Wikipedia can be a convenient starting point for research, but citing it correctly requires more than copying an article’s web address. The citation must follow the style required by your school, university, instructor, or publisher.
Whether you are writing a college essay, research paper, thesis, or online article, this guide explains how to cite Wikipedia in APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago style. You will find reference examples, in-text citations, footnotes, and practical steps for locating the exact version of an article you used.
Can You Cite Wikipedia in an Academic Paper?
Yes, when your assignment or publication permits it. However, Wikipedia is often better used as a starting point than as the final authority for an academic argument. Articles can change, and their quality and sourcing vary by topic.
For stronger academic research, follow the references at the bottom of the Wikipedia article and locate the original book, scholarly journal article, official report, or primary source. Cite that original source when it directly supports the claim you are making.
Author–date
Uses a reference-list entry and an author–date citation in the text. Wikipedia articles normally begin with the article title because an individual author is not usually identified.
Works Cited
Uses a Works Cited entry and a brief parenthetical citation, generally based on the article title when no author is named.
Notes or author–date
Offers a notes-and-bibliography system and an author–date system. Follow the one required for your discipline.
Before You Cite Wikipedia: Find the Exact Revision
Wikipedia pages can be edited at any time. If you cite only the current page, the content might change before someone checks your reference. For that reason, using a permanent link to the version you consulted is especially helpful.
- Open the Wikipedia article you used.
- Select View history near the top of the page.
- Find the revision you read. The history list shows edit dates and times.
- Open the revision or its permanent link.
- Copy the URL for that specific revision and save the revision date.
On desktop, Wikipedia also provides a Permanent link option in its tools or sidebar, depending on the interface. A revision URL commonly contains a parameter such as oldid=.
How to Cite Wikipedia in APA 7
APA 7 treats a Wikipedia article as an entry in an online reference work. Since Wikipedia articles are usually collaboratively edited without a named individual author, the entry starts with the article title. For frequently updated content, APA recommends citing an archived version when available.
APA reference list format
Article title. (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. URL of archived revision
For example, a fictional reference using an illustrative revision date and a real topic would look like this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Photosynthesis&oldid=1234567890
The date and revision number above are illustrative. Replace them with the date and permanent URL of the revision you actually used.
APA in-text citation
Use the article title and year in the in-text citation.
(“Photosynthesis,” 2024)
Narrative citation:
“Photosynthesis” (2024) explains how plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
If you quote a Wikipedia entry directly, APA’s rules for quotations still apply. For an unpaginated web source, use a paragraph number or section heading when needed to help readers locate the passage.
APA formatting tips
- Use sentence case for the article title: capitalize the first word, the first word after a colon, and proper nouns.
- Put the revision date in parentheses.
- Italicize Wikipedia as the reference-work title in the reference entry.
- Use the permanent URL of the revision you consulted.
- Do not add a period after the URL in an APA reference.
- Include the entry in your References list and cite it in the text.
For additional guidance, consult the official APA Style reference examples or the Purdue OWL guide to electronic sources.
How to Cite Wikipedia in MLA 9
MLA 9 uses a template of core elements to build Works Cited entries. For a Wikipedia article without a named author, start with the article title. Include the website as the container, the publisher when appropriate, the date of the version consulted, and the URL.
MLA Works Cited format
“Article Title.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Day Month Year, URL.
Here is an illustrative example:
This example uses a fictionalized revision date and identifier for formatting purposes. Replace them with the actual revision details. MLA punctuation and element requirements may depend on the version and the details available.
MLA in-text citation
MLA normally uses a shortened title in quotation marks when a work has no named author. For the example above, the citation would be:
If you mention the article title naturally in your sentence, avoid repeating the same information unnecessarily in the parenthetical citation. MLA in-text citations should direct readers to the matching Works Cited entry.
MLA formatting tips
- Place the entry on your Works Cited page.
- Use quotation marks around the article title.
- Italicize the website title, Wikipedia.
- Use the date associated with the revision you consulted.
- Include a stable link to the relevant revision when possible.
- Apply a hanging indent and double spacing to the Works Cited list, as required by standard MLA paper formatting.
See the MLA Style Center’s official citation guidance for its core-elements approach.
How to Cite Wikipedia in Chicago Style
Chicago has two main citation systems: notes and bibliography and author–date. The best option depends on your department, publisher, or instructor.
Chicago generally advises writers to avoid relying on Wikipedia as an authoritative source. When a Wikipedia article must be cited, the notes-and-bibliography approach often places the citation in a note rather than listing the entry in the bibliography. Follow your institution’s requirements.
