How to Cite a Website in MLA Format

How to Cite a Website in MLA Format

This guide explains how to cite a website MLA style, with clear, step-by-step instructions and examples you can use immediately. MLA (Modern Language Association) format is commonly used in the humanities, especially in literature, cultural studies, and related fields.

If you prefer an automated option, use Rephrasely's free citation generator at https://rephrasely.com/citation to build correct MLA citations in seconds.

Introduction — What MLA Is and Who Uses It

MLA is a citation and formatting style created by the Modern Language Association. It standardizes how writers credit sources and present research, helping readers locate original materials easily.

Students, researchers, and instructors in literature, languages, and cultural studies frequently use MLA. Knowing how to cite a website MLA correctly prevents plagiarism and strengthens your academic writing.

General Rules — Key Formatting Principles

• Use MLA 9th edition guidance: Most institutions follow the 9th edition; format citations according to those rules unless instructed otherwise.
• Works Cited: List all sources on a separate "Works Cited" page, alphabetized by author or title (if no author).
• Hanging indent: Use a hanging indent (0.5 inches) for each entry.
• Authors: List the author as Last Name, First Name. For two authors, use "First Author’s Last Name, First Name, and Second Author’s First Name Last Name."
• Titles: Place article or page titles in quotation marks and container titles (site name, journal, book) in italics.
• URLs: Include the full URL; omit "http://" or "https://" only if instructed. DOIs are preferred for scholarly articles.
• Dates: Use Day Month Year format when available (e.g., 12 Mar. 2020).

How to Cite by Source Type

Below are step-by-step templates and examples for common source types: books, journals, websites, videos, interviews, and government reports.

1. Books

Template:

Author Last, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.

Example:

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Penguin Classics, 2002.

Actionable tip: Use the edition information if you're using a translated or edited volume (e.g., "ed. John Smith").

2. Journal Articles (Print)

Template:

Author Last, First. "Article Title." Journal Title, vol. ##, no. ##, Year, pp. xx–xx.

Example:

Garcia, Maria. "Narrative Voices in Contemporary Fiction." Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 66, no. 2, 2020, pp. 211–235.

3. Journal Articles (Online)

Template:

Author Last, First. "Article Title." Journal Title, vol. ##, no. ##, Year, pp. xx–xx, DOI or URL.

Example:

Chen, Lian. "Digital Archives and Public Memory." Digital Scholarship, vol. 15, no. 4, 2021, doi:10.1093/digsh/abc123.

4. Websites (How to Cite a Website MLA)

Template (with author):

Author Last, First. "Title of Web Page." Website Title, Publisher (if different), Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Template (no author):

"Title of Web Page." Website Title, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Example (author present):

Smith, John. "How to Grow Urban Gardens." Urban Farming Today, Urban Green Media, 10 Apr. 2022, https://www.urbanfarmingtoday.org/grow-urban-gardens. Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.

Example (no author):

"Climate Data Explorer." National Climate Archive, 5 May 2023, https://www.nca.gov/climate-data-explorer. Accessed 15 Aug. 2024.

Actionable steps for websites:

1. Find the author and publication date on the page. If no date exists, use "n.d." or include an access date.
2. List the page title in quotes and the site name in italics.
3. Include the full URL and an access date when the content is likely to change.

5. Video (YouTube)

Template:

Author or Screen Name. "Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Uploader, Day Month Year, URL.

Example:

CrashCourse. "The French Revolution: Crash Course World History #29." YouTube, uploaded by CrashCourse, 14 Feb. 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXX.

6. Interviews (Personal or Published)

Template (published interview):

Interviewee Last, First. "Title of Interview" (if any). Interview by Interviewer First Last, Publication or Website, Day Month Year, URL.

Template (personal interview):

Interviewee Last, First. Personal interview. Day Month Year.

Example (personal):

Lopez, Ana. Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2023.

7. Government or Organizational Reports

Template:

Government Agency. Title of Report. Publisher, Year, URL.

Example:

U.S. Department of Education. Education Equity Report 2021. U.S. Government Printing Office, 2021, https://www.ed.gov/equity-report-2021.pdf.

