(1) Save all documents used for research. If you don't print out the information, at least save it to a disk. Information on the Internet might be removed or moved to another site when you try to find it later.
(2) Refer to a printed source, if available. Many Internet sources originated from print sources. The print source may contain more information than an abbreviated electronic version.
(3) Whenever possible, opt for a signed article. If no byline is given for information you want to cite, e-mail the Webmaster for the source of the information and explain why you need it.
(4) Research the author's credibility. Try to find biographical information or other material the author has written. If you can't find this in print or electronic sources, you may need to contact the author, through e-mail or other means, to find this information or to ask the author which version of his or her text is most authoritative.
(5) Find out from your professor which style format s/he prefers.
Disclaimer: There is not complete agreement among the guides presently available in citing electronic sources. These examples are simply provided as a guideline. Whichever format you follow, make sure that you are consistent throughout your work.
Additional information may be provided by the Learning Assistance Center (LAC) [3rd Floor, Blume Library] (436-3203) or a Reference Librarian (436-3508).
Note: Many of the links below will work only on the St. Mary's University campus.
Basic form
Author. Year. "Article Title." Journal Title or Information Source
Volume number(Issue number): Number of pages or paragraphs (if given),
or n. pag. (for no pagination). Information Service. Accessed: date
<URL>.
Author. Year. Report Title. Date Month. Information Service. Accessed:
date <URL>.Example
Digital Equipment Corp. 1996. Annual Report to Stockholders.
4 October--filing date. LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe, Category: Company
Financial Information. Accessed: 30 September 1997
<http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
Digital Equipment Corp. 1996. Form 10-K. 20 September--filing date.
LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe, Category: Company Financial Information.
Accessed: 30 September 1997 <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). 1997. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130: Reporting Comprehensive Income. June--issue date. CCH Internet Research Network, Category: Securities. Accessed: 13 March 2001 <http://business.cch.com/primesrc/bin/highwire.dll>.
Isaac, James D., Carol Sansone, and Jessi L. Smith. 1999. "Other People as a Source of Interest in an Activity." Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
35(3): 239-265. IDEAL. Accessed: 7 June 1999 <http://www.idealibrary.com>.
"Job, the Book of." 1997. Britannica Online. Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Accessed: 20 October 1997 <http://www.eb.com:180>.
"Lessing, Doris (May)." 1998. Contemporary Authors. Gale Literary Databases. Accessed: 13 October 1998 <http://www.galenet.com/>.
Turetzky, Marc David. 2000. "The Presidency and National Security:
Presidential Foreign Policymaking, 1945-1999." Congress and the Presidency
27(1): 93-100. Academic Search Premier.
Accessed: 9 July 2001 <http://ehostvgw10.epnet.com>.
Vogel, Gretchen. 2001. "Human Cloning Plans Spark Talk of U.S. Ban." Science
292(5514): 31. Academic Search Premier. Accessed: 9 July 2001
<http://ehostvgw10.epnet.com>.
Weeks, Linton. 1997. "Spares and Strikes." Washington Post 5 June, 651
words. LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe, Category: General News Topics. Accessed:
30 September, 1997 <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
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Basic form
Author. Year. Article Title. [Number of pages or paragraphs (if given),
or n. pag. (for no pagination)]. Journal Title, Volume number
(Issue number) Accessed: date <URL>.Example
Abram, Stephen, and Rebecca Jones. 2001. "Intelligent Conferences: Reality or Oxymoron?" Searcher 9(1): 6 pages. Accessed: 8 March 2001 <http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/jan01/abram&jones.htm>.
Basic form
Author/editor. Year. Title of page. Last update or copyright date, if
available. Information Supplier. Accessed: date <URL>.
Homepage Title. Last update or copyright date, if available. Information
supplier. Accessed: date <URL>.Example
Digital Equipment Corp. 1996. Form 10-K. 20 September--filing date.
Securities and Exchange Commission. Accessed: 28 January 1997
<http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/28887/0000950135-96-004030.txt>.
Patagonia. Patagonia. Accessed: 8 March 2001 <http://www.patagonia.com/>.
Seid, Timothy W. 2001. Interpreting Ancient Manuscripts Web.
19 January--last update. Brown University. Accessed: 8 Mar. 2001 <http://www.earlham.edu/~seidti/iam/interp_mss.html>.
Taco Cabana, Inc. 2000. 1999 Annual Report. May--creation date.
