When URL is long or complex you may use a short version of the URL.
Use a URL shortener site such as Bitly or TinyURL to create manageable URL's
Example:
Long URL
https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/2e5a7bd9-4465-4fb6-8fca-041f0c874cb7/13426.pdf.asp
Short URL
https://bit.ly/2rprcj5
*Both URL's will access the same document
Pattern for Web Page:
| Format |
Author, A. A. (Date). Title of web page. Publisher/Site sponsor name. URL Show the website date in the fullest form available When the author name and publisher name are the same omit the publisher name from the reference In-Text only use the author and Year (James Cook University, 2019). |
| Examples |
Department of Education. (2020, November 11). Physical activity and health. Queensland Government. https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/learning-at-home/physical-activity-and-health Grima, B. (2019, September 30). A 60,000-year-old cure for depression. BBC. http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190929-a-60000-year-old-cure-for-depression James Cook University. (2021). Borrow and renew. https://www.jcu.edu.au/library/loans NB: This pattern is also used for documents downloaded from websites, such as PDFs: The Learning Centre. (n.d.). Self study programs: Paraphrasing and plagiarism. James Cook University. https://bit.ly/3FngziL Queensland Health. (2016, July 26). Food allergies: General information and management guide. Queensland Government. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/662494/allergy_infomanagement.pdf Queensland Health. (2019, April 4). Influenza (The flu). Queensland Government. http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/media/pdf/14/217/82/influenza-the-flu-v24 |
If you are taking information from the website or web document, then you must cite the information as per the instructions given above.
However, if you are simply referring to the fact that the website exists, then you include the URL for the home page in text, and you do not include an entry in your reference list.
For example:
Queensland Health maintains a website which offers advice on clinical practice (https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice) that can be a good resource for health workers.
Please note: This is only done when you are not using any information from the site. If you are not sure whether you can simply give the URL in text, or if you should cite the web resource with a proper in-text citation and an entry in your reference list, ask your librarian for assistance.
We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where our staff and students, live, learn and work.
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International License. Content from this Guide should be attributed to James Cook University Library. This does not apply to images, third party material (seek permission from the original owner) or any logos or insignia belonging to JCU or other bodies, which remain All Rights Reserved.