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How to Cite a Website in MLA Format

How-to4 min·Updated May 2024

Overview of MLA Website Citations

Citing a website in MLA 9 requires a specific sequence of information to help readers locate your sources. You must identify the author, page title, website name, publisher, publication date, and URL. This guide breaks down the nine core elements of the MLA container system applied specifically to digital web pages.

Step 1: Identify the Author

Start your citation with the author's name. Write the Last Name first, followed by a comma and the First Name. If the page was written by an organization rather than an individual, use the corporate author name. If no author is identifiable, skip this step and move directly to the page title. Always end this element with a period.

Step 2: List the Page Title

Write the title of the specific webpage or article you are citing. Place the title in quotation marks and use title case capitalization. Place a period inside the closing quotation mark. If the page has no title, provide a brief description of the page without quotes or italics.

Step 3: Identify the Website Container

The website name is the container that holds the specific page. Write the name of the website in italics, followed by a comma. For example, if you are citing an article on The New York Times website, the website name is the container. Avoid using the URL as the website name unless the site name is identical to the URL.

Step 4: Find the Publication Date and URL

Locate the most recent publication date on the page. Format it as Day Month Year (e.g., 14 May 2023). Follow the date with a comma. Finally, include the URL. Omit 'https://' and end the entire citation with a period. If the site uses a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), use that instead of a URL for better stability.

MLA Website Citation Example

Example
Below is a standard Works Cited entry for a website with an individual author:

`Lundman, Susan. "How to Make a Vegetarian Pizza." *Garden Guides*, 25 June 2018, www.gardenguides.com/how-make-vegetarian-pizza.html.`

For the corresponding **in-text citation**, use the author's last name in parentheses:

`Vegetarian pizzas require specific dough preparation (Lundman).`

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Including the Protocol: Never include 'https://' in your Works Cited URL. Start with 'www' or the domain name.
  2. Incorrect Italics: Do not italicize the article title; only italicize the name of the website (the container).
  3. Missing Hanging Indents: Every Works Cited entry longer than one line must use a 0.5-inch hanging indent.
  4. Using the Browser Title: Do not simply copy the text that appears in your browser tab. Look for the actual headline on the page.

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