How to Properly Cite a Blog in Your Essay

The days when dusty leather-bound books from the library were the only useful source of information have long since gone, with more and more useful academic information now available online. Unfortunately, not every university style guide has kept with the times, making it tricky to know how to properly cite blogs and other online sources in your bibliography. 

Fortunately for you, there's no need to panic. Below you'll find information on how to correctly reference academic blogs in your essay, whether you're using Harvard, MLA, Chicago or APA referencing.

APA

Last name, Initial. (Year, Month Date). Title of Blog Post [Blog post]. Retrieved from URL

So, for example, that would look like:

Bloggs, J. (2015, December 25). This Is An Important Academic Blog [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.topuniversities.com

Chicago

First name Last name, "Title of Blog Post," Blog Name (blog), Publisher/Sponsor of Blog (if applicable), Month, Date, Year of post, URL

So, for example, that would look like:

Joan Bloggs, "This Is An Important Academic Blog," World of Clever Blogging (blog), December, 25, 2015, http://www.topuniversities.com

Harvard

Last name, Initial. (Year). Title of Blog Post. [Blog] Blog Name. Available at: URL [Accessed Date of access]

So, for example, that would look like:

Bloggs, J. (2015). This Is An Important Academic Blog. [Blog] World of Clever Blogging. Available at: http://www.topuniversities.com [Accessed February 2 2017]

MLA

Last name, First name. "Title of Blog Post." Web blog post. Blog Name. Publisher/Sponsor of Blog (if applicable), Date Month Year Published. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.

So, for example, that would look like:

Bloggs, Jane. "This Is An Important Academic Blog." Web blog post. World of Clever Blogging. 25 December 2015. Web. 2 February 2017.