Have you ever found yourself in a group project or academic presentation where you knew you needed to cite the World Health Organization (WHO), but weren’t quite sure how to do it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Citing WHO as a source can be a bit tricky, but it’s absolutely necessary for anyone looking to produce an accurate and credible piece of academic work. In this article, I’ll be giving you the low-down on how to properly cite WHO in your work, so you can impress your peers and professors with your meticulous work ethics.
First things first, we need to establish what WHO actually is. The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for international public health. This organization produces a vast amount of literature on public health issues, ranging from reports on specific diseases to guiding principles for healthy living. All of this information can be incredibly useful when conducting research or writing on important health matters, but it’s essential to give proper credit where it’s due. So, how do you cite WHO without getting lost in the labyrinth of academic styles?
There are a lot of ways to cite WHO, and different academic writing styles (such as APA, MLA, and Chicago) have their unique guidelines. But generally speaking, it’s best to be as precise and accurate as possible. If you’re referencing a specific report, make sure to include the author, date of publication, title, and URL or DOI (depending on the style you’re using). On the other hand, if you’re citing WHO as a general source of information, simply including the organization’s name in your bibliography may suffice. Regardless of the method you choose, make sure you’re consistent throughout your work to avoid confusion. With this in mind, you’ll be able to confidently cite WHO in your academic work and make a strong impression on your readers.
Guide to Citing Sources
When it comes to academic writing, citing sources is crucial in maintaining credibility and avoiding plagiarism. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a reputable source of information that is often cited in research papers, articles, and presentations. Here’s how to cite the WHO in your work.
Basic Rules for Citing the WHO
- The WHO is cited as a corporate author, with “World Health Organization” written out in full.
- The year of publication is included in parentheses immediately following the author’s name.
- If the source is a webpage, the URL and date of access should also be included.
Examples of In-Text Citations
When citing the WHO within the text of your paper, follow these examples:
- According to the World Health Organization (2021),…
- WHO (2021) reports that…
- …as stated by the World Health Organization (2021).
Reference List Format
On the reference page, the citation for the WHO will include the following:
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Corporate author | World Health Organization |
| Publication year | (2021) |
| Title of document | COVID-19 Dashboard |
| Retrieved from | https://covid19.who.int/ |
| Date of access | June 15, 2021 |
Putting it all together, the reference citation for a webpage from the WHO would look like this:
World Health Organization. (2021). COVID-19 Dashboard. Retrieved from https://covid19.who.int/ on June 15, 2021.
Remember to always check with your instructor or professor for any specific requirements or guidelines for citing sources in your assignments. Accurate and proper citation of sources not only shows respect for the original author’s work but is also a reflection of your own academic integrity and professionalism.
Citation Styles
When citing sources, it’s important to follow proper citation styles to give credit where it’s due and to avoid plagiarism. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a reputable source that provides valuable information, and citing this organization correctly is essential for any research or academic paper.
- APA Style: The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used in social sciences. To cite WHO in APA style, you need to include the author, year, title, and source information. For example:
World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease/novel-coronavirus-2019 - MLA Style: The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used in humanities. To cite WHO in MLA style, you need to include the author, title, source information, and publication date. For example:
World Health Organization. “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.” World Health Organization, 2020, https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease/novel-coronavirus-2019. - Chicago Style: The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is commonly used in history, arts, and social sciences. To cite WHO in CMS style, you need to include the author, title, source information, and publication date. For example:
World Health Organization. “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.” Accessed July 1, 2020. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease/novel-coronavirus-2019.
Each citation style has a different format, so it’s important to know which style to use before citing WHO or any other source. Proper citation not only supports your research, but also demonstrates academic integrity.
In addition to proper citation styles, you can also use a citation management tool to organize and generate citations automatically. Some examples include Mendeley, Zotero, and EndNote. These tools can help you save time and avoid errors in your citations.
