How to Cite Wikipedia in APA, MLA & Chicago Styles

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia online that anyone can edit and contribute to. It is like a tertiary source that contains millions of articles on various topics, from history and science to pop culture and sports. 

This online encyclopedia can be a helpful source of background information for your research. But how do you cite it properly in your academic writing or your research papers?

In this blog post, we will show you how to cite a Wikipedia article in three common citation styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago. 

We will also discuss the reliability of Wikipedia as a source and provide you with a free and easy-to-use citation tool by PerfectEssayWriter.ai.

Citing Wikipedia Article in APA Style

To cite a Wikipedia article in APA style, you need to include the following information:

• Title of Article
• Date of Last Revision
• Website Name
• URL

Here is the format for Wikipedia citation in APA style:

Format: Article title. (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. URL

In-Text Citation Format: (“Shortened Title”, Year)

For Example:

Citing Wikipedia Article in MLA Style

To cite a Wikipedia article in MLA style, you need to include the following information:

• Wikipedia Title
• Publisher (Wikimedia Foundation)
• Last Revision Date
• URL

Take a look at the format below to cite a Wikipedia article in MLA:

Format: “Article Title.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Date of last modification, URL.

In-Text Citation Format: (Shortened Title)

For Example:

Citing Wikipedia Article in Chicago Style

To cite a Wikipedia article in Chicago style, you need to include the following information:

• Title Name
• Website 
• Last Revision Date 
• URL

Here is how you can cite a Wikipedia article in Chicago style (notes and bibliography): 

Format Full Note: Wikipedia. “Article Title.” Last Modification Date. URL.

Format Short Note: Wikipedia, “Shortened Article Title.”

For Example:

Here is how you can cite a Wikipedia Article in Chicago style (author-date): 

Format: Wikipedia. Year. “Article Title”, Last Modification Date. URL

In-Text Citation Format: (Wikipedia Year)

For Example:

Wikipedia as a Reliable Source

We are often told by professors and teachers to avoid using Wikipedia as it may not be a credible source. However, there are some exceptions. 

Here is what you need to know when citing Wikipedia as your source of information:

• Wikipedia is a collaborative platform where anyone can edit.
• The information on Wikipedia can be inaccurate, biased, outdated, or incomplete.
• Wikipedia can be a useful starting point for research, as it can provide a general overview of a topic, and help identify key terms and concepts.
• Wikipedia can be directed to other sources through its references and external links.
• Wikipedia needs to be cited properly to give credit to the original authors and editors, and to allow readers to find and evaluate the source.

Free and Easy to Use Citation Tool by PerfectEssayWriter.ai

If you need help with creating citations for your academic papers, you can use the free and easy-to-use citation generator by PerfectEssayWriter.ai. This tool can generate citations in various styles, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, and more. 

Just enter the URL or the title of the source you want to cite, and our tool will do the rest for you. Try it out today and see how it can make your academic writing easier and faster.