WisPaper
Scholar Search
Download
Pricing
WebApp
Home > FAQ > How should one handle the citation of an article without author information?

How should one handle the citation of an article without author information?

October 30, 2025
efficient paper screeningpaper search and screeningsemantic search for papersacademic paper AI assistantAI academic search
When an article lacks identifiable author information, the standard citation approach substitutes the article title in the author position within the reference entry and in-text citation. This is feasible and accepted practice across major citation styles. Key principles involve correctly placing the article title where the author's name would typically appear in both the reference list and the parenthetical in-text citation. Necessary formatting adjustments include retaining title case styling where applicable and using appropriate punctuation specified by the chosen style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). The scope covers formally published articles where no individual author, group author, or sponsoring organization is listed. A critical precaution is ensuring the source genuinely lacks attributable authorship before applying this method. To implement this, place the full article title as the first element in your reference list entry, formatted according to the relevant style. Use a shortened version of the title in the parenthetical in-text citation, enclosed in double quotation marks. For example: ("Shortened Title," Year). This practice upholds academic integrity by crediting the source and enables accurate retrieval of the information, maintaining transparency despite the lack of personal authorship.
How should one handle the citation of an article without author information?
PreviousIf there are errors in the cited references, how should they be corrected?
NextWhen citing a part of the report, how should it be formatted?
WisPaper
Screen 1,000 papers in just 5 minutes pinpoint the 20 that really matter
Your Scholar Search Agent | Read Less Get More