Overall, citing the World Health Organization is an important part of giving credit where it’s due, avoiding plagiarism, and demonstrating academic integrity. Knowing proper citation styles and utilizing tools can help you in your research and academic writing.
| Citation Styles | Format |
|---|---|
| APA style | Author. (Year). Title of the work. Source information |
| MLA style | Author. “Title of the work.” Source information, Publication date. |
| Chicago style | Author. “Title of the work.” Accessed date. Source information. |
Remember to consult the appropriate style guide for your specific academic discipline when citing the World Health Organization or any other source.
APA Citation
When citing the World Health Organization in your research paper or article, it is important to follow the guidelines set by the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA citation style is commonly used in social sciences such as psychology, anthropology, and education.
- Start with the author’s name, which is usually the World Health Organization. If there is a specific division or department responsible for the content, include that as well.
- The year of publication should be in parentheses after the author’s name.
- Include the title of the document or report in italics.
- Provide the publication information, which includes the publisher and location.
- If citing a specific page or section, include the page number or section name.
Here’s an example of how to cite a report from the World Health Organization:
World Health Organization. (2021). Global tuberculosis report 2020. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240013131
For online sources, make sure to include the URL or doi at the end of the citation. You can also use the “Retrieved from” phrase for online documents that do not have a doi.
It is important to double check your APA citation to make sure everything is in the correct order and format. Even a small mistake can affect the credibility of your research.
| Basic Format: | Author. (Year). Title of document or report in italics. Publisher. Location. |
|---|---|
| Example: | World Health Organization. (2020). Global tuberculosis report 2020. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240013131 |
By following the APA citation guidelines, you can accurately and credibly cite the World Health Organization in your research and give proper credit to their work.
MLA Citation
MLA citation style is commonly used in the humanities and liberal arts fields. It provides authors with a consistent and standardized system for citing their sources and avoiding plagiarism. When citing the World Health Organization (WHO) in MLA format, there are specific guidelines to follow.
- Begin the citation with the name of the organization: World Health Organization.
- Include the title of the specific publication being cited in italics.
- Next, add the version of the publication, followed by the publisher, date of publication, and the URL (if accessed online).
Below is an example of how to cite an article from the WHO website:
| Structure: | Example: |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | World Health Organization |
| Article Title (in italics) | COVID-19 Target Product Profiles for Priority Medical Devices: Diagnostics |
| Version | 2020 |
| Publisher | World Health Organization |
| Date Accessed | 20 April 2021 |
| URL | https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/covid-19-target-product-profiles-for-priority-medical-devices-diagnostics |
In-Text citation:
When quoting or paraphrasing from a source, it is necessary to include an in-text citation. In MLA style, this involves a brief reference to the source in parentheses after the quote or paraphrase, containing the author’s name and the page number. If there is no author listed, as is the case for many WHO publications, include the organization’s name instead.
Example: (World Health Organization)
Harvard referencing
When citing sources using Harvard referencing, there are specific guidelines to follow to ensure that sources are properly credited and cited. This includes citing the World Health Organization (WHO) in your academic papers or research. Here are some tips on how to correctly cite WHO using Harvard referencing:
- When referencing WHO in the body of your text, use the author-date citation format. This means that the author’s last name and publication year are placed in parentheses next to the quote or information being referenced. For example, (World Health Organization, 2021) would be used to reference WHO in a sentence.
- In your reference list, the full citation for WHO should be included. This includes the name of the organization, the year of publication, the title of the publication, and the URL of the source. Here is an example:
- When citing a specific page or section of a WHO publication, include the page or section number alongside the author-date citation within your text. For example, (World Health Organization, 2021, p. 15) would be used to reference a specific page number within a publication.
| Author: | World Health Organization |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Title: | COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update, Week 37 |
| URL: | https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/ |
Properly citing WHO using Harvard referencing is essential to maintain academic integrity and avoid plagiarism. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your sources are accurately and appropriately cited.
Chicago Citation
If you are citing the World Health Organization (WHO) in your research paper or academic work, you will need to follow a specific citation style. The Chicago citation style is commonly used in the humanities and social sciences, and it provides guidelines for referencing various sources, including government documents and reports.
