Citing data can be difficult because citation styles don't always have clear guidelines about citing data. When a style guide provides no instruction on how to cite data, many sources recommend formatting your citation using the style provided for general online resources. If you're going to publish in a particular journal, you'll want to check the author instructions provided by the journal. Sometimes these author instructions will include information about citing data, but other times they will simply ask that you follow a citation style such as APA or MLA.
There are some key elements to consider when citing your data:
Chicago and MLA do not have specific standards for citing data; these examples follow their standards for citing online resources.
APA 7:
U.S. Census Bureau. (2009).Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010. Census.gov. [Data set]. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2009/compendia/statab/129ed.html
MLA 9:
U.S. Census Bureau. "Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010." Census.gov, 2009, https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2009/compendia/statab/129ed.html. Accessed 29 June 2023.
Chicago Notes and Bibliography:
(Bibliography) U.S. Census Bureau. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010. 2009. Distributed by Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2009/compendia/statab/129ed.html
(Footnote) U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, (2009), distributed by Census.gov, https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2009/compendia/statab/129ed.html
