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MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

  • What Kind of Source Is This?
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  • Books, eBooks & Pamphlets
  • Book Reviews
  • Class Handouts, Presentations, and Readings
  • Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
  • Government Documents
  • Images, Artwork, Charts, Graphs & Tables
  • Interviews and Emails (Personal Communications)
  • Journal Articles
  • Magazine Articles
  • Newspaper Articles
  • Primary Sources
  • Religious Texts
  • Social Media
  • Videos & DVDs
  • In-Text Citation
  • Works Quoted in Another Source
  • No Author, No Date etc.
  • Works Cited List & Sample Paper
  • Annotated Bibliography
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On This Page: Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

Encyclopedia or dictionary from library database - known author, encyclopedia or dictionary from library database - unknown author, encyclopedia or dictionary from a website - known author, encyclopedia or dictionary from a website - unknown author, encyclopedia or dictionary entry in print - known author, encyclopedia or dictionary in print - unknown author, citing two authors, citing three or more authors, abbreviating months.

In your works cited list, abbreviate months as follows: 

January = Jan. February = Feb. March = Mar. April = Apr. May = May June = June July = July August = Aug. September = Sept. October = Oct. November = Nov. December = Dec.

Spell out months fully in the body of your paper. 

It can sometimes be difficult to find out who the author of a website is. Remember that an author can be a corporation or group, not only a specific person. Author information can sometimes be found under an "About" section on a website.

If there is no known author, start the citation with the title of the article instead.

Capitalize the first letter of every important word in the title. You do not need to capitalize words such as: in, of, or an. Do not use all-caps (except for words like USA where each letter stands for something), even if the words appear that way on the article.

If there is a colon (:) in the title, include what comes after the colon (also known as the subtitle).

The publisher or sponsoring organization can often be found in a copyright notice at the bottom of the home page or on a page that gives information about the site.  When the page is authored and published by the same corporation/group/organization, omit the author and begin your citation with the title. 

Publisher information may be omitted for:

  • periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers)
  • works published by an author or editor
  • web sites whose title is the same as the name of the publisher
  • a web site not involved in producing the work it makes (e.g. user-generated content sites like  YouTube )

The best date to use for a website is the date that the content was last updated. Otherwise look for a copyright or original publication date. Unfortunately this information may not be provided or may be hard to find. Often date information is put on the bottom of the pages of a website.

If you do not know the complete date, put as much information as you can find. For example you may have a year but no month or day.

Access Date

Date of access is optional in MLA 9th edition. When no publication date is included, we recommend including the date you last accessed the site.

Note : For your Works Cited list, all citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , edited by   Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number if more than one volume, Publisher Name, Date of Publication,  pp. First Page-Last Page. Name of Database .  https://doi.org/DOI if there is one.

 Note : MLA 9th edition recommends including a DOI, stable link, or URL. We recommend that URLs be left out when citing a work found in a library database. Because library databases require a login most URLs will stop working after the session ends. If there is a DOI, include this as the last element, beginning with https://doi.org/.

If you do not have information such as an editor's name, a volume or page numbers leave those sections out of your citation.

 "Title of Entry."  Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , edited by   Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Date of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page.  Name of Database .   https://doi.org/DOI if there is one.

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry."  Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , Publication or Update Date,   URL. Accessed  Day Month Year site was visited .  

"Title of Entry."  Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , Publisher if known, Copyright Date or Date Updated,   URL. Accessed Day Month Year site was visited .  

"Title of Entry." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia,  Wikimedia Foundation, Day Month Year entry was last modified, Time entry was last modified, URL of entry. Accessed Day Month Year Wikipedia entry was last viewed.

 Note : The date and time the article was last modified appears at the bottom of each Wikipedia article.

Keep in mind that Wikipedia may not be considered an acceptable source for a college or university assignment. Be sure to evaluate the content carefully and check with your instructor if you can use it as a source in your assignment.

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry."  Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , edited by   Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page.

 "Title of Entry."  Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , edited by   Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page.

If there are two authors, cite the the authors as follows (list authors in the order they are given on the page, not alphabetically):

Last Name, First Name of First Author, and First Name Last Name of Second Author.

Example: Smith, James, and Sarah Johnston.

If there are three or more authors, cite only the name of the first author listed with their Last Name, First Name followed by a comma et al.

Example: Smith, James, et al.

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Citation Guide: How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS

  • APA General Guidelines
  • Citing Common Resources
  • MLA General Guidelines
  • Author/Editor ASA Format
  • Basic ASA Rules
  • How to cite AUDIO/VISUAL MATERIALS
  • How to cite BOOKS, eBOOKS, and CHAPTERS
  • How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS
  • How to cite MAGAZINES
  • How to cite JOURNALS
  • How to cite NEWSPAPERS
  • How to cite PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
  • How to cite WEBSITES
  • In-text Citations
  • Citation Software - Zotero

How to cite GENERAL ENCYCLOPEDIAs

Major reference books (major dictionaries and encyclopedias, i.e. World Book ) can be cited with a note in text rather than in a reference.

1. Encyclopaedia Britannica , 15th ed., s.v. "salvation."

How to cite SUBJECT-SPECIFIC ENCYCLOPEDIAs

ASA Subject Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry Citation

  • Examples are not double-spaced, but your Works Cited list should be double-spaced
  • Examples do not show indented lines after the first line, but yours should be indented

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. Year of publication.  "Title of Entry or Article." Pp. numbers in Title of Reference Source . edition,  Vol. number, edited by Editor (editors use initials and not inverted). City of publication: Publisher.

  Examples : Novak, Sarah A. 2008.  "Personal Relationships and Obesity." Pp. 557-58 in Encyclopedia of Obesity. Vol 2, edited by K. Keller. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Barr, Robert D., and William H. Parrett. 2003. "Alternative Schooling." Pp . 615-16 in Encyclopedia of Education . 2nd ed., Vol. 1, edited by J. W. Guthrie. New York: Macmillan Reference USA.

Lyas, Colin.1996. "Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von." Pp. 112 in Dictionary of Art. Vol. 12, edited by J. Turner. New York: Grove's Dictionary.

How to cite eENCYCLOPEDIAs

ASA Online Encyclopedia Entry

  • Examples are not double-spaced, but your References list should be double-spaced

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. Year of publication. "Title of entry or article." Pp. in Name of reference source, edited by Editor (initials used for first and middle name, not inverted).  Place of publication: publisher. Complete URL from authoritative website or doi number.

Novak, Sarah A. 2008.  "Personal Relationships and Obesity." Pp. 557-58 in Encyclopedia of Obesity. Vol 2, edited by K. Keller. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/978141296382.n372.

Everett, Deborah. 2008. "Yazzie, Steven." Pp. 247-49 in Encyclopedia of Native American Artists , edited by D. Everett and E. Zorn. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.  http://libproxy.dixie.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3008500081&v=2.1&u=dixiesta&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=2c23bfbd6a5045d2db8d77469cec7ac2.

