How can I record a quotation when the source has no page numbers?
Quick answer
Record the source details, the exact quotation, and a locator suited to the source: for example, a heading and paragraph position for a webpage, or a timestamp for a recording. Keep the locator beside the quotation so it cannot become detached. If the source has no useful sections, describe the passage’s position or note nearby opening words as a finding cue. Label any locator you create as your own description.
The question, the details, the next step.
I want to save a quotation from a webpage, but it has no page numbers. What should I put in the citation or my notes instead?
Use a locator that helps you find the passage within that particular source. For a webpage, you might record its section heading and the paragraph’s position within that section. For a recording, a timestamp can identify the spot; for a document organized with numbered sections, use the section number or title.
Keep the locator beside the exact excerpt and enough source details to recognize the item. “Webpage” or “online” alone does not identify a particular passage. Don’t make up a page number to fill a field. If you are following a required citation style, check its guidance for that source type; this is a practical note-taking method, not a rule for every style.
What if the webpage has headings but no paragraph numbers? How do I make the location specific without adding numbers that aren’t there?
Record the heading as it appears, then describe the paragraph’s position in your notes, such as “second paragraph under ‘Choosing a method.’” Make clear that this is your description, not a number printed in the source. If the section is long or the heading is generic, add a few opening words from the quoted paragraph as a finding cue. Those words help locate the passage; they do not replace the quotation.
For example:
Source: [author or organization], “[page or article title],” [site or collection] Locator: Heading “Choosing a method,” second paragraph; begins “Start by comparing…” Quotation: “[exact words copied from the passage]”
Copy the heading and quotation carefully. If the page changes later, your note still records what you saved and where you found it, but cannot guarantee the passage will remain unchanged or in the same place.
I’m taking notes from a recording and a report without page numbers, too. Should I use the same kind of locator for both?
Use the same principle—choose a locator that fits the source—but not necessarily the same format. For a recording, note a timestamp when available, and include a nearby speaker name or segment title if that helps identify the passage. For a report with numbered sections, record the section title or number. If it has headings but no numbering, use the heading and describe the passage’s position within it.
A note-taking template:
Source: [creator or organization], [title], [date or version if shown] Locator type: [timestamp / section / heading and paragraph / other] Locator: [specific position within the source] Quotation: “[exact excerpt]” Context: [short note identifying what the passage is about]
The context helps you recognize the excerpt; it does not replace it. A timestamp may identify a moment without capturing every word, so compare your transcript or notes with the recording before using an exact quotation.
How can I check that my locator is useful before I rely on the quotation in a draft?
Try to find the passage again using only the source details and locator in your note. If you have to search the whole source, add a more precise cue, such as a subsection, paragraph position, timestamp, or nearby opening words. Then compare the passage with your saved quotation to catch copying errors or missing context.
For a hypothetical webpage note, you might write: “Locator: ‘Planning a visit’ heading, third paragraph; begins ‘Visitors can reserve…’” If you can use that description to reach the same paragraph, it is more useful than “near the middle.” Keep the quotation and locator together when moving notes into a draft. If the source has no clear structure, say so and use the closest honest locator you can identify rather than implying more precision than the source provides.
A practical checklist
Record the source title and its author or organization, if shown.
Copy the exact quotation and keep it beside its locator.
Choose a locator suited to the source, such as a heading, section, paragraph position, or timestamp.
Label any paragraph count or descriptive cue as your own note, not source numbering.
Try to relocate the passage and compare it with your saved excerpt.
A few more useful answers
Should I invent paragraph numbers for a source that has none?
No. Describe the paragraph’s position in your notes, such as “second paragraph under [heading],” and make clear that this is your locator, not numbering printed by the source.
What if the source has no headings or other obvious divisions?
Use the closest honest locator available, such as a timestamp or a short description of where the passage appears. Nearby opening words can serve as a finding cue. Don’t claim more precision than the source provides.
Does a useful locator decide the citation format I should use?
Not by itself. A locator helps identify the passage in your notes; if a class, editor, or publication requires a particular citation style, follow its instructions for that source type.