When citing personal blog posts, what format requirements should be particularly noted?
Personal blog citations primarily follow major style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago) but require extra diligence due to their informal nature and potential instability. Key elements include author, post title, blog title, publication date, URL, and retrieval date where appropriate.
Specific requirements demand special attention: Identify the author's real name if possible, using a pseudonym only if unavailable. Include the precise publication date (year, month, day) if present; use "n.d." only if entirely absent. List the full title of the specific post and italicize the overall blog name. Provide the direct, permanent URL (preferably a permalink), avoiding shortening services. Access dates are often mandatory due to potential content modification or removal. Verify the blog's credibility whenever feasible, as authoritative sources are preferred.
Proper citation is crucial for avoiding plagiarism, enabling source verification, and contextualizing the information's origin. Given the ephemeral nature of online content, consider archiving the blog post using services like the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine and note the archive URL in the citation if the style guide permits or if the original becomes inaccessible. This enhances reference integrity for readers.