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Citation Guide : How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS

  • Research Paper Help
  • Citing sources
  • How to cite BOOKS, eBOOKS, CHAPTERS

How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS

  • How to cite MAGAZINES/ JOURNALS
  • How to cite NEWSPAPERS
  • How to cite WEBSITES
  • How to cite JOURNALS
  • How to cite MAGAZINES
  • How to cite ARTICLES IN JOURNALS
  • How to cite DVDS, VIDEOS, CD-ROMS
  • Chicago Style
  • Useful Online Resources

APA Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry Citation

  • Examples are not double-spaced, but your References list should be double-spaced
  • Examples do not show indented lines after the first line, but yours should be indented

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of entry or article. Name of reference source (Vol. number, pp. pages). Place of Publication: Publisher.

Examples : Home. (1989). In Oxford English dictionary (Vol. 8, p. 324). New York: Oxford University Press.

Ring, A. A. (1997). Real estate. In Encyclopedia Americana (Vol. 16, pp. 213-214). Danbury, CT: Grolier.

The art of architecture. (2002). In Encyclopædia Britannica: Macropædia (Vol. 1, pp. 243-261). Chicago: Encyclopædia Brittanica.

How to cite ONLINE Encyclopedias

APA Online Encyclopedia Entry

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. Title of entry or article. In Name of reference source . doi: number

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. Title of entry or article. In Name of reference source . Retrieved from name of database.

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. Title of entry or article. In Name of reference source . Retrieved Date, from complete URL

Example : Guttentag, J. Demand clause. In Mortgage encyclopedia . doi: 10.1036/0071458492

Concrete. In Funk & Wagnall's new world encyclopedia . Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Photonics. In The Columbia Encyclopedia . (6th ed.). Retrieved September 3, 2008, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-photonics.html

Subject Guide

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APA Citation Guide

  • APA Citations
  • Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias - General Information

Print encyclopedia, online encyclopedia.

  • Online Sources
  • In-Text Citations
  • Example Paper

FORMATTING ENCYCLOPEDIAS ON YOUR REFERENCES PAGE

Include the edition number and publication year for the encyclopedia. If you are using a print encyclopedia and there are multiple volumes, include the specific volume number that was used. If you are using an online encyclopedia from a database, include the DOI ( digital object identifier - a unique code for the encyclopedia article) at the end of the citation. If there is no DOI number assigned, give the URL of the database homepage.

Other formatting requirements:

  • Your entire paper, including your References page, should be  double-spaced.
  • Alphabetize your References list by the first word of the citation (usually the author's last name).
  • Indent the second & following lines of the citation 0.5 inches  (a hanging indent).
  • For 2-20 authors , your list of names will look like this: Wingert, P., Smith, J., & Brown, P.
  • More than 20 authors:  provide the first six authors, an ellipsis, and the final author. For example Wingert, P., Smith, J., Brown, P., Harris, F., Johnson, A., Thompson, R.,...Lovett, M.
  • Only capitalize the first word of the document title. If there is a colon in the title, capitalize the first word after the colon.
  • Italicize the title of the encyclopedia.
  • Include a page range whenever available. For encyclopedias, put p. or pp. in front of the page range.
  • If you are citing an electronic encyclopedia article,  do not include a period after the DOI number or URL.
  • Dates: Use n.d. (no date) when a publication date is not available.

Specialty encyclopedias, or encyclopedias that cover a specific subject, frequently list the author of each article. Authors of articles in general encyclopedias, or encyclopedias that cover all subject areas (such as the  Encyclopedia Britannica ), are not always listed.

There are few situations in which you would list an entire encyclopedia in your references; you will need to list the individual article(s) that you consulted.

The page range will have p. (for one page) or pp. (for multiple pages) in front of it.

PRINT ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY WITH AUTHOR

Last Name, First Initial(s) . (Year). Title of encyclopedia entry. In editor's First Initial(s) L ast Name if available (Ed.),  Title of Encyclopedia.  (Vol. number, p(p).  Pages). Publisher.

Sucher, J. (1996). Charge, electronic. In J. S. Rigden (Ed.),  Macmillan Encyclopedia of Physics . (Vol. 1, pp. 191-193. Macmillan Reference USA.

PRINT ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY - NO AUTHOR

Title of encyclopedia entry. (Year). In editor's First Initial(s) Last Name if available (Ed.),  Title of Encyclopedia. (Vol. number, p(p). Pages). Publisher.

Information theory. (2007). In The New  Encyclop e dia Britannica . (Vol. 21, pp. 631-637). Encyclop edia Britannica, Inc.

Specialty encyclopedias, or encyclopedias that cover a specific subject, frequently list the author of each article. Authors of articles in general encyclopedias, or encyclopedias that cover all subject areas (such as the  Encyclopedia  Britannica ), are not always listed.

ENCYCLOPEDIA FROM A DATABASE - HAS AUTHOR

Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). Title of encyclopedia entry. In editor's First Initial(s) Last Name if available (Ed.),  Title of Encyclopedia.  Publisher if available. URL of entry

Padian, K. (1997). Origin of dinosaurs. In  P. J. Currie  &  K.  Padian (Eds.) ,  Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs . Elsevier Science & Technology. http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/estdino/ origin_of_dinosaurs/0

Ulak, J. T. (n.d.). Japanese art. In  Britannica Academic . http://academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/399716

ENCYCLOPEDIA FROM A DATABASE - NO AUTHOR

Title of encyclopedia entry. (Year). In editor's First Initial(s) Last Name if available (Ed.),  Title of Encyclopedia . Publisher if available. URL of entry

Art history. (2016). In Britannica Academic . http://academic.eb.com.butlerlib.butlercc.edu/levels/collegiate/article/9662

Donatello. (2001). In N. J. Wilson (Ed.),  World Eras  (Vol. 1, p. 91). http://go.galegroup.com.butlerlib.butlercc.edu/ps/start.do?prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=klnb_bucc

Title of Wikipedia entry. (archived date). In  Wikipedia .  URL of Wikipedia entry

Television. (2020, March 11). In  Wikipedia . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television

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Citation Guide: How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS

  • Citing Sources
  • Basics of MLA Citations
  • How to cite BOOKS, eBOOKS, CHAPTERS
  • How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS
  • How to cite JOURNALS
  • How to cite MAGAZINES
  • How to cite NEWSPAPERS
  • How to cite WEBSITES
  • MLA Style, 9th Edition Overview
  • Basics of APA Citations
  • In-Text Citations
  • How to cite MAGAZINES/ JOURNALS
  • APA, 7th Edition
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Useful Online Resources
  • Research Paper Help
  • Citing Visual Content

How to Cite Encyclopedias

  MLA Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry Citation

  • Examples are not double-spaced, but your Works Cited list should be double-spaced.
  • Examples do not show indented lines after the first line, but yours should be indented.