Here are the detailed guidelines for citing WHO in the Chicago citation style:
- In-Text Citation: When referencing WHO in the text, the citation should include the name of the organization, the year of publication, and the page number(s) if applicable. For example: (World Health Organization 2020, 25).
- Bibliography Entry: The bibliographic entry for WHO should include the title of the document, the name of the organization, the publication date, the URL or DOI (if accessed online), and any relevant page numbers. The format for the entry is as follows:
- Note: If you accessed the WHO document online, it is important to include the date you accessed it as well.
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Organization Name. Title of Report or Document. Publication Date. URL or DOI. | World Health Organization. Global Tuberculosis Report 2020. 2020. https://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/en/ |
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your citation of the World Health Organization in your research paper or academic work is accurate and follows the Chicago citation style.
AMA citation
AMA citation style is widely used in medical research to cite sources in the text and at the end of a paper or article. It’s important to properly cite the sources used to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original author or organization. If you are citing the World Health Organization (WHO) in AMA style, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
- Include the name of the organization: When citing WHO, start with the full name of the organization – World Health Organization.
- Use abbreviated form in subsequent citations: After the first citation, you can use the abbreviated form of WHO.
- Include the publication date: Always include the publication date of the source you are citing.
- Cite the specific source: If you’re using a specific report or document from WHO, cite that source rather than the organization as a whole.
Here is an example of how to cite a report from WHO in AMA style:
World Health Organization. Global cancer observatory: cancer today. https://gco.iarc.fr/today. Accessed March 30, 2021.
As you can see, the citation includes the full name of the organization, the specific report being cited, and the date accessed.
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Author | World Health Organization |
| Title | Global cancer observatory: cancer today |
| URL | https://gco.iarc.fr/today |
| Date accessed | March 30, 2021 |
By following these guidelines and using the correct format, you can ensure that your AMA citations for WHO sources are accurate and properly formatted.
FAQs: How do you cite World Health Organization
1. Q: What is the abbreviation of the World Health Organization?
A: The abbreviation for World Health Organization is WHO.
2. Q: How do I cite a WHO report in APA format?
A: To cite a WHO report in APA format, you need to include the author, publication date, title of the report, the publisher, and the report number. For example: World Health Organization. (2018). Global report on diabetes. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press. (WHO/NMH/NVI/18.1)
3. Q: How do I cite a WHO document with no author?
A: If a WHO document doesn’t have an author, you can start with the title of the document, followed by the year it was published, and the publisher. For example: WHO expert committee on drug dependence. (1988). Thirty-fifth report. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press.
4. Q: How do I cite a WHO website in Harvard referencing style?
A: To cite a WHO website in Harvard referencing style, you should include the title of the webpage, the date the page was last updated, the full URL of the page and the date you accessed it. For example: World Health Organization. (2021). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease/novel-coronavirus-2019.
5. Q: How do I cite a WHO press release?
A: To cite a WHO press release, you should include the author, year, title of the press release, and the publication source or website. For example: World Health Organization. (2019). 1 in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/13-11-2019-1-in-10-medical-products-in-low–and-middle-income-countries-is-substandard-or-falsified.
6. Q: How do I cite the WHO Constitution?
A: To cite the WHO Constitution, you should include the author, year, title of the Constitution, publication source, and the Article or Section number. For example: World Health Organization. (1948). Constitution of the World Health Organization. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press, Article 2.
7. Q: Is it necessary to cite WHO sources in my work?
A: Yes, it is important to cite WHO sources in your work to give proper credit to the original author and avoid plagiarism. Proper citation also helps your audience to locate and verify the information you have used in your work.
Closing
Thank you for reading this article on how to cite the World Health Organization. We hope that this information has helped you in citing WHO sources in your work. Remember, proper citation is crucial in academic writing, and using the correct citation style can make your work stand out. If you have any further questions or feedback, please feel free to reach out to us. Stay safe and don’t forget to visit us again for more informative articles.