MLA Format Guide: How Do You Cite a Website Correctly

Understanding MLA Format for Web Sources

When working with web sources in MLA format, it is essential to understand the core elements that make up a citation. These elements, as outlined in the MLA Handbook, are essential for accurately documenting your sources and maintaining academic integrity.

The core elements for citing a website in MLA include the author’s name, the title of the webpage or article, the title of the website, the publisher or sponsoring organization (if different from the website title), the publication date, and the URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier).

Author Information

Author information can sometimes be challenging to find, especially on websites where the author is not explicitly stated. If the author is an individual, list their name in reverse order (last name first, followed by a comma, and then the first name). If the author is a corporation or group, use the name of the organization as the author.

In cases where no author is identified, start the citation with the title of the webpage or article.

Title of the Webpage and Website

The title of the webpage or article should be enclosed in quotation marks, while the title of the website is italicized. This distinction helps readers differentiate between the specific content you are citing and the broader website it is part of.

Publication Date

The publication date is another critical element. Use the date the content was last updated, or if that is not available, use the copyright or original publication date.

If no date is provided, you can omit it and include an access date instead. Dates should be formatted as day, month, year (e.g., 2 Oct. 2008).

URL or DOI

Including the URL or DOI is recommended to help readers locate the source. For URLs, omit the “http://” or “https://” prefix and ensure the link is clickable if the citation will be read on a digital device.

If a DOI is available, it is preferable to use it instead of the URL because DOIs are more stable.

Additional Elements

Other elements such as the publisher or sponsoring organization should be included only if they differ from the website title or author. This ensures clarity and helps readers understand the source’s context.

General Guidelines for Web Citations in MLA Format

Authorship in Web Sources

When citing web sources in MLA format, it’s essential to identify the author, which can be an individual, a group, or an organization. If the author is an individual, their name should be listed in reverse order: last name, followed by a comma, and then the first name. For instance:

Smith, John. “Title of the Page.” Website Name, 10 Jan. 2023, www.website.com.

For groups or organizations acting as authors, their name should be used. For example:

World Health Organization. “Syria Crisis.” World Health Organization, 2021, www.who.int/emergencies/situations/syria-crisis.

In situations where no author is identified, the citation should begin with the title of the webpage or article.

Title of the Source

The title of the webpage or article should be enclosed in quotation marks, while the title of the website itself is italicized. This helps readers distinguish between the specific content being cited and the broader website. For instance:

Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change.” The Environmental Times, 10 Jan. 2023, www.environmentaltimes.com.

If the webpage lacks a formal title, a brief description can be used instead, without quotation marks or italics.

Website Publishers

Include the publisher of the website if it differs from the website’s name, usually found in the website’s footer alongside copyright information. If the publisher and the website name are the same, you can omit this detail to avoid redundancy. For example:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Antibiotic Resistance and Food Safety.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 5 Sept. 2018, www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/challenges/antibiotic-resistance.html.

Publication Date

Always include the publication date or the date when the content was last updated, using the most recent date available in a day, month, year format (e.g., 10 Jan. 2023). If no publication date is available, the access date can be included instead.

URLs in MLA Citations

URLs are essential for helping readers locate the source. Omit the “http://” or “https://” prefix and ensure the link is clickable if the citation will be read on a digital device. If a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is available, it is preferable to use it instead of the URL because DOIs are more stable. For example:

Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change.” The Environmental Times, 10 Jan. 2023, www.environmentaltimes.com/climate-change.

Access Date

While the access date is no longer mandatory in MLA 8 and later editions, it can still be useful to include it, especially if the content is likely to change over time. The access date should be formatted as “Accessed Day Month Year”. For example:

Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change.” The Environmental Times, www.environmentaltimes.com/climate-change. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.

Step-by-Step Guide to Citing Different Web Sources in MLA Format

Citing an Entire Website in MLA format often doesn’t involve a specific author. Here’s how to structure your citation:

• Begin with the website’s title in italics.
• Include the publication or copyright date if available, typically found in the website’s footer.
• Add the website’s URL.
• If there’s no publication date, include the access date at the end of your citation.

For instance:

Scribbr. www.scribbr.com. Accessed 10 June 2019.

If the website has a publication or copyright date:

Scribbr. 2019, www.scribbr.com. Accessed 10 June 2019.

Citing a Webpage From a Website

When citing a specific webpage, include these key elements:

• Author’s name (if available), in reverse order.
• Title of the webpage in quotation marks.
• Title of the website in italics.
• Publication date (day, month, year) if available.
• The URL of the webpage.
• Access date if the publication date is not available.

Example:

Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change.” The Environmental Times, 10 Jan. 2023, www.environmentaltimes.com/climate-change.

If the author is unknown, start with the webpage title:

“US Election 2020: A Guide to the Final Presidential Debate.” BBC News, 21 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54620868.