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial.  "Title of Entry or Article." Title of Reference Source. edition. year.

Examples : "Home." Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989. 

Ring, Arnold A. "Real Estate." Encyclopedia Americana. 1997. 

"The Art of Architecture." Encyclopædia Britannica: Macropædia . 15th ed. 2002. 

How to Cite ONLINE Encyclopedias

MLA Online Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry Citation

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. "Title of Entry or Article." Name of Reference Source . edition . Name of database . Date of access.

Example : “Concrete." Funk & Wagnall's New World Encyclopedia . EBSCO, 2009.  17 Jan. 2004.

Bigus, Jochen. "Business Bankruptcy." Encyclopedia of Law & Society:American and Global Perspectives . Sage, 2007. 16 Apr. 2009.

Elaine Reeves - Online Learning Librarian

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / How to Cite an Encyclopedia in MLA

How to Cite an Encyclopedia in MLA

Encyclopedia – A book or a series of books used for reference on a range of materials or numerous information typically around one subject.

Citing an Encyclopedia in Print

Cite your source

*Note: If the author of an article is not listed or known, start your citation with the article title instead. The article title (or a shortened version) would also be used in in-text citations in place of the author’s last name. 

Citing an Encyclopedia Found Online

Citing an encyclopedia article found in a database.

Note: If no edition or volume number is given, leave it out.

MLA Formatting Guide

MLA Formatting

  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Bibliography
  • Block Quotes
  • et al Usage
  • In-text Citations
  • Paraphrasing
  • Page Numbers
  • Sample Paper
  • Works Cited
  • MLA 8 Updates
  • MLA 9 Updates
  • View MLA Guide

Citation Examples

  • Book Chapter
  • Journal Article
  • Magazine Article
  • Newspaper Article
  • Website (no author)
  • View all MLA Examples

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APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Encyclopedias & Dictionaries (Reference Works)

  • Journal Articles
  • Books, eBooks & Pamphlets
  • Class Notes, Lectures, and Presentations
  • Government Documents
  • Codes of Ethics (Online)
  • Images, Charts, Graphs, Maps & Tables
  • Newspaper Articles
  • Magazine Articles
  • Personal Communication (Interviews, Emails)
  • Social Media
  • Videos & DVDs
  • Encyclopedias & Dictionaries (Reference Works)
  • When Information Is Missing
  • When Creating Digital Assignments
  • Works Quoted in Another Source
  • Paraphrasing
  • Informal Citations
  • Citation Tools
  • Conscious Language
  • Reference List & Paper Formatting
  • Annotated Bibliography

Authors/Editors

If an encyclopedia or dictionary entry has no author or editor, begin the citation with the title of the specific entry, followed by the year of publication in round brackets.

Capitalize the first letter of the first word of the title of the entry and the title of the encyclopedia or dictionary.

Capitalize the first letter of proper names in titles, such as names of places or people. Example: Canada

Place of Publication

For cities in the US and Canada list the city name and the province or state code. For other countries, list the city name and the country. Examples: Toronto, ON ; Tokyo, Japan

Publication Information for Online Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Don't include the place of publication or a publisher for an online encyclopedia or dictionary.

If you accessed the encyclopedia or dictionary through a website, provide the url instead.

In-Text Citation - No Author

If a dictionary or encyclopedia entry has no author, the in-text citation should include the title of the entry. The title of the entry should be in quotation marks, with each word starting with a capital letter. The title of the entry will be followed by a comma and the year of publication. If you are quoting directly from the entry, you will also add the number of the page where the quote appears.

Paraphrasing :

("Cat Care," 2011)

("Cat Care," 2011, p. 38)

In-Text Citation - Page Numbers

Page numbers may not be available for an online dictionary or encyclopedia entry. Here are some options if you have no page numbers and you are quoting directly:

If paragraph numbers are given, use that number where you'd normally put the page number with the word "para." in front of it. Example: (Smith, 2012, para. 3). This example refers to the third paragraph in the entry

If you have no paragraph numbers, but the entry has section headings, you can use those. Encyclopedia entries often have section headings. Enter the section heading name, followed by the word "section" and then the number of the paragraph within that section. Example: (Smith, 2012, Climate section, para. 2). This example refers to the second paragraph under the Climate section of the entry.

If you have no paragraph numbers and no headings, as may be the case for many dictionary entries, skip the page/paragraph/section information and give the author's last name and date only. Example: (Smith, 2012)

Note : All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

Title of entry. (n.d.). In Wikipedia . Retrieved Month Day, Year that website was viewed, from URL for entry

Note : According to APA, n.d. is used instead of a date of publication as the date is difficult to determine. Include the date you viewed the website as the content is likely to change over time.

Wikipedia may not be considered an acceptable source for a college or university assignment. Be sure to evaluate the content carefully and check your assignment.

Online Encyclopedia or Dictionary From Library Database - Known Author - No D O I

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of entry. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.), Name of encyclopedia or dictionary ( edition if given and is not first edition ) . Retrieved from Database Name database.

Online Encyclopedia or Dictionary From Library Database - Known Author - With D O I

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of entry. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.), Name of encyclopedia or dictionary ( edition if given and is not first edition ) . doi: doi number

Online Encyclopedia or Dictionary From Library Database - Unknown Author - No D O I

Title of entry. (Year of Publication). In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.), Name of encyclopedia or dictionary ( edition if given and is not first edition ) . Retrieved from Database Name database.

Online Encyclopedia or Dictionary From a Website - Known Author

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication).Title of entry. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.), Name of encyclopedia or dictionary ( edition if given and is not first edition ) . Retrieved from url

Online Encyclopedia or Dictionary From a Website - Unknown Author

Title of entry. (Year of Publication). In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.), Name of encyclopedia or dictionary ( edition if given and is not first edition ) . Retrieved from url

Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry In Print - Known Author

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of entry. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.), Name of encyclopedia or dictionary (Volume number, pp. first page of entry-last page of entry). Publication City, Province, State or Country: Publisher Name often shortened.

Encyclopedia or Dictionary In Print - Unknown Author

Title of entry. (Year of Publication). In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.), Name of encyclopedia or dictionary (Volume number if any, pp. first page of entry-last page of entry or p. page number for one page entry). Publication City, Province, State or Country: Publisher Name often shortened.

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APA Citation Guide (7th edition) CGS

  • Advertisments
  • Books & e-Books
  • Book Reviews
  • Class Notes, Class Lectures and Presentations
  • Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
  • Generative AI
  • Government Documents
  • Images, Charts, Graphs, Maps & Tables
  • Journal Articles
  • Magazine Articles
  • Newspaper Articles
  • Personal Communication (Interviews, Emails)
  • Social Media
  • Videos & DVDs
  • When Creating Digital Assignments
  • When Information Is Missing
  • Works Cited in Another Source
  • Paraphrasing
  • Reference List & Sample Writing
  • Annotated Bibliography

Authors/Editors

  • Publication Information for Online Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

In-Text Citation - Page Numbers

If an encyclopedia or dictionary entry does not indicate a specific author or co-authors, begin the citation with a group author such as Merriam-Webster or American Psychological Association, followed by the year of publication in round brackets.

