How to Cite Blog Posts
Learn how to properly cite blog posts and online commentary in APA format.
Basic Format
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of blog post. Blog Name. URL
Note: Include the notation [Blog post] in square brackets after the title if the post format is not evident from the title.
Examples
Standard Blog Post
Lee, M. (2023, August 15). The future of academic writing. Academic Writing Blog. https://example.com/academic-writing-future
- • Author's name in standard format
- • Full date of the post
- • Title in sentence case
- • Blog name in italics
Blog Post with Format Notation
Chen, R. (2023, July 1). Writing effective citations [Blog post]. Research Tips. https://example.com/citation-tips
- • Include [Blog post] after title when format isn't clear
- • URL points directly to the post
Group Blog Post
Writing Center Staff. (2023, June 12). Tips for better citations [Blog post]. University Writing Center Blog. https://example.edu/writing-tips
- • Group name as author
- • Include all available publication details
Guest Blog Post
Martinez, A. (2023, May 5). Guest post: Citation styles compared. [Blog post]. Citation Guide. https://example.org/guest-post
- • Cite the guest author, not the blog owner
- • Include "Guest post:" if mentioned in title
Special Considerations
Comments on Blog Posts
Reader, J. (2023, August 16). Re: The future of academic writing [Blog comment]. Academic Writing Blog. https://example.com/academic-writing-future#comment-123
When citing a comment, include "Re:" before the title and [Blog comment] after it.
Blog Posts in Another Language
Müller, K. (2023). Zitierrichtlinien für Blogs [Citation guidelines for blogs]. Deutsche Wissenschaft Blog. https://example.de/blog
Provide an English translation of the title in square brackets after the original title.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't cite the entire blog when referencing a specific post
- Don't omit the date if it's available
- Don't forget to include [Blog post] when the format isn't clear from the title
- Don't use the blog owner's name for guest posts
- Don't include unnecessary URL parameters or tracking information
Best Practices
Archiving Blog Posts
- Save important posts as PDFs
- Use web archive services
- Document access date for volatile content
- Keep local copies of crucial references
Verification Tips
- Verify author credentials when possible
- Check post dates for accuracy
- Ensure URLs are permanent links
- Confirm blog is still accessible