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How to Cite a Blog Post in ACS (4th edition)

Learn how to cite blog posts and online opinion pieces in ACS format (4th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

ACS Reference List Format

Here is the standard ACS format for citing a blog post in your reference list:

ACS Example for a Blog Post

A complete ACS reference for a blog post, formatted by the official ACS CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

(1) Bell, J. Why I stopped using footnotes. Writing in Public. https://www.example.org/blog/footnotes (accessed 2026-01-10).

Matching in-text citation: 1

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your blog post.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the ACS (4th edition) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match ACS requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model.

CSL style record: acs.csl

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a blog post in ACS?
To cite a blog post in ACS (4th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the ACS format for a blog post citation?
The ACS format for a blog post is: (1) Bell, J. Why I stopped using footnotes. Writing in Public. https://www.example.org/blog/footnotes (accessed 2026-01-10).
What does the in-text citation look like for a blog post in ACS?
In ACS, the in-text citation for the example above is 1

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Cite a Blog Post in Other Styles

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