Capitalize the first letter of the first word of the title of the entry and the title of the encyclopedia or dictionary.

Capitalize the first letter of proper names in titles, such as names of places or people. Example: Canada

Publication Information for Online Encyclopedias and Dictonaries

Include the publisher name for an encyclopedia or dictionary where clearly identified, just as with a book or ebook. If the author and publisher are the same, omit the publisher element.

Some electronic content is assigned a unique number called a Digital Object Identifier (DOI). If a DOI is provided for an encyclopedia or dictionary, include it after the name of the encyclopedia or dictionary of the entry and edition beginning with "https:"

You do not need to put a period after a DOI number.

If you accessed the encyclopedia or dictionary through a website, provide the url. If the encyclopedia or dictionary provides stable archived versions, link to the latest one without "retrieved from"; no statement of the retrieval date is necessary in this case. A statement of the retrieval date should be provided for any web pages that are dynamic and not archived. When in doubt, provide a retrieval date to help the reader in case the entry you use is updated between the time you read it and the time your reader looks at it.

Page numbers may not be available for an online dictionary or encyclopedia entry. Here are some options if you have no page numbers and you are quoting directly:

Count the paragraphs, and use that number where you'd normally put the page number. Put the word "para." in front of it. Example: (Smith, 2012, para. 3). This example refers to the third paragraph in the entry. 

If the entry has section headings, you can use those. Encyclopedia entries often have section headings. Enter the section heading name, followed by the word "section" and then the number of the paragraph within that section. Example: (Smith, 2012, Climate section, para. 2). This example refers to the second paragraph under the Climate section of the entry.

If there is only one paragraph and no headings, as may be the case for many dictionary entries, skip the page/paragraph/section information and give the author's name and date only. Example: (Smith, 2012)

Online Encyclopedia or Dictionary

  • From a Library Database: Known Author
  • From a Library Database: No Known Author
  • From a Website: Known Author
  • From a Website: Group Author

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of entry. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.),  Name of encyclopedia or dictionary  (edition if given and is not first edition).  https://doi.org/DOI-number-if-given

Title of entry. (Year of Publication). In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.),  Name of encyclopedia or dictionary  (edition if given and is not first edition).  https://doi.org/DOI-number-if-given

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication).Title of entry. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.),  Name of encyclopedia or dictionary  ( edition if given and is not first edition ). URL

Name of Group Author. (Year of Publication). Title of entry. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.),  Name of encyclopedia or dictionary  ( edition if given and is not first edition ). URL

Encyclopedia or Dictionary in Print

  • Known Author
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Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of entry. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if given. Last Name (Ed.),  Name of encyclopedia or dictionary  (Volume number, pp. first page of entry-last page of entry). Publisher Name often shortened.

When there is no named author for the entry, treat the dictionary/encyclopedia as an edited book and move the editors to the author position:        

Editor, A., & Editor, B. (Eds.). (Date). Dictionary/Encyclopedia entry. In Name of dictionary/encyclopedia (edition, if not the first). Publisher. 

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English: Encyclopedia Britannica vs. Wikipedia

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can i cite britannica in a research paper

Almost every student, faculty member, and librarian knows from experience how valuable Wikipedia can actually be when looking for quick background information about almost any topic. But what are the differences between Wikipedia and the traditional, scholarly reference works listed and described on the Reference Shelf tab of this guide? In this box I flesh out some of those differences (and similarities) within the context of one of the greatest reference works of all time: Encyclopedia Britannica .

The Encyclopedia Britannica contains carefully edited articles on all major topics. It fits the ideal purpose of a reference work as a place to get started, or to refer back to as you read and write. The articles in Britannica are written by expert authors who are both identifiable and credible. Many articles provide references to books and other sources about the topic covered. Articles are edited for length, the goal being to provide students (and other researchers) with sufficient background information without overwhelming them.

Undergraduates are rarely permitted to cite encyclopedia articles. Ask your professor if you plan to do so. The reason for this prohibition has to do with the function of reference works. Encyclopedias are best suited to providing background information rather than in-depth analysis or novel perspective. The "conversation" among literary scholars and historians—or academics in any other discipline for that matter—does not occur within the pages or pixels of encyclopedia articles.

Wikipedia is " written collaboratively by volunteers from all around the world" and relies on the collective wisdom of its volunteers to get the facts right and to balance the opinions expressed. Wikipedia, of course, can be very useful as a starting point for many topics, especially obscure ones or those with passing or popular interest not well covered in scholarly reference works. Wikipedia articles often reflect the enthusiasm of their anonymous contributor(s) for the subject. Articles are sometimes too detailed , making it difficult for the uninitiated to identify key takeaways. Another downside of Wikipedia is that articles sometimes paper over unflattering or unpleasant but important facts about a topic near and dear to the contributors' hearts. Struggles sometimes break out behind the scenes as contributors compete with one another to create narratives that, even if technically accurate, might leave readers with partial or even false impressions. In other words, Wikipedia articles, even when written on topics ostensibly uncontroversial, are easily politicized. Wikipedia slants more often than Britannica to the left of the political spectrum .

As with other reference works, most faculty instruct students not to cite Wikipedia. But some go further, advising students not to consult Wikipedia as a background source. Prohibitions of this nature, fairly uncommon nowadays, typically result from the volunteer approach to editing taken by Wikipedia, which can be unreliable . In order to be safe, think of Wikipedia as the first stop on a research road trip. Move on from Wikipedia to edited, scholarly encyclopedias and other reference works.

An interesting compromise between traditional encyclopedias and Wikipedia is Citizendium , a project that continues to limp along but has unfortunately not gained much traction. Most academic work on Wikipedia has focused on making it more like a scholarly reference source through the interventions of undergraduate and graduate students, librarians, and disciplinary faculty.

Acknowledgement : This page was inspired by Rick Lezenby , a librarian affiliated with Temple University Libraries. I have substantially altered and expanded on Rick's original text.

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If you you want information that has been written and reviewed by experts, Britannica is your best bet. As the image below shows,  Britannica Contributors inlcude authoritative experts like Bill Clinton, Desmond Tutu, Brian R. Greene and Judith L. Fridovich-Keil.

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Q. Are encyclopedias good sources for essays?

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Answered By: Desk Reference Last Updated: May 30, 2022

Encyclopedias are great as sources of background information. This makes them excellent places to begin your research on a given topic, but certainly not the only place you would look for information. Most university professors will want you to use academic sources in your essays and research papers, so using an encyclopedia as a source might lead them to believe you haven't done very extensive searching and reading on your topic. 

