In today’s digital age, websites have become indispensable sources of information for research, education, and everyday learning. Accurately citing websites is crucial for academic integrity and giving credit where it’s due. Mastering the art of website citation, particularly in MLA (Modern Language Association) format, is a fundamental skill for students, researchers, and professionals alike. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of How Do You Cite A Website effectively and correctly using MLA guidelines, ensuring your work is both credible and academically sound.
Understanding MLA Citation Basics for Websites
The MLA Handbook emphasizes a principle-based approach to citation, focusing on consistent formatting of core source elements rather than rigid rules for every source type. This flexibility is especially useful when dealing with the ever-evolving landscape of online content. To properly cite a website in MLA, you’ll need to identify and arrange key pieces of information about the source.
The essential elements for a website citation in MLA format generally include:
- Author: The person or organization responsible for the content. This could be an individual, a group, or an organization.
- Title of the Page or Article: The specific title of the content you are citing. This is usually found at the top of the webpage.
- Title of the Website: The name of the overall website. This is often found in the header or footer of the page.
- Publisher or Sponsor: The organization or entity responsible for publishing the website. This might be the same as the website title, or it could be a separate institution.
- Date of Publication or Last Update: The date the content was published or last updated. Look for dates near the title or at the bottom of the page.
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The web address of the page. MLA recommends including the full URL.
- Date of Access (Optional but Recommended): The date you accessed the website. While not always mandatory, including the access date is good practice, especially for online sources that may change frequently.
Understanding these core components is the first step in learning how do you cite a website effectively in MLA style. By gathering this information, you ensure your citations are complete and allow readers to easily locate your sources.
Step-by-Step Guide to Citing a Website in MLA Format
Citing a website in MLA format involves a systematic approach to collecting information and arranging it in a specific order. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
Gathering Essential Information
Before you can construct your citation, you need to locate the necessary details about the website you are using. Here’s where to look for each element:
- Author: Look for the author’s name at the top or bottom of the article or webpage. If no individual author is listed, check for a corporate author or organization responsible for the website. In some cases, there may be no author listed.
- Title of the Page or Article: This is usually the main heading of the webpage content. It should be enclosed in quotation marks in your citation.
- Title of the Website: The website title is often found in the header or footer of the site, or in the “About Us” section. It should be italicized in your citation.
- Publisher or Sponsor: The publisher is the organization that makes the website available. Sometimes, the publisher is the same as the website title. If the publisher is not explicitly stated, and the website title and publisher are the same, you can omit the publisher from your citation. For educational websites or organizational sites, the sponsoring institution often acts as the publisher.
- Date of Publication or Last Update: Look for publication or copyright dates at the top or bottom of the webpage. If you find both a publication date and a last updated date, use the most recent date. If no date is available, you can omit this element, but it’s beneficial to include an access date.
- URL: Copy the full web address from your browser’s address bar. MLA now recommends including the full URL, starting with
https://. - Date of Access: Record the date you accessed the website. This is especially helpful for websites without publication dates or those known for frequent updates.
Once you have gathered this information, you are ready to assemble your MLA citation.
Constructing the MLA Citation
The basic MLA format for citing a website follows this structure:
Author. "Title of Page or Article." *Title of Website*, Publisher (if different from website title), Date of Publication, URL. Accessed Date (if recommended).Let’s break down each part with formatting guidelines:
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Author: Start with the author’s name. If it’s an individual, use the last name, then first name (e.g., Lundman, Susan.). If it’s a corporate author, use the full organization name (e.g., Purdue OWL). If no author is available, begin with the title of the page or article.
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“Title of Page or Article”: Enclose the title of the specific webpage or article you are citing in quotation marks. Capitalize the main words in the title. For example, “How to Make Vegetarian Chili.”
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Title of Website: Italicize the title of the overall website. Capitalize the main words. For example, eHow.
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Publisher: If the publisher is different from the website title, include the publisher’s name after the website title. For example, WebMD (in this case, WebMD is both the website title and the publisher, so it would only be listed once as the website title). If no publisher is easily identifiable and the website title and publisher are the same, you can often omit the publisher element.
