How do I reference web pages… in the NLM style?

When referencing a web page, the first thing to consider is whether your source is a web page or if it is an online resource such as a report, journal article, newspaper article or audio-visual material such as a YouTube clip. If it is an online source rather than a web page, refer to the guidance for that source type in the NLM Numbered Referencing Guide and remember to add in [Internet], the date you cited the source, and the web address.

Web page on a website with an organisational author

If the web page doesn’t have an individual author, but there is an organisation responsible for the content, treat the organisation as the author:

Webb Space Telescope. Webb’s science and goals. Baltimore (MD): Space Telescope Science Institute; 2023 Jul 19 [cited 2024 Feb 9]. Available from: https://webbtelescope.org/quick-facts

If the group author and the publisher are the same, the publisher’s name can be abbreviated:

European Space Agency. Webb study reveals rocky planets can form in extreme environments [Internet]. Paris: ESA; 2023 Nov 30 [cited 2024 Feb 9]. Available from: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_study_reveals_rocky_planets_can_form_in_extreme_environments

Web page on a website with an individual author

Sabia S. NASA’s Webb reveals new features in heart of Milky Way [Internet]. Washington (DC): NASA; 2023 Nov 20 [cited 2024 Feb 9]. Available from: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-reveals-new-features-in-heart-of-milky-way/

Web page on a news website

Amos, J. James Webb telescope: baby star launches giant jets and shocks [Internet]. London: BBC News; 2023 Nov 4 [cited 2024 Feb 9]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67243772

Web page on a website with a publication date and updated date

UK Space Agency. James Webb space telescope/MIRI [Internet]. London: Gov.UK; 2014 Apr 16 [updated 2022 Jul 21; cited 2024 Feb 9]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/james-webb-space-telescope-jwst

Web page on a website with no date of publication but with a copyright date

If you can’t find a date on the web page, but you can find a copyright date (these are often found in the footer on a web page), precede the copyright date with a ‘c’:

Cranfield University. Signs of life detection of NASA’s newest space telescope [Internet]. Bedford: Cranfield University; c2003 [cited 2024 Feb 9]. Available from: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/case-studies/james-webb-space-telescope-miri-instrument-spectrometer-mirrors

Web page on a website with no date of publication or copyright date

If there is no publication or copyright date, omit the date of publication:

University of Leicester. JWST [Internet]. Leicester: University of Leicester; [cited 2024 Feb 9]. Available from: https://le.ac.uk/physics/research/projects/james-webb-space-telescope

 

Please note: Cranfield supports two different referencing styles – APA7 (Author-Date) and NLM (Numbered). Please make sure you use the style preferred by your supervisor or lecturer. The advice above relates only to the NLM style. If you have any questions about referencing, please contact Library staff.

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