Any time you use an external source, whether it's a research article, a website, a tweet, or an encyclopedia article, you'll need to cite it. So, if you have used information from an encyclopedia, you must provide a citation and reference. But know that your professor likely expects you to expand your research beyond that.

For more advice on assessing the quality of sources, check out our guide to finding scholarly sources .

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  • thank you! helped me a lot in my assignments. by Marie on Oct 12, 2021

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Is Britannica a Credible Academic Source? Examining the Reliability of the Famous Encyclopedia

Is Britannica a Credible Academic Source? Examining the Reliability of the Famous Encyclopedia 1

When it comes to researching academic topics, many of us turn to Google and Wikipedia for quick answers. However, as we all know, not all sources are created equal. One platform that’s been around for over 250 years is Encyclopaedia Britannica. But the question persists: is Britannica a credible academic source?

On one hand, Britannica has a long-standing reputation for providing reliable and accurate information. Its editorial team consists of subject matter experts who carefully curate and fact-check each article. Additionally, Britannica is widely used in classrooms and libraries around the world as a trusted resource for research and learning.

However, in the digital age, where information is abundant and quickly accessible, some may argue that Britannica is irrelevant and outdated. With the rise of online sources and social media, it’s easy for misinformation to spread like wildfire. So, it’s important to evaluate whether or not Britannica still holds up as a credible academic source in today’s world. Alternatives to Britannica for Academic Research

Encyclopedias have long been a go-to source for academic research, but is Britannica still a credible option in today’s digital age? With the rise of the internet, there are now numerous alternatives to Britannica that may offer more up-to-date and diverse information for academic research.

  • Wikipedia: love it or hate it, Wikipedia is one of the most widely used sources for academic research. While it may not always be credible due to its open-source format, recent studies have shown that Wikipedia articles are often just as accurate as traditional encyclopedias.
  • Google Scholar: for more scholarly research, Google Scholar is a great alternative to Britannica. It offers access to academic literature, including peer-reviewed articles, theses, books, and conference papers.
  • Academic Search Engines: similar to Google Scholar, academic search engines such as JSTOR, Project MUSE, and SciHub provide access to scholarly research. These databases often require a subscription or affiliation with a university, but offer more in-depth and reliable sources than general search engines.

Other alternatives to Britannica may include discipline-specific encyclopedias and databases, or even social media platforms such as Twitter for accessing the latest research and ideas in a given field.

Ultimately, the credibility of an academic source depends on the individual researcher’s judgment and the specific research topic. While Britannica may still be a reputable source for general knowledge, exploring alternative sources can lead to more diverse and up-to-date information for academic research.

Evaluating credibility of online sources for academia

In today’s digital age, it is easier than ever to find information on a wide range of topics by searching the internet. However, not all sources of information are created equal. When it comes to writing academic papers, it is important to use credible sources that have been thoroughly vetted for accuracy and reliability. This is especially true when using online sources, as there is a plethora of information available, but not all of it is credible.

  • Check the author’s credentials: Always investigate the author’s credentials and background. Look for information about their education, experience, and any publications or research they have conducted. This will give you a better idea of their expertise in the field.
  • Check the publisher: Make sure the source is published by a reputable organization or publisher. Check the website for information about the organization, their mission statement, and their history. This will help you determine the quality and reliability of the information provided.
  • Check for bias: It is important to be aware of any potential biases in the source. Look for language or tone that could suggest a particular perspective or agenda. It is also important to be aware of any conflicts of interest that the author or publisher may have.

Another important factor to consider when evaluating academic sources online is the currency of the information. Make sure the information is up-to-date and has been recently reviewed for accuracy. It is also important to cross-check information found in online sources with other credible sources to confirm accuracy and reliability.

Finally, it is important to use tools that can help you evaluate the credibility of online sources. One useful tool is the CRAAP test, which stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. This test can help you evaluate the credibility of online sources based on these criteria.

By using these evaluation tools and relying on credible sources of information, you can ensure that your academic work is of the highest quality and rigor.

Importance of Peer-Review in Academic Research

In the academic world, peer-review is one of the most important processes for ensuring the credibility and reliability of research. It involves the evaluation of research papers or manuscripts by experts in a relevant field, who critically assess the quality of the research and provide constructive feedback to the authors.

Peer-review is crucial for academic research for the following reasons:

  • Quality assurance: Peer-review helps to ensure that only high-quality research is published. The review process helps to identify any errors or flaws in the research and ensures that the research is rigorous, relevant, and accurate.
  • Credibility: Peer-review helps to build the credibility of research by ensuring that it is evaluated by experts in the field who can verify its quality and integrity. This is especially important in fields such as medicine or science, where research can have real-world consequences.
  • Improvement: Peer-review provides an opportunity for authors to improve their research by receiving constructive feedback from experts in the field. This feedback can help authors to refine their research questions, methods, and analyses, leading to better research outcomes.

Peer-review typically involves a blind review process, where authors are anonymous to reviewers, and reviewers’ identities are kept confidential from authors. This helps to mitigate any potential biases or conflicts of interest during the review process.

Overall, peer-review is an essential component of academic research, ensuring that research papers and manuscripts are assessed for quality, credibility, and accuracy, and providing an opportunity for authors to improve their research. It is a rigorous, time-intensive process, but one that is critical to maintaining the standards and integrity of academic research.

Criteria for Determining Credibility of Academic Sources

When conducting research, it is important to use credible academic sources to support your arguments. However, not all sources are created equal. Here are some criteria to consider when determining the credibility of academic sources.

  • Author Credentials: Check the author’s credentials to make sure they are qualified to write on the topic. Look for their educational background, experience, and expertise in the field.
  • Publication Venue: Where was the source published? High-quality sources are typically published in respected academic journals, books, or conference proceedings.
  • Peer Review: Peer-reviewed sources have been reviewed by experts in the field and deemed credible. Look for sources that have undergone a rigorous peer review process.

Another important factor to consider when evaluating the credibility of academic sources is bias. Bias can significantly impact the author’s viewpoint and the source’s usefulness in research. Here are some additional considerations:

  • Publication Date: Check the publication date. Is the source outdated? New research may have emerged that contradicts or builds upon the source.
  • Relevance: Make sure the source is relevant to your research question. Does it address the specific topic you are researching?
  • Objectivity: Is the source objective or biased? Bias can affect the credibility of the information presented.

Finally, consider the type of source you are using. Different types of sources have different levels of credibility. Here is a table outlining the credibility of different types of academic sources:

When conducting research, it is crucial to use credible academic sources. By considering the author’s credentials, publication venue, peer review, bias, publication date, relevance, and objectivity, you can more effectively evaluate the credibility of potential sources. Additionally, understanding the credibility ranking of different types of sources can help you prioritize which sources to use in your research.