Citing an Article From an Online Periodical

Citing an article from an online periodical involves these steps:

• Author’s name (if available), in reverse order.
• Title of the article in quotation marks.
• Title of the periodical in italics.
• Publication date (day, month, year).
• The URL of the article.

For example:

Smith, Helena. “The Women Who Brought Down Greece’s Golden Dawn.” The Guardian, 22 Oct. 2020, www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/22/the-women-who-brought-down-greeces-golden-dawn.

If the article is a PDF of a print article, you can note this in your citation.

Citing Social Media Posts

Citing social media posts involves:

• Author’s name or username, if different from the real name.
• The text of the post (if short) or a brief description of the post.
• Name of the social media platform.
• Date of the post.
• The URL of the post.

Example:

Library of Congress [@librarycongress]. “One of the most beloved free-to-use photos in the Library’s collection is of Brünnhilde, for obvious reasons. We’re happy to report that 2023 comes with a freshly digitized photograph of Brünnhilde from another angle. Swipe to see..” Instagram, 4 Jan. 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/CnAsv6-L5qg/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Citing Online Images or Videos

When citing online images or videos, it’s important to include several key pieces of information to ensure your citation is both accurate and comprehensive. Here’s what you need to include:

• Creator’s name (if available), listed in reverse order.
• Description of the image or video.
• Title of the website in italics.
• Publication date (if available).
• URL of the image or video.

For instance:

Library of Congress [@librarycongress]. Photos of Brünnhilde the cat. Instagram, 4 Jan. 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/CnAsv6-L5qg/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

If the image or video is hosted on a website rather than a social media platform, the citation format is akin to that used for citing a webpage. However, you should include a description of the image or video in place of the webpage title. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that your citations for various types of web sources are both accurate and in compliance with MLA format.

Special Considerations for Online Scholarly Journals

Identifying Necessary Elements

When citing articles from online scholarly journals in MLA format, it is important to identify several key elements to ensure your citations are accurate and complete. These elements include the author’s name, the title of the article, the title of the journal, the volume and issue numbers, the date of publication, page numbers, and either the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL if accessed online.

Using DOIs and URLs

For online journal articles, a DOI is preferred over a URL because it is more stable and less likely to change. If a DOI is available, format it as a full link starting with “https://doi.org/” followed by the unique numerical code. If no DOI is provided, use the URL of the article instead. However, if the article is accessed through a database, include the database name as a second container. For example:

Zak, Elizabeth. “Do You Believe in Magic? Exploring the Conceptualization of Augmented Reality and its Implications for the User in the Field of Library and Information Science.” Information Technology & Libraries, vol. 33, no. 3, 2014, pp. 23-50. https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v33i4.5638.

Citing Articles Through Databases

If you accessed the journal article through a database, you need to include the database name in your citation. The database is considered a second container, and its title should be in italics. For example:

Kuzuhara, Kenji, et al. “Injuries in Japanese Mini-Basketball Players During Practices and Games.” Journal of Athletic Training, vol. 51, no. 2, Dec. 2016, p. 1022. Gale Health Reference Center Academic, https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-51.2.02.

Special Issue Journals

For articles published in special issue journals, which focus on a specific theme or are compiled from a special event, you need to include additional information. This includes the special issue name and the phrase “special issue of” followed by the journal’s regular name. If the special issue lists editors or other contributors, their names should also be included. For example:

Steffen, Will, et al. “The Trajectory of the Anthropocene: The Great Acceleration.” The Anthropocene Review, special issue of The Anthropocene Review: Understanding the Anthropocene, vol. 2, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053019614564785.

Including Access Dates

Access dates are not mandatory in MLA 8 and later editions for stable sources like scholarly journals. However, they become important if the content might change over time or when there’s no publication date available. If you decide to include an access date, it should be positioned at the citation’s end. For instance:

Zak, Elizabeth. “Do You Believe in Magic? Exploring the Conceptualization of Augmented Reality and its Implications for the User in the Field of Library and Information Science.” Information Technology & Libraries, vol. 33, no. 3, 2014, pp. 23-50. https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v33i4.5638. Accessed 10 June 2023.

By paying attention to these special aspects when citing online scholarly journals, you ensure that your citations are both thorough and compliant with MLA format guidelines.

Using In-text Citations for Web Sources

When incorporating web sources into your research paper, using in-text citations is essential for crediting the original authors and guiding your readers to the corresponding entries in your Works Cited list. Here’s how you can effectively use in-text citations for web sources in MLA format.

In-text Citation Format

In MLA style, in-text citations follow the author-page method. However, since web sources often lack page numbers, the in-text citation will typically include only the author’s last name. For example:

(Smith)

If the author is mentioned in the sentence itself, you do not need to include a parenthetical citation:

According to Smith, the impact of climate change is significant.

