How to Cite CDC Information in APA 7th Edition: A Comprehensive Guide
To effectively and accurately cite information from the CDC website in APA 7th edition, provide the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the author, include the date of publication or last revision, the title of the specific webpage or document, and the URL. This ensures proper attribution and facilitates easy retrieval of the source.
Understanding the Importance of Accurate Citations
Accurate citations are the cornerstone of academic integrity and scholarly communication. When you use information from external sources, whether it’s groundbreaking research or public health guidelines, you must give credit where it’s due. This not only avoids plagiarism but also strengthens the credibility of your own work by demonstrating a thorough understanding of the subject matter. Correctly citing the CDC website, a trusted source of health information, is crucial for academic papers, research reports, and professional publications. Ignoring proper citation methods can lead to accusations of plagiarism, detract from the validity of your arguments, and hinder others from verifying your sources.
The Basic APA Citation Format for CDC Webpages
The core format for citing a specific webpage from the CDC in APA 7th edition is as follows:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. URL
Let’s break down each element:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: This is the author of the information. Always use the full name.
- (Year, Month Day): This is the date the webpage was last updated or published. If only the year is available, use that.
- Title of page: This is the title of the specific webpage you are citing. It should be italicized.
- URL: This is the full web address of the specific webpage.
Example APA Citation for a CDC Webpage
Let’s say you are citing a page on the CDC website about influenza. The citation might look like this:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, October 26). Key facts about influenza (Flu). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
In-Text Citations: Parenthetical and Narrative
In addition to the reference list entry, you’ll need to include in-text citations within your paper whenever you paraphrase, summarize, or directly quote information from the CDC website. There are two common formats:
- Parenthetical Citation: This format places the author and year in parentheses at the end of the sentence. For example: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). If you are citing a specific section or using a direct quote, include the paragraph number. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023, para. 3).
- Narrative Citation: This format integrates the author into the sentence. For example: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023) states that… Again, include the paragraph number when appropriate. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023) explains in the third paragraph that…
Citing Different Types of Content on the CDC Website
The basic format above applies to most CDC webpages. However, you might encounter different types of content that require slight variations.
- Reports: Treat reports like journal articles, including the report number (if available) after the title.
- Data & Statistics: Cite the specific dataset you are using. Ensure you provide enough detail for others to locate the data.
- Infographics: Cite the CDC and the title of the infographic, specifying that it is an infographic in brackets after the title.
- Mobile Apps: Include the version number of the app, if available.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Citing the CDC
- Using the Homepage URL: Always cite the specific webpage where you found the information, not just the CDC homepage.
- Incorrect Dates: Double-check the publication or revision date on the webpage.
- Misspelling the Author’s Name: It’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not Center for Disease Control.
- Forgetting to Italicize the Title: The title of the webpage should be italicized in the reference list entry.
- Inconsistent Citation Style: Ensure consistency throughout your paper.
When No Date Is Available
If you can’t find a publication or revision date on the webpage, use “(n.d.)” which stands for “no date.”
Table: Example CDC Citations
| Content Type | Citation Example |
|---|---|
| Webpage | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, November 1). About CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/about/index.htm |
| Report | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/index.html |
| Infographic | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, September 14). Preventing tick bites [Infographic]. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/index.html |
Understanding APA 7th Edition Changes
APA 7th edition, released in 2020, simplified citation rules compared to previous editions. Key changes relevant to citing the CDC include:
- Inclusion of URLs: URLs are now included for all online sources, not just those without a DOI.
- Less Emphasis on Retrieval Dates: Retrieval dates are typically not needed unless the content is likely to change over time.
- Simplified Author Names: Only include the first 19 authors before using an ellipsis (…).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if the CDC webpage lists multiple authors in addition to the CDC itself?
If multiple authors are explicitly named in addition to the CDC, list them before the CDC in the citation. If the CDC is acting as the publisher and no individual authors are credited, then credit the CDC as the sole author.
How do I cite a CDC podcast?
Cite the podcast episode using the following format: Host, A. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Title of episode [Audio podcast episode]. Podcast name. Publisher. URL
Is it always necessary to include the month and day when citing a CDC webpage?
It is always best practice to include the most specific date available. If only the year is available, use that. Only omit the month and day if they are genuinely unavailable.
What if the URL is very long and complicated?
Use a short URL service like Bitly or TinyURL to create a shorter, more manageable URL for your citation. Ensure the short URL is stable and unlikely to expire.
Do I need to include a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for CDC publications?
The CDC generally doesn’t assign DOIs to its web content. Therefore, include the URL instead. Only include a DOI if it is explicitly provided.
How do I cite a table or figure that I retrieved from the CDC website?
Cite the specific page where the table or figure is located. In your text, refer to the table or figure by its number (e.g., “See Table 1” or “as shown in Figure 2”).
What if the CDC webpage is part of a larger series or publication?
Include the series or publication information after the webpage title in the citation. Follow the APA guidelines for citing parts of a larger work.
How does citing a PDF from the CDC website differ from citing a regular webpage?
The format is generally the same as citing a webpage, but you should specify that it is a PDF in brackets after the title, like this: Title of page [PDF]. URL
What is the best way to cite a CDC email or personal communication?
Personal communications, including emails, are not included in the reference list. Instead, cite them in the text using the following format: (A. B. Author, personal communication, Month Day, Year).
How do I cite multiple CDC webpages that were published on the same day?
Differentiate the citations by adding a lowercase letter after the year (e.g., 2023a, 2023b). Assign the letters alphabetically based on the title of the webpage.
Is it permissible to use the abbreviation “CDC” in my in-text citations?
Yes, after the first citation where you spell out “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”, you can use the abbreviation “CDC” in subsequent in-text citations.
How do I cite How to Cite the CDC Website in APA? if I’m using this very article as my source?
While this is a fictional example and not a formal CDC publication, to demonstrate application: FictionalAuthor. (2024, January 26). How to Cite CDC Information in APA 7th Edition: A Comprehensive Guide. [Blog post]. ExampleWebsite.com. (Replace with the actual URL).