Impact of Inaccurate Sources on Academic Work

As an academic, you know how important it is to use credible sources in your research. The credibility of your sources can make or break the strength of your argument. While there are many credible sources out there, some sources can be inaccurate, and relying on them for your research could lead to errors and misinterpretations. Below, we will explore the impact of inaccurate sources on academic work and how to avoid making these mistakes.

  • Wasted time and effort: When you research using inaccurate sources, you may waste a significant amount of time and effort. You may spend hours reading through irrelevant materials, and even worse, you may end up with data that does not support your argument or thesis. This means that you will have to go back to square one and start all over again.
  • Impaired quality of research: The use of inaccurate sources can impair the quality of your research. Your work may lack essential information, which is necessary for supporting your argument or thesis. Moreover, the data that you use from these sources may not be up-to-date, meaning that you may miss out on a crucial aspect of your research.
  • Loss of credibility: Finally, the use of inaccurate sources can lead to a loss of credibility in academic work. If you use unreliable or false data, it is very likely that your peers and instructors will spot the errors. This will ultimately undermine your reputation as an academic and damage the credibility of your work.

How to Avoid Inaccurate Sources

Now that you know the impact of inaccurate sources, you might be wondering how to avoid them altogether. Here are some tips on how to ensure that you use credible sources in your work:

  • Always check the author’s credentials: When using sources, ensure that the author has credibility in the field of study. Check the author’s academic background, publication history, and other relevant credentials.
  • Check the publisher and publication date: Make sure that the source you are using is published by a credible and reputable publisher. Additionally, check the publication date of the source, as older sources may not be the most up-to-date.
  • Use scholarly databases and peer-reviewed sources: Scholarly databases like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and Project MUSE are excellent sources of credible academic material. Moreover, using peer-reviewed sources ensures that your sources have been analyzed and vetted by experts in the field.

In conclusion, the impact of inaccurate sources on academic work is significant. The use of unreliable data can lead to wasted time and effort, impaired quality of research, and loss of credibility. Therefore, it is essential to do your due diligence to ensure that you use credible sources. By checking the author’s credentials, publication date, and using scholarly databases and peer-reviewed sources, you can avoid using inaccurate sources in your research.

By avoiding these inaccurate sources and following the tips outlined above, you can ensure that your academic work is credible, accurate, and of high quality.

Role of Librarians in Helping Students Find Credible Academic Sources

Librarians play a crucial role in ensuring students have access to credible academic sources for their research papers. They are trained professionals who have expertise in locating and evaluating information from numerous sources. Librarians work in academic institutions, public libraries, and other organizations where they guide students in their quest for credible sources.

  • Librarians Assist with Creating Research Strategies: One of the primary roles of librarians is to assist students in creating a research strategy that will lead them to the most credible resources. They help students develop critical thinking skills, which enable them to identify reputable sources while avoiding questionable ones.
  • Librarians Teach Students Research Techniques: Many students lack the research skills necessary to identify credible academic sources. Librarians assist students in acquiring the necessary skills to find information quickly and accurately. Students learn how to search databases, evaluate websites and online sources, and use citation management tools.
  • Librarians Provide Access to Specialized Resources: Librarians are familiar with the resources available in their institutions and elsewhere. They provide access to specialized resources such as journals, periodicals, and other sources to help students find the information they need.

Librarians are a valuable resource for students in their search for credible academic sources. They have the ability to guide students to sources that might not be on their radar. Librarians also teach students how to evaluate the credibility of sources they find on their own, which is an essential skill for academic success.

Overall, librarians play an indispensable role in ensuring students have access to credible academic sources, and their skillset is an invaluable part of the research process.

If students are struggling with locating credible academic sources for their research paper, they should seek assistance from their local library or academic institution. Librarians are trained professionals who have the knowledge and expertise to guide students through the research process successfully.

Incorporating Multiple Sources to Strengthen Academic Arguments

Academic writing demands that all arguments be supported by credible sources. The use of multiple sources is an effective way of strengthening academic arguments. However, not all sources are created equal and it can be challenging to determine the credibility of a source. One of the most debated sources is Britannica, and whether it is a credible academic source. In this article, we will delve into this topic and provide insight into incorporating multiple sources to strengthen academic arguments.

The Importance of Multiple Sources

  • Using multiple sources strengthens an argument by providing a broader perspective of the topic.
  • It helps mitigate the potential for bias by using sources that have different viewpoints.
  • It allows for the identification of trends and patterns in the literature that can support or contradict an argument.

Is Britannica a Credible Academic Source?

Britannica has been a traditional source for research and academic writing, and it has been relied on for centuries. However, some argue that Britannica is not a credible academic source due to its lack of publication dates and the potential for outdated information.

While Britannica is not a peer-reviewed academic source, it can still be used as a credible source for general information or background knowledge on a topic. It is essential to recognize its limitations and complement it with peer-reviewed articles, books, and other credible sources to provide a well-rounded argument.

Guidelines for Evaluating Sources

When incorporating multiple sources into academic writing, it is essential to evaluate the credibility of each source. Here are some guidelines to follow:

By applying these guidelines, you can ensure that the sources you use are credible, relevant, and support your academic arguments.

FAQs: Is Britannica a Credible Academic Source?

Q: What is Britannica? A: Britannica is an online encyclopedia and reference material that covers a wide range of topics. It is one of the oldest and most reputable sources of information.

Q: Is Britannica a credible academic source? A: Yes, Britannica is a credible academic source. It has a team of experts who write and edit its content. It is also peer-reviewed, meaning that it is reviewed by other experts in the field before being published.

Q: Can I use Britannica as a source in my research paper? A: Yes, you can use Britannica as a source in your research paper. However, it is always best to check with your professor first to see if they allow it.

Q: Is Britannica biased? A: Britannica strives to be neutral and unbiased in its content. However, it is always important to be critical of any source and consider multiple sources to get a well-rounded view on a topic.

Q: Is Britannica free to use? A: Britannica offers some free content, but full access requires a subscription.

Q: Can I trust Britannica’s information? A: Yes, you can trust Britannica’s information. It is written and edited by experts in their fields and reviewed by other experts before being published.

Q: Can I cite Britannica in my academic paper? A: Yes, you can cite Britannica in your academic paper. Just be sure to follow proper citation guidelines, such as including the author, title, publication date, and URL.

Closing Thoughts: Thanks for Reading!

We hope that these FAQs have helped you understand whether Britannica is a credible academic source. Britannica has been a trusted source of information for over 250 years and continues to be a reputable resource for researchers, students, and anyone seeking accurate information on a variety of topics. Thanks for reading, and be sure to visit us again for more informative articles!

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What are Scholarly Sources and Where Can You Find Them? 

scholarly sources

Scholarly or academic sources of information are typically intended for academic audiences and are primarily based on scientific, evidence-based research and well thought out ideas and theories. They differ from popular or general sources in terms of their formal structure, authority, rigor, and purpose. Scholarly sources are authored by experts whose main purpose is to present research findings. Researchers and academicians typically use scholarly sources as they offer access to a wide array of past work that can be used as references and cited in manuscripts. This is especially crucial given the high level of dependability that scholarly sources provide given that they are peer reviewed in a rigorous manner.  

