How to Cite a Website in Text MLA: Quick Guide

 

To cite a website in-text using MLA format, include the author’s last name in parentheses. If no author is available, use the website title instead.

Citing websites correctly is crucial for academic integrity and credibility. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style provides clear guidelines for incorporating online sources into your writing. Proper in-text citations help readers locate the original material easily. This practice not only strengthens your argument but also shows respect for the original creators’ work.

Whether you’re writing a research paper or an article, knowing how to cite sources appropriately is essential. This guide will clarify the process and ensure your citations meet MLA standards, enhancing your writing’s professionalism and accuracy.

Introduction To Mla Citation

MLA citation is essential for academic writing. It helps readers find sources. This style is widely used in humanities. Proper citation shows respect for authors. It also avoids plagiarism. Understanding how to cite a website in MLA is crucial for students.

Why Citations Matter

Citations serve several important purposes:

• Credibility: They enhance the trustworthiness of your work.
• Accountability: They give credit to original authors.
• Research: They help readers explore more on a topic.
• Ethics: They maintain academic integrity.

These reasons highlight the importance of accurate citations.

Basics Of Mla Style

MLA style has specific rules for citations. Here are the key features:

Feature	Description
Format:	Double space your text. Use a legible font.
Margins:	Set 1-inch margins on all sides.
Header:	Include your last name and page number.
Works Cited:	List all sources at the end.

Remember these basics for accurate MLA citations.

Identifying Information To Include

Citing a website in MLA format requires specific details. These details help readers find the source easily. Each piece of information adds to the citation’s clarity and credibility.

Author’s Name

Start with the author’s name. Write the last name first, followed by the first name. For example:

Title Of The Page

The title of the page is next. Use quotation marks around the title. Capitalize key words. Example:

Title Of The Website

Next, include the title of the website. This should be in italics. For instance:

Publisher Or Sponsor

List the publisher or sponsor of the site. If it’s the same as the website title, you can skip it. If not, write it clearly. Example:

Publication Date

Include the publication date of the webpage. Use the format: Day Month Year. Example:

Url

Finally, provide the URL. Make sure it’s complete. Start with http:// or https://. Example:

Information Type	Example
Author’s Name	Smith, John
Title of the Page	“How to Cite a Website in MLA”
Title of the Website	Website Name
Publisher or Sponsor	ABC Publishing
Publication Date	15 March 2022
URL	https://www.example.com

In-text Citations: The Basics

Understanding how to cite a website in MLA style is important. In-text citations help readers find your sources. They show where your information comes from. There are two main types of in-text citations: parenthetical citations and narrative citations.

Parenthetical Citations

Parenthetical citations appear at the end of a sentence. They include the author’s last name and the page number. If no page number exists, just include the author’s name. Use this format:

(Author's Last Name).

Here are some examples:

• If the author is Jane Doe: (Doe)
• If there is no author: (“Title of the Page”)

Include the publication date only if needed. Most of the time, the author’s name is enough.

Narrative Citations

Narrative citations integrate the author’s name into the text. They show that the information comes from a specific source. For example:

According to Jane Doe, the study shows...

When no author is available, use the title:

According to “Title of the Page,” the results indicate...

Here’s a quick summary:

Citation Type	Format	Example
Parenthetical	(Author’s Last Name)	(Doe)
Narrative	According to Author’s Last Name, …	According to Doe, …

Both methods are effective. Choose the one that fits your writing style.

Formatting Author Names

Citing a website in MLA style requires attention to detail. The author names play a vital role in giving credit. This section covers different scenarios for formatting author names.

Single Author

For a website with a single author, follow this format:

Last Name, First Name.

For example:

Smith, John.

This format is clear and straightforward. Place the name in the text as follows:

• According to Smith, the data is significant.

Multiple Authors

When citing a website with two authors, format the names like this:

Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name.

Example:

Smith, John, and Jane Doe.

For three or more authors, use this format:

First Author’s Last Name et al.

Example:

Smith et al.

In-text citation for multiple authors looks like this:

• Research shows (Smith and Doe).
• Studies indicate (Smith et al.).

No Author Available

Sometimes, a website lacks an author. In this case, use the title of the webpage:

"Title of the Webpage."

Example:

"How to Cite a Website."

In-text citation will appear as:

• According to “How to Cite a Website”, proper formatting is crucial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypWxhhpGeyM

 

Dealing With Electronic Sources

Citing electronic sources can be tricky. Websites often lack traditional page numbers. Understanding how to cite them correctly is crucial. Accurate citations lend credibility to your work.

Citing Websites With No Pages

Many websites do not have page numbers. In these cases, follow these steps:

• Use the author’s last name in your text.
• Include the website name in your citation.
• For example: (Smith, Example Website).

Here’s a basic format:

(Author's Last Name, Website Name)

Citing Online Articles

Online articles usually have authors and publication dates. Follow this format:

Component	Example
Author	Smith, John
Article Title	“How to Cite Sources”
Website Name	Example Website
Publication Date	15 March 2023
URL	www.example.com/article

Here’s how to cite:

(Smith, "How to Cite Sources," Example Website, 15 March 2023)

Citing Multimedia Resources

Citing videos and podcasts is different. Follow these guidelines:

• Use the creator’s name.
• Include the title of the media.
• Provide the platform name (YouTube, Spotify, etc.).
• Add the publication date.

