How to Cite a Website in ACS (4th edition)
Learn how to cite webpages, online articles, and web content 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 website in your reference list:
ACS Example for a Website
A complete ACS reference for a website, formatted by the official ACS CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
(1) Larsen, S. How peer review works. Open Science Digest. https://www.example.org/peer-review (accessed 2026-01-10).
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 website.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the ACS (4th edition) 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 ACS requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: acs.csl
Metadata to collect
- author or responsible organization
- page title
- site name
- publication or update date
- stable URL
Common metadata traps
- Do not use a copyright year as the page publication date without evidence.
- Remove tracking parameters when a clean canonical URL is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a website in ACS?
- To cite a website 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 website citation?
- The ACS format for a website is: (1) Larsen, S. How peer review works. Open Science Digest. https://www.example.org/peer-review (accessed 2026-01-10).
- What does the in-text citation look like for a website in ACS?
- In ACS, the in-text citation for the example above is 1
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