our free ASA (American Sociological Association) citation generator tool to instantly format your citations.
Go to ASA Citation Generator →Looking for other citation styles or source types?
View All Citation Guides →