Table of Contents

6 types of scholarly sources and its importance in academic writing .

  • 9 ways to identify and access scholarly sources 
  • Where can you find scholarly sources? 
  • How to cite scholarly sources in research with Paperpal? 

On the other hand, popular or general sources of information such as magazines and news articles are written for wider and more general audiences. They are mainly written to provide information and to keep readers up to date with current news and developments, to entertain and so on. There is an aspect of research involved but they do not necessarily provide links to citations or sources. Popular sources offer a cross section of views and usually conform to specific ideologies and ways of thinking. 

Common types of scholarly sources include the following: 

  • Scholarly books: These are published by a university press or an academic publisher. They also include monographs that synthesize existing research or present new insights and perspectives on a specific subject. 
  • Journal articles: These are published in recognized journals after rigorous peer-reviews. 
  • Conference publications: These consist of papers presented at a conference or seminar. They focus on cutting edge research and are authored and presented by scholars and researchers. Conference proceedings are a good source to understand about new research in the field even before they are published.   
  • Publications issued by government agencies: These include white papers, reports and policy documents issued by research institutions that are tasked with providing the government with accurate data, statistics, and analysis on a wide range of topics. 
  • Websites: Some websites are also considered scholarly sources. To determine if it is a scholarly source it is important to check the domain of the page, and see if the contact information of the author or publisher is provided. It is also a good idea to evaluate the recency of the information provided and assess if there is any possible bias. 
  • Doctoral theses: Written by PhD students as part of their degree requirements, these scholarly sources provide in-depth research on specific topics, and often contribute new ideas and knowledge to different disciplines. 

Scholarly sources are important in academic writing as it provides academicians and researchers the required stamp of rigor and reliability when writing manuscripts. When you submit your manuscript or article for publishing with adequate scholarly sources, it instantly gives your work much needed credibility and trustworthiness. Similarly, when one cites relevant, important experts or scholarly sources, it provides a certain authority to one’s submission.  

Confirmation bias can be prevented when a researcher or author quotes from scholarly sources. Publications look for papers that cite scholarly sources as they have a legacy that is trusted and also offer views on research topics that are unbiased and original. 

9 ways to identify and access scholarly sources

Academicians and researchers should carefully evaluate the sources to identify whether these are scholarly or popular sources. There are some distinct features that differentiate scholarly sources that help academics identify them, as listed below. 

  • Evidence based: Scholarly sources contain data and arguments based on evidence and the information can be verified. A list of references or bibliography is provided in a scholarly publication from which the sources used in it can be verified. 
  • Author credentials: For every scholarly source the name of the author or authors with their institutional affiliations are provided together with their qualifications. 
  • Publisher: Are academic institutions, university presses or commercial publishers. 
  • Target audience: Scholarly publications are intended for academicians, experts, students, researchers, and faculty in the specific or inter-related field. 
  • Language: Scholarly sources follow the academic style of writing with the use of discipline specific terminology and academic terms. The language is specialized and not simple.  
  • Purpose: The purpose of scholarly sources is to communicate findings of original research studies and advance knowledge in the field of study. 
  • Bias: As scholarly publications base their information on evidence and facts, it strives to be free from bias. 
  • Structure: Scholarly publications are well structured with an abstract, introduction, literature review, sections on methodology, results, and conclusion. They also contain in-text citations and a list of references or a comprehensive bibliography at the end. 
  • Peer review: Scholarly sources generally undergo a strict peer review process. The peer review is conducted by different experts in the field. However, there may be some articles that may be considered scholarly even when these are not peer reviewed.  

Where can you find scholarly sources?

While writing academic and research papers, it is vital to use and cite scholarly sources. In order to access scholarly sources, researchers can use the following ways: 

  • Institution’s library: an ideal place to access scholarly sources is your institution’s library. Find out the books, journals, databases that your institution’s library provides access to. 
  • Database: you can consult credible research databases. Your institution library may provide access to reliable databases. You can also browse through digital libraries. 
  • Reputed publisher: Identify books that are published by press associated with universities and reputed publishing companies as these are considered credible and trustworthy.  
  • Peer reviewed articles: Browsing through peer reviewed articles in reputed and high impact journals is also another way to access scholarly sources.  

How to cite scholarly sources in research with Paperpal?  

Researchers typically write by searching for existing information and then conduct their study. They then write their paper, but often discover something new they want to explore. This means going back to find more information to make sure their ideas are well-supported. 

Doing research this way involves looking in many places for information, choosing the best sources, and checking if they are trustworthy. It can be slow and tricky to know what information to trust. On top of that, researchers often need to dig deeper while they write to find opposing viewpoints that make their arguments stronger.  

Paperpal’s new Research feature addresses this challenge head-on and helps writers find answers to their research questions while they write. It gives them clear summaries of scientific information from 250 million research articles and integrates the sources they use to their references. This saves them time and makes sure their work is well-supported by facts.  

When using Paperpal, here’s how you can cite scholarly sources: 

  • Research Feature: Once you sign up/log in , you’ll notice that the Research feature in Paperpal has two parts: Search and Citation Library.  
  • Search: You can submit your query and get accurate insights from over 250 million research articles with verified sources. 
  • Citation Library: Below the AI response, you’ll find references. You can add these references to your Citation Library to keep track of new sources.  
  • Citing Sources: You can cite a source using numbers, where each number corresponds to a particular source in the list of references in your text. Alternatively, you can cite using the first/last author of the source mentioned in the list of references. 

Now that you’ve explored what scholarly sources are and where to find them, you’re well on your way to strengthening your research and writing. Remember, using credible sources adds weight to your arguments and demonstrates the depth of your knowledge. 

Don’t be discouraged if navigating scholarly resources feels overwhelming at first. Many universities offer research assistance and librarians who can guide you. Additionally, AI academic writing tools like Paperpal can streamline the process of finding and citing relevant sources. 

Paperpal is a comprehensive AI writing toolkit that helps students and researchers achieve 2x the writing in half the time. It leverages 21+ years of STM experience and insights from millions of research articles to provide in-depth academic writing, language editing, and submission readiness support to help you write better, faster.  

Get accurate academic translations, rewriting support, grammar checks, vocabulary suggestions, and generative AI assistance that delivers human precision at machine speed. Try for free or upgrade to Paperpal Prime starting at US$19 a month to access premium features, including consistency, plagiarism, and 30+ submission readiness checks to help you succeed.  