Taco Cabana, Inc. Accessed: 8 March 2001 <http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/NSD/TACO/reports/taco_000508_200_120.pdf>.
Turner, William. 1999--copyright. "Boethius, Anicius Manlius Severinus." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Transcriber Kevin Cawley. New Advent.
Accessed: 8 March 2001 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02610b.htm>.
Basic form
Petitioner v. Respondent. Year. Volume Source First Page.
Petitioner v. Respondent. Year. Volume Source First Page. Information
Supplier. Accessed: date <URL>.Example
Cisneros v. Alpine Ridge Group. 1993. 508 U.S. 10.
Cisneros v. Alpine Ridge Group. 1993. 508 U.S. 10. LEXIS-NEXIS Academic
Universe, Category: Federal Case Law. Accessed: 31 March 1998
<http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
Cisneros v. Alpine Ridge Group. 1993. 508 U.S. 10. FindLaw. Accessed:
31 March 1998 <http://caselaw.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/
getcase.pl?court=US&vol=508&invol=10#>.
National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley. 1998. 118 S.Ct. 2168.
LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe, Category: Federal Case Law. Accessed:
9 October 1998 <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley. 1998. No. 97-371 [U.S.]. FindLaw.
Accessed: 9 October 1998 <http://caselaw.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/
getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=97-371>.
Basic form
Author. Year. "Title of Document." Date of material. Database or Information
Source. Vendor. Accessed: date <URL>.
Author. Year. "Title of Document." [Medium] Date of material. Database or
Information Source. Vendor.Example
Bogdanowicz, Ewa. 2001. "Poland - Footwear." 1 January. National Trade Data Bank. STAT-USA. Accessed: 13 March 2001 <http://www.stat-usa.gov>.
United States. International Trade Administration. 1996. "Mexico: Monterrey
Economic News." [CD-ROM] 16 August. National Trade Data Bank. U.S.
Department of Commerce.
Basic form
Author/editor (if known). Date. Title. Information Source (Version)
[Medium]. Place of Publication: Publisher.
Information Source (Version) [CD-ROM]. Date. Place of Publication: Publisher.Example
Research Insight (Version 7.6) [CD-ROM]. 2000. New York: Standard & Poor’s.
{Research Insight was formerly known as Compustat}.
FISonline 2001. New York: Mergent FIS.
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Basic form
Author. Year. "Article Title." Periodical Title volume(issue): pages.
Abstract from: Information Source. Accessed: date <URL>.
Author. Year. "Article Title" [Medium]. Periodical Title volume(issue):
pages. Abstract from: Information Source.Example
Brier, Bob. 2001. "A Thoroughly Modern Mummy." Archaeology 54(1): 44-51.
Abstract from: Academic Search Premier. Accessed: 9 July 2001
<http://ehostvgw10.epnet.com>.
Noel, Emile. 1995. "Future Prospects for Europe." Government and Opposition 30(4): 452-468. Abstract from: International Political Science Abstracts. Accessed: 19 April 2001 <http://webspirs3.silverplatter.com/cgi-bin/customers/c14811/c14811.cgi>.
Wald, Gayle. 1998. "Just a girl? Rock music, feminism, and the
cultural construction of female youth." [CD-ROM]. Signs 23(3): 585-610.
Abstract from: Social Sciences Abstracts.
Basic form
Author. Year. "Subject of Message" [Length] Posting Date. Discussion List
[Online posting]. Accessed: date <DISCUSSION LIST@e-mail address>.Example
Boulton, Ron. 1995. "Explosion Proof Refrigerator?" [5 paragraphs]. 21 July.
Safety [Online posting]. Accessed: 31 July 1995 <e-mail:
SAFETY@uvmvm.uvm.edu>.
Kelly, Jean P., Michael K. Lane and Susan C. Angel. 1993. "Style Manual for Political Science." In Political Science: Illustrated Search Strategy and Sources, Roger C. Lowery and Sue A. Cody. Ann Arbor, MI: Pierian Press. REF JA 86 .L69 1993
* See also recent issues of political science journals, e.g., American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, etc. for examples of citations and submission guidelines.
Garner, Diane L., and Diane H. Smith. 1993. The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources: A Manual for Writers & Librarians. Rev. ed. Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service. REF Z 7164 .G7 G37 1993
Li, Xia and Nancy B. Crane. 1996. Electronic Styles: A Handbook for Citing Electronic Information. 2nd ed. Medford, NJ: Information Today. REF DESK