Wikipedia is usually quickest about obtaining background information on a topic. In scholarly and professional writing, however, the trick is to be cautious when using it and, in cases where citations are permissible, to reference it properly. The use of Wikipedia is discouraged by many instructors and publishers due to the fact that any article may be modified at any time of day, and thus, the version that you read is relevant.
The Wikipedia citation guidelines presented below include how to cite a Wikipedia page, how to cite Wikipedia APA, how to cite Wikipedia MLA, clean templates, and copy-ready examples.
Before You Cite Wikipedia: Do This One Thing First
Due to the changeability of Wikipedia, it is best to include the version that you referred to.
Fast method (recommended):
- Open the Wikipedia article.
- Click View history (top of the page).
- Click on the version/date that you are using (or the most recent version when you checked it).
- Copy the URL that contains oldid= (link to a stable version).
Even faster method:
- Use the built-in Wikipedia cite this page tool (which can often be found in the left sidebar under tools). It produces automatically formatted citations that you can copy and paste before a slight clean-up.
Citation of Wikipedia in APA (7th Edition)
Assuming you are asking about how to cite Wikipedia APA, APA 7 considers Wikipedia articles as reference work articles and suggests citing an archived/stable version (the oldid link).
APA format (reference list)
Title of article. (Year, Month Date). In Wikipedia. Archived URL (oldid link)
APA example
Quantum mechanics. (2019, November 19). On Wikipedia. https.en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quantum_mechanics&oldid=948476810 (owl.purdue.edu)
Tip: Click the last edited date displayed on the page (or the date of the version you viewed in history). That is useful to allow readers to locate the same reading you had.
Citing Wikipedia in MLA (MLA 9)
In case you want to know how to cite Wikipedia MLA, generally, MLA follows the treatment of a Wikipedia entry as an article on a website/ online reference book. Typically, you will provide the article title, the name of the site (Wikipedia), the name of the publisher (Wikimedia Foundation), the date when the article was last updated (when possible), and the URL. Most authors also provide the date of access of dynamically changing material.
MLA format (Works Cited)
“Title of Article.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
MLA example
Citing a Wikipedia Page in Chicago Style
Chicago has two systems:
- Notes and Bibliography (characteristic of the humanities)
- Author-Date (used in sciences/social sciences).
Wikipedia itself documents that the Chicago style habitually suggests avoidance of citing Wikipedia as a reference, however provides examples of situations where it could be utilized.
Chicago (Notes and bibliography) - Footnote sample
- Title of Article, Wikipedia, last modified Month Day, Year, stable URL (oldid link).
- Chicago (Author-Date) – Reference list example.
- Title of Article. Year. Wikipedia. Last modified Month Day, Year. Stable URL (oldid link).
Note: When possible, always use the stable oldid link to have the citation refer to the specific revision that was consulted.
Commonly Made Mistakes When Citing: Wikipedia
- Mentioning the main URL but not a stable version
The article might not be the same, and your reference will not be what you have read.
- Relying on Wikipedia as the sole source of a big claim.
When it is possible, refer to the citations at the bottom and refer to the original sources instead.
- Forgetting the last edited date (or version date)
Dates allow the readers to cross-check the same material.
- Skipping your instructor/publisher rules
Other institutions do not allow the citation of Wikipedia at all, regardless of the way it is formatted.
Best Practice: Use Wikipedia as a Starting Point, Not the Finish Line
Wikipedia can be useful for:
- quick definitions,
- timelines,
- lists of key people/events,
- and finding credible references to follow.
For formal work, the strongest approach is: read Wikipedia → locate high-quality sources in the references section → cite those sources directly.
Need Wikipedia Support for a Professional Project?
When accuracy, neutrality, and proper sourcing matter, Wikipedia writing and editing should be handled with a standards-first process: conflict-of-interest awareness, verifiable citations, encyclopedic tone, and guideline compliance. Wikipedia also expects consistent citation methods within an article and clear source identification.
If your goal is a publish-ready presence that can stand up to scrutiny, professional help can streamline research, sourcing, and compliance—while keeping everything verifiable and policy-aligned.