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    can i cite britannica in a research paper

  5. How to Cite a Britannica Article in Noodletools

    can i cite britannica in a research paper

  6. How to quote in a research paper apa

    can i cite britannica in a research paper

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  1. How to Cite Britannica School

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  3. 1990 Encyclopedia Britannica "I've got a report due tomorrow" TV Commercial

  4. How to cite the source of research materials when writing final year Project

  5. How to add reference in research paper manually #addreference #research

  6. AI in Science Writing

COMMENTS

  1. Cite

    Every Britannica article has a citation icon at the top of the page. Click on the citation icon and MLA will come up by default. Grab your citation. Change It Tips. After pasting the citation in your paper, create a hanging indent. (follow this link to see how). Make it double spaced (follow this link to see how). Change the font to Times New ...

  2. How to Cite an Encyclopedia in APA Style

    To cite an online encyclopedia entry in APA Style, start with the author of the entry (if listed), followed by the publication year, the entry title, the name of the editor, the encyclopedia name, the edition, the publisher, and the URL. You can easily cite an encyclopedia entry by using our free APA Citation Generator. Author last name, Initials.

  3. How to Cite an Encyclopedia in APA

    Citing an online encyclopedia entry in APA (organization as author, date unknown) When an organization is both the article author and publisher, only include the organization's name in the beginning of the citation (as the author). When an online article's date is unknown, place "n.d." for "no date" in the publications space, and ...

  4. MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

    Britannica Academic, 2013. Encyclopædia Britannica. Note:This example had no editor's name, edition, volume or page numbers, so these elements were left out of the citation. In-Text Citation Example ("Shortened Title of Entry") Example: ("Racism") Note: This entry has no page numbers, so this information is left out of the citation.

  5. Research Guides: Citation Guide: How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS

    Examples do not show indented lines after the first line, but yours should be indented. Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. Year of publication. "Title of Entry or Article." Pp. numbers in Title of Reference Source. edition, Vol. number, edited by Editor (editors use initials and not inverted). City of publication: Publisher. Examples:

  6. PDF APA Citation Encyclopedia Britannica Online

    APA Citation Encyclopedia Britannica Online Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Ed., p.187-192, 6.31-6.32 ... Intext citation for a paraphrase: ("Chartres," 2010) Article from an Electronic Encyclopedia Sadie, S. (2010). Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus.

  7. How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS

    Research Paper Help; Citing sources; APA Toggle Dropdown. How to cite BOOKS, eBOOKS, CHAPTERS ; ... APA Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry Citation. Examples are not double-spaced, but your References list should be double-spaced ... In Encyclopædia Britannica: Macropædia (Vol. 1, pp. 243-261). Chicago: Encyclopædia Brittanica. How to cite ...

  8. Citation Guide: How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS

    Research Paper Help; Citing Visual Content; How to Cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS. APA Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry Citation. Examples are not double-spaced, but your References list should be double-spaced. ... In Encyclopædia Britannica: Macropædia (Vol. 1, pp. 243-261). Chicago: Encyclopædia Brittanica. How to Cite ONLINE Encyclopedias.

  9. APA Citation Guide

    Only capitalize the first word of the document title. If there is a colon in the title, capitalize the first word after the colon. Italicize the title of the encyclopedia. Include a page range whenever available. For encyclopedias, put p. or pp. in front of the page range. If you are citing an electronic encyclopedia article, do not include a ...

  10. Citation Guide: How to cite ENCYCLOPEDIAS

    How to Cite Encyclopedias. Examples are not double-spaced, but your Works Cited list should be double-spaced. Examples do not show indented lines after the first line, but yours should be indented. Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. "Title of Entry or Article." Title of Reference Source. edition. year. "Home."

  11. How to Cite an Encyclopedia in MLA

    Citing an Encyclopedia in Print. Works Cited. Structure. Last, First M. (if available*) "Article Title.". Encyclopedia Name, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name (if available), edition (if not first edition), volume number, Publisher Name, year published, page number (s). Example. McGhee, Karen, and George McKay. "Old World Monkeys.".

  12. Research Guides: APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Encyclopedias

    In-Text Citation - No Author. If a dictionary or encyclopedia entry has no author, the in-text citation should include the title of the entry. The title of the entry should be in quotation marks, with each word starting with a capital letter. The title of the entry will be followed by a comma and the year of publication.

  13. APA Citation Guide (7th edition) CGS

    If the entry has section headings, you can use those. Encyclopedia entries often have section headings. Enter the section heading name, followed by the word "section" and then the number of the paragraph within that section. Example: (Smith, 2012, Climate section, para. 2).

  14. English: Encyclopedia Britannica vs. Wikipedia

    The New Encyclopedia Britannica by Encyclopaedia Britannica (Compiled by) Call Number: AE5 .E363 2010. ISBN: 9781593398378. Publication Date: 2009-09-01. Almost every student, faculty member, and librarian knows from experience how valuable Wikipedia can actually be when looking for quick background information about almost any topic.

  15. Basics

    We all use it--it's quick and easy. However, as you probably know, anyone can write and edit Wikipedia articles. In fact it's so easy that Stephen Colbert used to edit live on his show. Check out the Wikipedia Case Study. If you you want information that has been written and reviewed by experts, Britannica is your best bet.

  16. Are encyclopedias good sources for essays?

    May 30, 2022. Encyclopedias are great as sources of background information. This makes them excellent places to begin your research on a given topic, but certainly not the only place you would look for information. Most university professors will want you to use academic sources in your essays and research papers, so using an encyclopedia as a ...

  17. Will a journal reject a paper for citing an Encyclopedia?

    2. No. If other secondary sources like review articles are acceptable, then an encyclopedia is acceptable. If the information is a well-documented, undisputed territorial boundary, then secondary sources should be adequate. Personally, I have never heard of a paper being rejected for citing the wrong type of source in my field of research.

  18. Research Databases: Reference Sources

    The online version of the Encyclopedia Britannica is a trusted source used by more than 4,755 universities worldwide, including Yale, Harvard and Oxford. ... You also can't cite Wikipedia as a source for most student research papers. Nevertheless, Wikipedia is worth visiting because it is free and it can lead you to more valuable and reliable ...

  19. PDF Britannica's Research Guide

    For a research project, you conduct formal research. This means using resources to answer a question, solve a problem, or find out something you want to know. You'll be like a detective, using your research skills to dig out the facts, organize them, and draw conclusions from them. This guide presents a five-step process to get you from start to

  20. Is Britannica a Credible Academic Source? Examining the Reliability of

    A: Yes, you can trust Britannica's information. It is written and edited by experts in their fields and reviewed by other experts before being published. Q: Can I cite Britannica in my academic paper? A: Yes, you can cite Britannica in your academic paper. Just be sure to follow proper citation guidelines, such as including the author, title ...

  21. Quora

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  22. What are Scholarly Sources and Where Can You Find Them?

    Citation Library: Below the AI response, you'll find references. You can add these references to your Citation Library to keep track of new sources. Citing Sources: You can cite a source using numbers, where each number corresponds to a particular source in the list of references in your text. Alternatively, you can cite using the first/last ...