Citing Web Pages with No Author

If the web page does not have an identified author, use the title of the webpage or article in the in-text citation. Shorten the title to the first few words, ensuring it matches the first words of the Works Cited entry. For example:

(“US Election 2020”)

Here is how it would look in a sentence:

The final presidential debate was an important event (“US Election 2020”).

Citing Multiple Authors

When citing a web source with multiple authors, the format varies depending on the number of authors. – For two authors, separate the names with “and”:

(Smith and Johnson)

– For three or more authors, use “et al.” after the first author’s name:

(Smith et al.)

For example:

Cell biology is an area of science that focuses on the structure and function of cells (Smith and Johnson).

Citing Sources with No Page Numbers

Since most web sources do not have page numbers, the in-text citation will only include the author’s last name. If the source has no author, use the shortened title as described above. For example:

The importance of mental health is highlighted in various studies (Kraizer).

Citing Secondary Sources

If you’re referencing a source that was cited within another source—known as a secondary source—you’ll still mention the original or primary source in your in-text citation. However, you should add “qtd. in” before the secondary source’s author to indicate the chain of citation. For instance:

According to a study by Smith (qtd. in Kirkey), 42% of doctors would refuse to perform legal euthanasia.

Multiple Sources in a Single In-text Citation

When you’re either paraphrasing or directly quoting from multiple sources in a single sentence, you can differentiate the in-text citations by separating them with a semi-colon. For example:

The impact of climate change is a widely discussed topic (Smith 42; Bennett 71).

By adhering to these guidelines, you ensure that your in-text citations for web sources are not only accurate and clear but also fully compliant with MLA format.

FAQs on Citing Web Sources in MLA

How to Cite Web Pages With No Author or Date

When citing a web page that lacks an author or a publication date, you need to adapt your citation accordingly.

• No Author: If the web page does not have an identified author, start the citation with the title of the webpage or article in quotation marks. Use a shortened version of the title in your in-text citation to match the first words of your Works Cited entry. For example:

“US Election 2020: A Guide to the Final Presidential Debate.” BBC News, 21 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54620868.

In-text citation:

(“US Election 2020”)

• No Publication Date: If the publication date is not available, include the access date at the end of the citation. This is especially useful for sources that are likely to change over time. For example:

“Citing Sources and Referencing.” Scribbr, www.scribbr.com/category/citing-sources. Accessed 16 July 2019.

In-text citation:

(“Citing Sources”)

Do I Need to Include the Access Date for All Web Sources?

No, you do not need to include the access date for all web sources. According to MLA guidelines, access dates are only necessary for online sources that lack a publication date or are likely to change over time. For stable sources with a clear publication date, such as online articles from reputable news sites or academic journals, you can omit the access date. However, if the content is subject to frequent updates or there is no publication date available, including the access date is recommended. For example:

Smith, Helena. “The Women Who Brought Down Greece’s Golden Dawn.” The Guardian, 22 Oct. 2020, www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/22/the-women-who-brought-down-greeces-golden-dawn.

How to Format URLs in Web Citations

When formatting URLs in MLA citations, there are a few key points to keep in mind:

• Omit “http://” or “https://”: You should omit the “http://” or “https://” prefix from the URL.
• Make URLs Clickable: If the citation will be read on a digital device, ensure the URL is clickable.
• Use DOIs if Available: If a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is available, it is preferable to use it instead of the URL because DOIs are more stable. For example:

Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change.” The Environmental Times, 10 Jan. 2023, www.environmentaltimes.com/climate-change.

What to Do When Information Is Missing

If you encounter missing information while citing a web source, here are some guidelines to follow:

• No Author: Use the title of the webpage or article as the first element in the citation and in-text citation.
• No Publication Date: Include the access date at the end of the citation.
• Other Missing Information: If other details such as the publisher or page numbers are missing, you can skip them and move on to the next available detail. If the information is available from an external source like a database or publisher’s website, you can include it in square brackets. For example, if a source lacks a publication date but has an access date:

“A Complete Guide to MLA Style.” Scribbr, www.scribbr.com/category/mla/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2021.

By following these guidelines, you can handle missing information effectively and ensure your citations are as complete and accurate as possible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, properly citing websites in MLA format necessitates meticulous attention to several critical elements, such as the author’s name, title of the webpage, title of the website, publication date, and URL. It’s important to remember to omit “http://” or “https://” from URLs and to use DOIs when available. For sources that lack authors or publication dates, begin with the title and, if necessary, include the date of access.

When dealing with various types of web sources, like articles from online periodicals, social media posts, or online images, it’s important to adapt the citation format accordingly. In-text citations should feature the author’s last name or a shortened title when no author is identified. Adhering to these guidelines ensures your citations are both accurate and in compliance with MLA standards.

Employing tools such as MLA citation generators can simplify the citation process. However, always verify the credibility of your sources and maintain an organized citation list to uphold academic integrity. With consistent practice, mastering the art of citing web sources in MLA format will enhance both the quality and credibility of your research endeavors.