1. Introduction
Citing sources is an essential part of academic writing. It not only gives credit to the original authors but also helps readers locate the sources for further research. When it comes to citing websites, the Modern Language Association (MLA) has specific guidelines to follow. In this complete guide, we will walk you through the process of citing a website in MLA format, covering various scenarios such as citing a whole website, a specific page or article, online journals, blogs, social media posts, online videos, and more.
2. Basic MLA format for website citations
Before diving into specific examples, let’s first understand the basic MLA format for website citations. The general structure for citing a website in MLA format is as follows:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. «Title of the Web Page or Article.» Title of the Website, Publisher or Sponsor of the Website, Date of Publication or Update, URL.
Here’s a breakdown of each element:
– Author’s Last Name, First Name: Start with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and the first name. If the author’s name is not available, you can skip this element.
– «Title of the Web Page or Article»: Enclose the title of the specific web page or article in quotation marks.
– Title of the Website: Italicize the title of the website.
– Publisher or Sponsor of the Website: Provide the name of the publisher or sponsor of the website. If the name is not available, you can use the name of the organization or institution associated with the website.
– Date of Publication or Update: Include the date when the web page or article was published or last updated. If the date is not available, you can use the abbreviation «n.d.» to indicate «no date.»
– URL: Provide the full URL of the web page or article. Make sure to include «https://» or «http://» at the beginning of the URL.
Now that we have a basic understanding of the MLA format for website citations, let’s explore how to cite different types of web sources.
3. Citing a whole website
If you want to cite an entire website, rather than a specific page or article, you can follow the format below:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of the Website. Publisher or Sponsor of the Website, Date of Publication or Update, URL.
For example:
Smith, John. Example Website. Example Publishing, 1 Jan. 2022, www.example.com.
In this example, John Smith is the author of the website «Example Website,» which is published by Example Publishing. The website was last updated on January 1, 2022, and the URL is www.example.com.
4. Citing a specific page or article on a website
When citing a specific page or article on a website, you need to include the title of the page or article in quotation marks. Here’s the format to follow:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. «Title of the Web Page or Article.» Title of the Website, Publisher or Sponsor of the Website, Date of Publication or Update, URL.
For example:
Doe, Jane. «How to Cite a Website in MLA Format.» Example Website, Example Publishing, 15 Feb. 2022, www.example.com/article.
In this example, Jane Doe is the author of the web page or article titled «How to Cite a Website in MLA Format.» The article is published on the website «Example Website» by Example Publishing. It was last updated on February 15, 2022, and the URL is www.example.com/article.
5. Citing an online journal or magazine article
When citing an online journal or magazine article, you need to include additional information such as the volume and issue number, as well as the page range of the article. Here’s the format to follow:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. «Title of the Article.» Title of the Journal or Magazine, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Date of Publication, page range. Title of the Website, URL.
For example:
Smith, John. «The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity.» Environmental Science Journal, vol. 25, no. 3, 2022, pp. 45-60. Example Website, www.example.com/article.
In this example, John Smith is the author of the article titled «The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity.» The article is published in the journal «Environmental Science Journal,» volume 25, issue 3, in 2022. The article can be found on the website «Example Website» at the URL www.example.com/article.
6. Citing an online newspaper article
When citing an online newspaper article, you need to include the name of the newspaper, the section or page number (if available), and the URL. Here’s the format to follow:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. «Title of the Article.» Title of the Newspaper, Date of Publication, URL.
For example:
Doe, Jane. «New Study Reveals Benefits of Exercise.» Example Times, 20 Feb. 2022, www.exampletimes.com/article.
In this example, Jane Doe is the author of the article titled «New Study Reveals Benefits of Exercise.» The article is published in the newspaper «Example Times» on February 20, 2022. The article can be found at the URL www.exampletimes.com/article.
7. Citing a blog post
When citing a blog post, you need to include the name of the blog, the title of the post, the author of the post (if available), and the URL. Here’s the format to follow:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. «Title of the Post.» Title of the Blog, Date of Publication, URL.
For example:
Smith, John. «10 Tips for Writing a Great Blog Post.» Example Blog, 5 Mar. 2022, www.exampleblog.com/post.
In this example, John Smith is the author of the blog post titled «10 Tips for Writing a Great Blog Post.» The post is published on the blog «Example Blog» on March 5, 2022. The post can be found at the URL www.exampleblog.com/post.
8. Citing social media posts
Citing social media posts can be a bit tricky since the content is often ephemeral. However, if you want to cite a social media post, you can follow the format below:
Author’s Last Name, First Name or Username. «Text of the Post.» Title of the Social Media Platform, Date of the Post, Time of the Post, URL.
For example:
Doe, Jane or @janedoe. «Excited to announce my new book!» Twitter, 10 Mar. 2022, 8:30 a.m., twitter.com/janedoe/status/123456789.
In this example, Jane Doe is the author of the social media post with the text «Excited to announce my new book!» The post was made on Twitter on March 10, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. The URL of the post is twitter.com/janedoe/status/123456789.
9. Citing online videos or podcasts
When citing online videos or podcasts, you need to include the title of the video or podcast episode, the name of the creator or host, the title of the website or platform, and the URL. Here’s the format to follow:
Creator’s Last Name, First Name. «Title of the Video or Podcast Episode.» Title of the Website or Platform, Date of Publication, URL.
For example:
Smith, John. «Introduction to MLA Format.» Example Video Platform, 15 Mar. 2022, www.examplevideo.com/video.
In this example, John Smith is the creator of the video titled «Introduction to MLA Format.» The video is published on the platform «Example Video Platform» on March 15, 2022. The video can be accessed at the URL www.examplevideo.com/video.
10. Citing online images or artwork
When citing online images or artwork, you need to include the creator’s name, the title or description of the image, the date of creation, the title of the website or platform, and the URL. Here’s the format to follow:
Creator’s Last Name, First Name. Title or Description of the Image. Date of Creation, Title of the Website or Platform, URL.
For example:
Doe, Jane. «Sunset over the Mountains.» 2021, Example Image Gallery, www.exampleimagegallery.com/image.
In this example, Jane Doe is the creator of the image titled «Sunset over the Mountains.» The image was created in 2021 and can be found in the «Example Image Gallery» at the URL www.exampleimagegallery.com/image.
11. Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I need to include the access date when citing a website in MLA format?
A: According to the MLA guidelines, it is not necessary to include the access date when citing a website. However, if the content of the website is likely to change over time, it may be useful to include the access date to provide context for the reader.
Q: What should I do if the author’s name is not available?
A: If the author’s name is not available, you can skip that element and start the citation with the title of the web page or article. However, it is always best to try and find the author’s name if possible.
Q: How do I cite a website with multiple authors?
A: If a website has multiple authors, you can list them in the same order as they appear on the website. Start with the first author’s last name, followed by a comma and the first name. Then, include the names of the other authors in the same format.
12. Conclusion
Citing a website in MLA format is an important skill for any writer or researcher. By following the guidelines provided in this complete guide, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent. Remember to always give credit to the original authors and provide enough information for readers to locate the sources themselves.