Option 1: Chicago notes and bibliography
In this system, insert a superscript note number in the text and provide the source information in a footnote or endnote.
1. “Article Title,” Wikipedia, last modified Month Day, Year, URL.
Illustrative example:
A later citation to the same article can use a shortened note:
In the notes-and-bibliography system, Chicago’s guidance for Wikipedia commonly recommends leaving the entry out of the bibliography and citing it in the note. Check the exact requirements of your instructor or publisher.
Option 2: Chicago author–date
The author–date system uses a parenthetical citation in the text and a corresponding reference-list entry. Because individual Wikipedia entries generally lack a named author, the title or site name may lead the citation, depending on the applicable guidance.
(Wikipedia 2024)
Illustrative reference-list entry
Wikipedia. 2024. “Photosynthesis.” Last modified May 15, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Photosynthesis&oldid=1234567890.
Treat this as a basic format illustration, not a substitute for checking the Chicago Manual of Style’s current rules for the exact entry you are citing.
The Chicago Manual of Style Quick Guide explains the differences between the two systems. Its notes-and-bibliography examples include examples of website citations.
APA vs. MLA vs. Chicago: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | APA 7 | MLA 9 | Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference section | References | Works Cited | Bibliography or reference list, depending on system |
| Typical in-text method | Title and year | Shortened title in parentheses | Footnote or author–date citation |
| Article title | Sentence case | Quotation marks | Quotation marks in notes and entries |
| Revision date | Usually included | Include the date of the cited version when available | Include modification date or other date details as appropriate |
| Permanent revision link | Recommended for a changing page | Useful for identifying the exact version | Useful for identifying the exact version |
| Common discipline use | Psychology and social sciences | Literature and humanities | History, humanities, and other fields |
These are general differences, not a replacement for the specific edition and rules required by your course or publisher.
Wikipedia Citation Helper
Use this helper to organize the basic details for a Wikipedia reference. It creates a simple draft based on your selected style; review the result against the official guide before submitting academic work.
The helper runs in your browser and does not verify the article’s revision date or URL. Always check that the URL identifies the exact version you used.
Common Mistakes When Citing Wikipedia
Using only the homepage
Link directly to the specific article and, when possible, the revision you consulted—not just Wikipedia.org.
Leaving out the revision date
Wikipedia is updated frequently. Find the date associated with the version you used and include it where your citation style requires it.
Mixing citation styles
Do not combine APA’s reference format with MLA punctuation or Chicago footnotes. Choose one style and apply it consistently.
Assuming Wikipedia is always acceptable
Check assignment requirements and seek original, authoritative sources when your argument needs strong academic evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to cite Wikipedia if I paraphrase it?
Yes. Paraphrasing does not remove the need to credit a source. If you use information or an idea from a Wikipedia article, cite it according to the required style.
Should I cite Wikipedia or the sources listed in the article?
When a cited book, academic paper, government report, or primary source directly supports your claim, it is generally better to consult and cite that original source. Cite Wikipedia itself if you are specifically discussing the article or relying on its content where permitted.
Does APA require a retrieval date for Wikipedia?
For a Wikipedia article with an archived revision, APA generally uses the date of that revision and its permanent URL rather than a retrieval date. Follow APA’s current guidance if you cannot access a stable archived version.
How do I cite Wikipedia without an author?
Use the article title as the starting element in APA and MLA when no individual author is identified. Chicago formatting depends on whether you are using notes and bibliography or author–date and on the guidance for the particular entry.
Can I use a citation generator for Wikipedia?
Yes, a citation generator can help create a first draft. However, check the title, date, permanent URL, punctuation, capitalization, and required reference-list formatting before submitting your work.
Does Chicago require Wikipedia in the bibliography?
In the notes-and-bibliography system, Chicago commonly recommends citing Wikipedia in a note without including it in the bibliography. Requirements can differ for author–date citations and institutional instructions, so consult the current Chicago guide and your instructor.
Final Checklist Before Submitting Your Paper
- Confirm whether APA, MLA, or Chicago is required.
- Check the exact article title and revision date.
- Copy the permanent link to the version you consulted.
- Include the required in-text citation, footnote, or endnote.
- Make sure the reference entry matches the selected style.
- Follow your instructor’s policy on using Wikipedia as an academic source.
- Whenever possible, verify important claims against reliable original sources.
Correctly citing Wikipedia helps readers trace the information you used and understand which version of the article informed your work. The most important habits are to follow one citation style consistently, preserve the revision link, and verify significant claims against authoritative sources.