When citing information from an open discussion on a website, it's important to provide enough detail for your readers to locate the source. The structure of your citation may vary depending on the citation style you are using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Below are examples of how to cite such information in a few common styles:
APA Style
Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of the discussion or post. Website Name. URL
Example: Smith, J. (2023, October 5). Thoughts on community engagement in online forums. Community Discussion Forum. http://www.communityforum.com/discussion123
MLA Style
"Title of the Discussion or Post." Website Name, posted by Author's Name, Date of post, URL.
Example: "Thoughts on Community Engagement in Online Forums." Community Discussion Forum, posted by John Smith, 5 Oct. 2023, http://www.communityforum.com/discussion123.
Chicago Style
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Discussion or Post." Website Name. Date of Post. URL.
Example: Smith, John. "Thoughts on Community Engagement in Online Forums." Community Discussion Forum. October 5, 2023. http://www.communityforum.com/discussion123.
Additional Considerations:
- If the post is anonymous or the author is not clearly indicated, you might start with the title of the post or discussion.
- Be sure to evaluate the credibility of the source before using it in your work, as open discussions can vary in reliability.
- If the discussion is ongoing and you want to emphasize that, you may note that in your citation or provide the date you accessed it.
Always follow the specific guidelines given by your instructor or publication, as they may have particular preferences for citation styles.