What if a journal has no author?

Asked by: Amparo Blanda  |  Last update: January 25, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (51 votes)

In-Text/Parenthetical Citation If no author is listed, use a shortened title of the work. Put the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (such as books or entire websites), and include page numbers (if there are any).

What do you do if there is no author listed?

If the source you are referencing is missing an author, use the source's title instead of the author's name in your in-text citation. In your Reference list, use the source's title in place of the author's name. The rest of the reference should follow the usual style for the type of source you are citing.

How do you cite an article with no author?

If no author or creator is provided, start the citation with the title/name of the item you are citing instead. Follow the title/name of the item with the date of publication, and the continue with other citation details.

What happens when you have a source without an author?

If no author or creator is provided, start the citation with the title of the source you are citing instead. Do not use "Anonymous" as the author's name. Use the first one, two, or three main words from the title, in either italics or in "quotation marks" (the same way it is written in your Works Cited list).

What happens if you don't have an author for APA?

If the material you are citing definitely does not have an author that you can find, you would put the title of the article or web entry or report at the beginning of the full reference, where the author normally goes.

Citing Documents with No Author or No Date Using APA Style, 7th edition: Episode 5

36 related questions found

What if I can't find the author of an article?

If no author is listed, use a shortened title of the work. Put the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (such as books or entire websites), and include page numbers (if there are any).

Do you cite the editor if there is no author?

If there is an editor instead of an author, insert the editor's name in the place of the author's, followed by (Ed.) or (Eds.)

Is a source with no author credible?

Never use websites where an author cannot be determined or is listed as "anonymous," unless the site is associated with a reputable institution such as a respected university, a credible media outlet, government program or department, or well-known non-governmental organizations.

Do sources with no author go first?

If the author of a work is unknown, order the reference by its title. Disregard the words “A”, “An”, and “The” at the beginning of the title. Read more about alphabetizing the APA reference page.

Do you cite the publisher if there is no author?

If a book has no author or editor, begin the citation with the book title, followed by the year of publication in round brackets. If an author is also the publisher, put the word "Author" where you'd normally put the publisher name.

How to cite a journal article in APA?

A basic reference list entry for a journal article in APA must include:
  1. Author or authors. ...
  2. Year of publication of the article (in round brackets).
  3. Article title.
  4. Journal title (in italics).
  5. Volume of journal (in italics).
  6. Issue number of journal in round brackets (no italics).
  7. Page range of article.
  8. DOI or URL.

How to cite APA with no name?

Source with No Author

Note: If a source has no author, begin with the title. If the source you are citing was published by an organization or corporation, cite it as having an organizational or corporate author. Title. (Year of Publication).

When you don't know the author of an article, where should the full name of the article appear?

Explanation: The full name of the article should appear in the Title page when you don't know the author. The title page typically includes the title of the article, subtitle (if any), and other necessary information like publication date, publisher, and edition.

How to cite a journal article with no author?

When the work does not have an author move the title of the work to the beginning of the references and follow with the date of publication. Only use “Anonymous ” if the author is the work is signed “Anonymous.” This is a new addition to APA 7. Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary (11th ed.).

How do I cite no author?

When a work has no identified author, cite in text the first few words of the reference list entry (usually the title) and the year. Use double quotation marks around the title of an article, a chapter or a web page, and italicise the title of a journal, a book, a brochure, or a report.

Can you publish a book without an author?

You can be straight 'Anonymous' or can choose a pen name. In the case of the latter, I would recommend studying other author's names for inspiration and then picking one that is original, memorable and easy to spell. Make sure that the name suits your target audience.

What happens if your source does not have an author listed?

According to the MLA Style Center if a resource doesn't have an author do not use “Anonymous,” instead use the title of the resource. In in-text citations, use a shortened title of the work in place of an author's name.

Can I use a URL instead of DOI?

If no DOI is available, use the source's URL in the citation. If using a DOI, omit the URL, access date, and publication date from Reference List entry.

What to do if a source has no author or date?

No Author or Date

If a source is missing both the author or publication date, the citation will include the title, "n.d." for "no date," and the source. Make sure that there is no identifiable author. Sometimes the author is a company or other group rather than an individual.

How many years until a source is not credible?

Some journals specify that only literature within the past 5 years should be cited unless using classical sources or sources necessary to understand the study measures” (p. xiv). “The current expectation is for references to be no more than 5 years ago, unless the article is a classic or a benchmark study” (p. 240).

What to do when a website has no author?

If no author or creator is provided, start the citation with the title/name of the item you are citing instead. Follow the title/name of the item with the date of publication, and the continue with other citation details. Remember: an author/creator may be an organization or corporation, for example Health Canada.

What makes a source uncredible?

Sources are unreliable when (i) the author doesn't have authority to write on the topic, (ii) the source contains plagiarized or uncited information, or (iii) the source contains inaccurate or false information. Unreliable sources can be books, journal articles, newspaper or magazine articles, websites, blogs, etc.

What does FM mean in a citation?

Authors, Editors, Creators

Last, F. M. If the name of an author, editor, or creator is listed in the middle of the citation (such as with the "Book with An Editor and an Author" example), then the first and middle initial are first, followed by the last name. (F. M.

What does EDS mean in a citation?

Use the abbreviation “(Ed.)” for one editor and the abbreviation “(Eds.)” for multiple editors after the editor names, followed by a period. In the case of multiple editors, include the role once, after all the names.

What does APA stand for?

American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.