Example format:

(Creator's Last Name, Title of the Media, Platform Name, Date)

For instance:

(Doe, Understanding Citations, YouTube, 10 April 2023)

Examples Of Mla In-text Citations

Understanding how to cite sources correctly is essential. MLA style has specific rules for in-text citations. Below are examples to help you master this skill. Let’s dive into different scenarios.

Citing With An Author

When you cite a source with an author, include the author’s last name and the page number. Use this format:

(Author’s Last Name Page Number)

For example:

• (Smith 23) for a work by John Smith.

Place the citation at the end of the sentence.

Citing Without An Author

If no author is available, use the title of the work. Italicize the title for books and articles. Use quotation marks for shorter works. Here’s the format:

(“Title” Page Number)

For example:

• (“Impact of Climate Change” 45) for an article.
• (The Great Gatsby 78) for a book.

Citing Multiple Works By The Same Author

When citing multiple works by the same author, include a shortened title. This helps clarify which work you mean. The format looks like this:

(Author’s Last Name, “Shortened Title” Page Number)

For example:

• (Smith, “Understanding Economics” 12) for a specific work.
• (Smith, “Modern History” 34) for another work.

Use these examples to enhance your citations. Correct citations improve your work’s credibility.

Creating The Works Cited Page

A Works Cited page lists all sources used in your paper. It provides clear credit to authors and helps avoid plagiarism. Follow the correct format for each entry. Make sure to follow MLA guidelines.

Basic Format

The basic format for citing a website in MLA is:

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Name of Website, Publisher, Date of Publication, URL.

Here’s a breakdown of each component:

• Author: Start with the last name, followed by the first name.
• Title of Web Page: Enclose in quotation marks.
• Name of Website: Italicize the name.
• Publisher: Include only if different from the website name.
• Date of Publication: Format as Day Month Year.
• URL: Provide the full web address.

Organizing Entries

Organize your Works Cited entries in alphabetical order. Use the author’s last name for sorting. If no author exists, use the title. Follow these tips:

1. Use a hanging indent for each entry.
2. Double-space all lines.
3. Maintain consistent formatting throughout the page.

Here’s a simple example:

Entry	Example
Single Author	Smith, John. “How to Cite a Website.” Easy Citing, Easy Publishers, 1 Jan. 2023, www.easyciting.com.
No Author	“Understanding MLA.” MLA Guide, MLA Publications, 5 Feb. 2023, www.mlaguide.com.

Following these guidelines ensures your Works Cited page is neat and professional.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Citing websites in MLA style can sometimes be tricky. Here are common issues and solutions to help you.

Missing Information

Sometimes, you may find that a website lacks some information. This can make citing difficult. Here’s how to handle it:

• Author: If no author is listed, start with the title.
• Publication Date: Use “n.d.” if no date is available.
• Website Name: If the website name is missing, use the publisher’s name.

Example:

Smith, John. "Title of the Article." Website Name, n.d., www.website.com/article.

Multiple Sources From The Same Author

When citing multiple works by the same author, distinguish between them. Use a shortened title for clarity:

1. List the author’s name once.
2. Use the shortened title in each citation.

Example:

Smith, John. "First Article Title." Website Name, 2023, www.website.com/first.
"Second Article Title." Website Name, 2023, www.website.com/second.

Citations In Footnotes And Endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes can simplify citations. Here’s how to format them:

Format	Example
First Citation	John Smith, “Title of the Article,” Website Name, 2023, www.website.com/article.
Subsequent Citations	Smith, “Title of the Article.”

Using footnotes and endnotes helps keep your text clean.

Mla Citation Tools And Resources

Using the right tools makes citing websites in MLA easy. Various resources help you create accurate citations. Explore these options to simplify your citation process. You can use online citation generators to quickly and accurately create MLA citations for websites. These tools often allow you to simply paste the URL of the website or input the necessary information, and then they generate the citation for you. Some citation generators even have browser extensions that allow you to easily create citations while browsing the web, making the process even more streamlined. For example, you can simply paste google tag and the citation generator will automatically pull the necessary information to create the citation.

Citation Generators

Citation generators are handy tools for creating MLA citations. They save time and ensure accuracy. Here are some popular citation generators:

• Cite This For Me
• EasyBib
• BibMe
• Citation Machine

Most of these tools allow you to:

1. Enter the website URL.
2. Select the citation style (MLA).
3. Generate the citation automatically.

Online Guides And Handbooks

Online guides provide detailed information on MLA formatting. They are valuable resources for students and writers. Check out these trusted guides:

Resource	Description
Purdue OWL	Offers comprehensive MLA guidelines and examples.
MLA Style Center	Official site with updates and FAQs on MLA style.
EasyBib MLA Guide	Step-by-step instructions for MLA citations.

Academic Writing Centers

Academic writing centers provide personalized help with citations. They often offer workshops and one-on-one sessions. Check your school or local library for resources. Some benefits include:

• Expert advice on MLA formatting.
• Review of your citations for accuracy.
• Access to additional writing resources.

Utilizing these resources can enhance your writing skills. They ensure you understand MLA citation fully.

Conclusion

Citing a website in MLA format is essential for academic integrity. It helps readers locate your sources easily. Remember to include the author, title, and publication date in your citations. Following these guidelines will enhance your writing and strengthen your arguments.

Accurate citations contribute to a credible and professional presentation of your work.