Expert: Dan Smith - 9/2/2011

Question
Dear Mr. Smith:

I would like to know how to do parenthetical citations of web sites. I do alot of writing and have found it easier to do parenthetical citatations with print sources on account of the fact that if I delete a something that is cited I do have to go back and change the mumber sequence as in traditional footnotes or endnotes. I, therefore, wonder if there is an accepted way to cite web sites in this way, especially those that do not have an author listed.

Any information you can provided would be most appreciated.
Randy

Answer
Citation styles vary with different style manuals, although in the US most such manuals ultimately refer back to Chicago Manual of Style. But in general, you should put enough information in the citation that the source in the bibliography can be referenced. If you use footnotes, however, you should be using the "insert footnote" feature that is found in all word processors. That feature numbers footnotes automatically, and if you delete one it will renumber them automatically. There is no reason to do footnotes any other way. It will also format them correctly according to the style manual you select as the basis for your document. All major word processors have that feature and allow you to select from the major manuals.

Hope this helps.