ACS Style 3rd Edition - Citing Websites & Social Media Handout

Sep 21, 2026

Handout explaining how to format in-text citations and reference-page entries in ACS Style (3rd edition) for common online sources. It covers assigning numbered superscripts based on the order sources appear, matching each number to a corresponding reference list entry, and using a hanging indent for references. It provides template formats and reference examples for websites, blogs, Facebook/Instagram posts, YouTube videos, and podcasts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

What is an in-text citation?

What is a Reference Page?

ACS Style 3rd Edition - Citing Websites

ACS Style 3rd Edition - Citing Blogs

ACS Style 3rd Edition - Citing Facebook and Instagram

ACS Style 3rd Edition - Citing YouTube Videos

ACS Style 3rd Edition - Citing Podcasts

ACS Style 3rd Edition Guide – Citing Websites & Social Media APSU Writing Center Handout What is an in-text citation? An in-text citation is a short reference within your writing that shows where your information came from. There are different ways to cite in ACS style, but the following explains how to cite using superscripts. • Sources are assigned numbers based on the order they appear in the text. The first source is given a superscript 1, the second a 2, and so on. • Insert a small number after the relevant text. Example: Oscillation in the reaction of benzaldehyde with oxygen was reported previously.³ What is a Reference Page? The reference page lists full details of every source cited in your text. The in-text citation numbers correspond to this list. References are numbered in the order they appear in the paper (not alphabetically) . Each number matches the corresponding in-text superscript citation. All references should use a hanging indent (0.5 inches for lines after the first line) . Reference Example: 1. Lehman, J. W. Operational Organic Chemistry: A Problem-Solving Approach to the Laboratory Course, 4th ed.; Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. ACS Style 3rd Edition-Citing Websites In-text Citation Format: superscript number. • Use superscript numbers that correspond to the reference in your reference list. Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 1: ACS publications provide access to a wide range of chemistry research articles. ¹ Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 2: Online citation guides help students correctly format scientific references.² Reference Format: Author(s) . Title of Website/Page. URL Reference Example: 1. American Chemical Society. ACS Publications Home Page. [https://pubs.acs.org/](https://pubs.acs.org/) [2](2). Concordia University Library. ACS Citation Style. [https://www.concordia.ca/library/guides/chemistry/acs.html](https://www.concordia.ca/library/guides/chemistry/acs.html) ACS Style 3rd Edition-Citing Blogs In-text Citation Format: superscript number. • Use superscript numbers that correspond to the reference in your reference list. Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 1: The formation of scum on tea is caused by reactions between minerals in water and tea compounds. ¹ Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 2: The composition of tea can vary depending on brewing conditions and water chemistry.² Reference Format: Author(s). Title of Blog Post. Blog/Website Name. Date. URL Reference Example: 1. Brunning, A. National Tea Day: What causes the scum on tea? Compound Interest, April 23, 2023. [https://www.compoundchem.com/2023/04/21/tea/](https://www.compoundchem.com/2023/04/21/tea/) 2. Brunning, A. The chemistry of tea brewing. Compound Interest, May 10, 2022. [https://www.compoundchem.com/2022/05/10/tea-brewing/](https://www.compoundchem.com/2022/05/10/tea-brewing/) ACS Style 3rd Edition-Citing Facebook and Instagram In-text Citation Format: superscript number. • Use superscript numbers that correspond to the reference in your reference list. Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 1: The American Chemical Society shared accessibility tips for improving communication. ¹ Sentence with In-Text Citation Example 2: Professionals are encouraged to engage with career transition discussions on social media.² Reference Format: Author. Title of Post; Platform, Month Day, Year. URL Reference Examples: 1. American Chemical Society. In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (\#GAAD), we’re sharing 4 tips from our ACS Inclusivity Style Guide of how you can improve your digital and print communications. Facebook, May 16, 2024. 2. amerchemsociety Ask a question if you're going through a career transition. Answer a question if you have made a career transition. Instagram, May 15, 2024. [https://www.instagram.com/p/C7AmJTZMSUx/?hl=en](https://www.instagram.com/p/C7AmJTZMSUx/?hl=en) ACS Style 3rd Edition-

FAQs

How do you create an in-text citation in ACS Style 3rd edition?

Assign each source a number based on the order it appears in the text, then place that number as a superscript immediately after the relevant sentence or idea.

What information goes on the reference page in ACS Style?

List full details for every cited source, using the same numbering as the in-text superscripts. References are ordered by appearance in the paper and formatted with a hanging indent.

How do you cite an online website or webpage in ACS Style?

Use the format Author(s). Title of Website/Page. URL. Provide a reference entry number that matches the superscript used in the text.

What’s the ACS Style approach for citing social media sources like Facebook/Instagram, YouTube, and podcasts?

Use a platform-specific reference template: Facebook/Instagram posts include author and post title plus platform and date; YouTube videos include video title, channel, platform, and date; podcasts include episode title, podcast title, publisher, and date, all matched to in-text superscript numbers.

Sep 21, 2026

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