How to reference a website in AMA

A web page reference in AMA has 6 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.

  • In your essay: A raised number, like ¹
  • Checked 23 October 2026

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The 6 parts

1. Author. Title. Site name. Year. Accessed date accessed. Web address

The example reference, with each part labelled

1. 1 · AUTHORGreen A. 2 · TITLEWhy students struggle to sleep. 3 · SITE NAMEStudent Sleep Project. 4 · DATE2025. Accessed 5 · ACCESSEDOctober 14, 2026. 6 · WEB ADDRESShttps://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

  1. 1 · AuthorSurname, then initials with no full stops.Look near the title or at the bottom of the page. No person named? See “What if” below.
  2. 2 · TitleAs the source gives it.The main heading on the page, not the words in the browser tab.
  3. 3 · Site nameAs the source gives it.The name of the whole website, often in the logo or the page header.
  4. 4 · DateThe year.The date it was published or last updated, often near the title or at the bottom.
  5. 5 · AccessedThe day you looked at it, written like this: October 14, 2026. After “Accessed”.The day you read the page.
  6. 6 · Web addressThe full web address.Copy it from the address bar, so nothing is mistyped.

Two places, one source

IN YOUR ESSAY

Many students sleep less in exam weeks.1

The source’s number.
IN YOUR REFERENCE LIST

1. Green A. Why students struggle to sleep. Student Sleep Project. 2025. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

The full reference, in the order you first cited each source.

Build your reference

Fill in what you have. Anything still missing is highlighted. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Surname, then first name. Separate people with a semicolon (;).
Like 2025, May 2025 or 5 May 2025.
Like 14 October 2026.
YOUR REFERENCE LIST ENTRYReady to copy

1. Green A. Why students struggle to sleep. Student Sleep Project. 2025. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

IN YOUR ESSAY

1

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What if…

  • Made by an organisation

    Give the organisation’s name where the author goes.

    1. Riverside Media Bureau. Why students struggle to sleep. Student Sleep Project. 2025. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    In your essay: 1

  • No author

    Start with the title instead.

    1. Why students struggle to sleep. Student Sleep Project. 2025. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    In your essay: 1

  • Two authors

    Give both names, with a comma between them.

    1. Green A, Patel R. Why students struggle to sleep. Student Sleep Project. 2025. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    In your essay: 1

  • Four or more authors

    Name all four in the reference list.

    1. Green A, Patel R, Okafor D, Lee H. Why students struggle to sleep. Student Sleep Project. 2025. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    In your essay: 1

Easy to get wrong

  • Leaving out the date you looked at it

    NOT QUITE

    1. Green A. Why students struggle to sleep. Student Sleep Project. 2025. https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

    RIGHT

    1. Green A. Why students struggle to sleep. Student Sleep Project. 2025. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.example.org/sleep/why-students-struggle

Check your university’s version

Some courses make small changes to AMA. Your course handbook always wins.

This guide follows the AMA Manual of Style, 11th edition.

The full AMA guide

Questions

How do I cite a website in the text?

Use the number the source has in your list: 1. The list is in the order you first cite each source, so the first source you cite is 1.

Is AMA the same at every university?

Some courses make small changes to AMA. Your course handbook always wins.

Referencing is easier as you go

KanBananza’s step-by-step guides show how to plan an assignment and keep your sources in order while you research and write, so the reference list is ready when you are.

Let Peel do this as you read

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