To cite sources on a fact sheet, you will generally follow the format used for reports, with specific modifications for fact sheets and government agencies as the source.
Key Rules for Citing Fact Sheets
Based on standard practices for citing reports and the specific guidelines provided, here are the key rules for citing fact sheets:
- Fact sheets are cited using the same format as reports.
- A specific description
[Fact sheet]must be included in square brackets immediately after the title of the fact sheet. - When the source is a government agency, the most specific agency should be listed in the place of the author.
- The parent agency should be included in the source element of the citation, typically before the URL.
Applying the Rules: Citation Elements
While the complete citation format (like date, publisher, etc.) might follow a specific style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago), the provided rules give precise instructions for key elements:
- Author: Use the most specific government agency responsible for the fact sheet (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute).
- Title: Include the full title of the fact sheet, followed immediately by
[Fact sheet]. - Source/URL Information: This section should include the parent agency (e.g., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency) before the URL where the fact sheet can be accessed.
Example Structure
Putting these pieces together, a citation element structure based on the provided rules would look something like this:
- Author: [Most specific government agency]
- Title: [Fact Sheet Title] [Fact sheet]
- Source/URL: [Parent agency]. [URL]
Note: Other citation elements like date of publication or retrieval date would typically be included depending on the citation style being followed, but are not specified in the provided rules.
By adhering to these rules, you ensure that your fact sheet citation clearly identifies the document type and the specific government entity responsible for its content, along with its parent organization and location online.
