Formatting & Citation

How to Cite Wikipedia

While often debated, citing Wikipedia can be done correctly for academic and professional purposes. This guide breaks down when and how to cite Wikipedia entries, offering practical advice and examples. We'll cover common citation styles and best practices to ensure your work remains credible and properly attributed.

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Is Citing Wikipedia Ever Okay?

The question of whether to cite Wikipedia in academic or professional work is a common one, and the answer isn't a simple yes or no. Historically, Wikipedia has been viewed with suspicion in scholarly circles due to its open-editing model. However, its vast scope, accessibility, and constant updates mean it often serves as a starting point for research, providing overviews and initial leads to primary sources. The key isn't if you can cite it, but how and when you should. For many students and professionals, understanding its limitations and using it judiciously is crucial. Think of it as a well-stocked, albeit sometimes unverified, public library. You can certainly reference books you find there, but you'd be wise to check the publisher's reputation and author's credentials first.

When to Cite Wikipedia (and When Not To)

Wikipedia is most appropriate to cite when it serves as a secondary source that synthesizes information from other sources, or when you're referencing a specific fact or definition that is well-established and supported by numerous inline citations. For instance, if you're writing a general overview of a historical event and Wikipedia provides a clear, concise summary with links to reputable academic journals or books, it can be a valid starting point. Similarly, if you need to define a term that isn't highly specialized, Wikipedia might offer a quick and accurate definition, provided it's well-sourced. However, it's generally not advisable to cite Wikipedia for cutting-edge research, controversial topics where consensus is still forming, or when you need in-depth analysis that goes beyond a general overview. In these cases, you should always aim to find and cite the original, primary, or more specialized secondary sources that Wikipedia itself references.

The Core Principle: Trace Back to the Original Source

The golden rule when considering citing Wikipedia is to always try and trace the information back to its original source. Wikipedia articles often include inline citations, usually marked by superscript numbers. Clicking on these numbers will take you to a reference list at the bottom of the page. Your goal should be to locate the actual book, journal article, or reputable website that the Wikipedia editor used. If you can find and read that original source, you should cite that source directly, rather than the Wikipedia article. This demonstrates a deeper level of research and ensures you're engaging with the most authoritative information available. For example, if a Wikipedia article on quantum entanglement cites a specific paper by Einstein, you should find and cite Einstein's paper, not the Wikipedia page that mentioned it.

However, there are situations where citing Wikipedia itself is acceptable, particularly if the article is used to provide context, a general overview, or historical background that is not the main focus of your research. In such cases, you are essentially citing Wikipedia as a source of general knowledge, much like you might cite an encyclopedia. The crucial element is transparency: acknowledge that you are using Wikipedia and ensure the information you've gleaned is accurate and well-supported within the article itself.

How to Cite Wikipedia: Common Citation Styles

The exact format for citing Wikipedia will depend on the citation style required for your assignment or publication. Here's how to approach it for some of the most common styles:

MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

In MLA, you generally treat a Wikipedia article like a page on a website. You'll need the article title, the website name (Wikipedia), the date you accessed the article, and the URL. If an author is listed (which is rare for Wikipedia articles), you'd include that. The most important elements are the article title and the access date, as Wikipedia content can change.

Article Title. "Website Name," Publisher (if different from website name), Date of Publication (if available), URL. Accessed Date.
Example: "Quantum Entanglement." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

APA treats Wikipedia articles as online encyclopedias or reference works. You'll need the article title, the retrieval date (if the content is likely to change, which is true for Wikipedia), and the URL. No publisher is needed since Wikipedia is the name of the site and the publisher.

Article Title. (Year, Month Day of publication or last revision). In Wikipedia. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
Example: Quantum entanglement. (2023, March 15). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement

Note: APA 7th edition guidance suggests omitting the retrieval date unless the content is designed to be changed over time and is not archived. For Wikipedia, it's generally advisable to include it because articles are frequently updated.

Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography)

Chicago style offers flexibility. You can cite Wikipedia in a footnote or endnote, and then list it in your bibliography. The key is to be consistent. For a footnote, you'll include the article title, the website name, the date you accessed it, and the URL. The bibliography entry will be similar but formatted differently.

Footnote: "Article Title," Wikipedia, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Bibliography: "Article Title." Wikipedia. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Example Footnote: "Quantum Entanglement," Wikipedia, accessed March 20, 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement.
Example Bibliography: "Quantum Entanglement." Wikipedia. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement.

Key Information to Gather for Citation

Regardless of the citation style, certain pieces of information are essential when citing a Wikipedia article. Having these readily available will make the citation process smoother and more accurate.

The full title of the Wikipedia article.
The name of the website (Wikipedia).
The date you accessed the article (important because content can change).
The specific URL of the article.
The date of publication or last revision (if available and relevant to your style guide).
The author's name (rarely applicable for Wikipedia articles, but check if one is credited).

Best Practices for Using and Citing Wikipedia

Beyond the technicalities of citation format, employing good research habits when using Wikipedia is vital for maintaining academic integrity and the quality of your work. Think of these as guidelines to ensure you're using Wikipedia as a tool, not a crutch.

Verify Information: Always cross-reference information found on Wikipedia with other reputable sources. Look for the inline citations and follow them to primary or more authoritative secondary sources.
Check the Revision History: For critical information, examine the article's revision history to see how the content has evolved and if there have been any disputes or significant edits.
Assess the Article's Quality: Look for indicators of a well-maintained article, such as a high number of edits, active discussion pages, and adherence to Wikipedia's internal standards (e.g., featured article status).
Use it as a Starting Point: Wikipedia is excellent for getting a general understanding of a topic, identifying key terms, and finding potential sources. However, it should rarely be your only source.
Be Aware of Bias: Like any source, Wikipedia articles can sometimes reflect biases. Be critical of the information presented and seek out diverse perspectives.
Cite Responsibly: Only cite Wikipedia when it genuinely serves a purpose in your research and when you cannot easily access or cite a more authoritative source for the same information. When you do cite it, follow the correct format for your chosen style guide meticulously.

Scenario: Citing a specific statistic

Imagine you're writing a paper on global internet penetration and find a statistic on the Wikipedia page for 'Internet Users' stating that 'As of January 2023, over 5.3 billion people were internet users worldwide.' The article cites a report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Instead of citing the Wikipedia page, you would locate the ITU report, verify the statistic, and cite the ITU report directly. If, however, you were writing a brief note about the concept of internet user statistics and the Wikipedia article provided a good overview of how these statistics are collected, you might cite the Wikipedia article itself, noting its role as a general explainer.

FAQs

Can I cite Wikipedia in a college essay?

It depends on your professor's guidelines. Many professors discourage or forbid citing Wikipedia directly because it's a tertiary source and its content can change. It's always best to check your instructor's specific requirements. If allowed, treat it as a website and follow the appropriate citation style, but try to find and cite the original sources listed in the Wikipedia article whenever possible.

What if the Wikipedia article has an author listed?

While rare, some Wikipedia articles might have a credited author or editor. If an author is clearly identified for the specific article you are citing, include their name in your citation according to the rules of your chosen style guide (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago). However, for most standard Wikipedia entries, you will cite the article title and the website itself.

Is it better to cite the Wikipedia article or its sources?

It is almost always better to cite the original source that Wikipedia references. This shows you've done deeper research and are engaging with authoritative material. Cite the Wikipedia article directly only when it serves as a useful overview, a definition, or when you cannot access the original source and the information is well-established and supported within the Wikipedia entry.

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