How to Cite an Online Course in ACM (current)
Learn how to cite online courses and MOOCs (Coursera, edX, Udemy, FutureLearn) in ACM format (current). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
ACM Reference List Format
Here is the standard ACM format for citing an online course in your reference list:
ACM Example for an Online Course
A complete ACM reference for an online course, formatted by the official ACM CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
[1] Ines Duarte. 2024. Academic writing for graduate students. OpenLearn. Retrieved January 10, 2026 from https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing
Matching in-text citation: [1]
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your online course.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the ACM (current) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match ACM 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: acm.csl
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite an online course in ACM?
- To cite an online course in ACM (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the ACM format for an online course citation?
- The ACM format for an online course is: [1] Ines Duarte. 2024. Academic writing for graduate students. OpenLearn. Retrieved January 10, 2026 from https://www.example.org/courses/academic-writing
- What does the in-text citation look like for an online course in ACM?
- In ACM, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]
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