In-Text Citations — Rules and Examples

In MLA, in-text citations are concise and point the reader to the full entry in Works Cited. Use parenthetical citations with the author's last name and, if applicable, a page number.

Basic rules:

• Author-page format: (Last Name page). Example: (Austen 45).
• If no page number exists, use only the author: (Smith).
• If no author, use a shortened title in quotation marks: ("Climate Data Explorer").
• For web sources with corporate authors, cite the organization: (National Climate Archive).

Examples:

One study argues that urban gardens increase biodiversity (Smith).

As Austen famously writes, "..." (Austen 123).

Government data shows rising temperatures ("Climate Data Explorer").

Actionable tip: Introduce the author in the sentence to avoid repetitive parentheses. Example: "Smith reports that urban gardens increase biodiversity." Then include only a page number if needed: (45).

Reference List — Formatting Rules and Example

Heading: Title the reference page "Works Cited" centered at the top of the page. Do not italicize or put the heading in quotes. Maintain double-spacing throughout.

Order: Alphabetize entries by the first word (author's last name or title if no author). Use a hanging indent for every entry.

Full example Works Cited (abridged):

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Penguin Classics, 2002.

Chen, Lian. "Digital Archives and Public Memory." Digital Scholarship, vol. 15, no. 4, 2021, doi:10.1093/digsh/abc123.

Smith, John. "How to Grow Urban Gardens." Urban Farming Today, Urban Green Media, 10 Apr. 2022, https://www.urbanfarmingtoday.org/grow-urban-gardens. Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.

Actionable formatting checks:

1. Ensure everything is double-spaced.
2. Use a hanging indent for every citation (0.5 inches).
3. Alphabetize correctly and verify punctuation exactly follows MLA examples.

Common Mistakes — Errors to Avoid

1) Incorrect author order: Authors must be listed as Last Name, First Name. Do not reverse names or omit first names when available.

2) Mixing MLA styles: Follow MLA 9 consistently. For example, don't use APA-style year-first citations in your text.

3) Omitting URLs or DOIs: For online sources, include the full URL or DOI. If content is unstable, add an access date.

4) Wrong title formatting: Put article or page titles in quotation marks and container titles in italics. Do not italicize both.

Actionable advice: Run a final checklist before submitting: author format, title punctuation, URL presence, hanging indent, and alphabetical order.

Quick Workflow to Cite a Website MLA Correctly

1. Locate author, page title, site name, publisher, and publication date on the page.
2. Use the MLA website template to assemble the citation. Example:

   Smith, John. "How to Grow Urban Gardens." Urban Farming Today, Urban Green Media, 10 Apr. 2022, https://www.urbanfarmingtoday.org/grow-urban-gardens. Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.

3. Add the in-text citation where you quote or paraphrase: (Smith) or "Smith reports..."
4. Place the citation on your Works Cited page, alphabetized and with a hanging indent.
5. Use a citation generator like https://rephrasely.com/citation to speed up the process and reduce errors.

Tools to Make It Easier

Rephrasely offers a free citation generator at https://rephrasely.com/citation to create MLA citations automatically. After generating citations, you can check your paper with Rephrasely's plagiarism checker and assess AI-authorship signals with the AI detector.

If you need help drafting or revising text around citations, try Rephrasely's AI writer via the Composer tool. Rephrasely also provides a paraphraser and translator to adjust tone or translate sources accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a webpage without an author in MLA?

When a webpage has no author, start the citation with the page title in quotation marks, followed by the site name, publisher (if available), publication date, URL, and an access date if needed. Example:

"Climate Data Explorer." National Climate Archive, 5 May 2023, https://www.nca.gov/climate-data-explorer. Accessed 15 Aug. 2024.

Do I need to include an access date for online sources?

MLA recommends including an access date when the content is likely to change or when no publication date is listed. If a stable publication date and DOI exist, the access date is usually unnecessary.

Can I use a citation generator for MLA citations?

Yes. A reputable citation generator like Rephrasely's citation generator can save time and reduce errors. Always double-check generated citations against MLA guidelines for formatting, author order, and punctuation.