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Date of Publication: Provide the date the content was published or last updated. Use the format Day Month Year (e.g., 25 Sept. 2014). If no date is available, you can omit this.
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URL: Include the full URL of the webpage. For example,
www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html. -
Accessed Date (Optional but Recommended): If you choose to include the access date, add it at the end, preceded by the word “Accessed.” For example, Accessed 6 July 2015.
Example:
Using the information from the original article, let’s cite an example page:
Lundman, Susan. “How to Make Vegetarian Chili.” *eHow*, www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html. Accessed 6 July 2015.Handling Missing Information
Sometimes, you might encounter websites where certain citation elements are missing. Here’s how to handle common situations:
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No Author: If there is no author listed, start the citation with the “Title of Page or Article.”
Example:
“Athlete's Foot - Topic Overview.” *WebMD*, 25 Sept. 2014, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/athletes-foot-topic-overview. -
No Date of Publication: If no publication date is available, you can omit this element. If the content is likely to change, including an access date becomes more important.
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No Publisher: If the publisher is not explicitly stated and is different from the website title, and you cannot reasonably determine it, you can omit the publisher from your citation. However, for academic sources, strive to find publisher information if possible. If the website title and publisher are the same, only list the website title.
Citing Different Types of Websites and Online Content
The basic MLA format can be adapted for various types of online content. Here are examples for citing different kinds of websites and online materials:
Citing an Entire Website
To cite an entire website, you generally use the following format:
Author or Compiler (if available). *Name of Site*. Publisher or Sponsoring Organization (if different from site name), Date of Resource Creation (if available), URL. Accessed Date (if applicable).Example:
*The Purdue OWL Family of Sites*. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Accessed 23 Apr. 2008.Citing a Page on a Website
As shown earlier, citing a specific page on a website is the most common type of website citation. Use the format discussed in the Step-by-Step Guide.
Citing Online Articles (Web Magazines, Online Journals)
For articles in web magazines or online scholarly journals, the format is similar to citing a page on a website, but you’ll emphasize the article title and journal/magazine title.
Example of an Article in a Web Magazine:
Bernstein, Mark. “10 Tips on Writing the Living Web.” *A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites*, 16 Aug. 2002, alistapart.com/article/writeliving. Accessed 4 May 2009.Example of an Article in an Online Scholarly Journal:
Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” *Social Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal,* vol. 6, no. 2, 2008, www.socwork.net/sws/article/view/60/362. Accessed 20 May 2009.Citing Images Found Online
To cite an image found online, provide information about the artist, title of the work, date of creation, and then cite the website where you found the image.
Example:
Goya, Francisco. *The Family of Charles IV*. 1800. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. *Museo Nacional del Prado*, www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74. Accessed 22 May 2006.Citing E-books Found Online
Citing e-books is similar to citing physical books, but you specify the format as “e-book” and include a URL if applicable.
Example:
Silva, Paul J. *How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing.* E-book, American Psychological Association, 2007.Citing Social Media (Tweets, YouTube Videos)
Social media content also needs to be cited correctly. For platforms like Twitter (now X) and YouTube, adapt the basic format to include platform-specific details.
Example of a Tweet:
@tombrokaw. “SC demonstrated why all the debates are the engines of this campaign.” *Twitter,* 22 Jan. 2012, 3:06 a.m., twitter.com/tombrokaw/status/160996868971704320.Example of a YouTube Video:
McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” *YouTube*, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.Best Practices for Citing Websites
To ensure accuracy and reliability in your website citations, consider these best practices:
- Keep Records of Access Dates: Especially for sources that may change, noting the date you accessed the information is crucial. This helps verify the information’s state at the time you used it.
- Use Permalinks When Available: If a website provides a permalink (a stable, permanent URL), use it instead of the regular URL. This reduces the chance of the link breaking over time. Look for “permalink” or “stable URL” options, often found under “cite this” or “share” buttons.
- Consider Citation Management Tools: Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote can help you organize your sources and generate citations in MLA format automatically. These tools can save time and reduce errors.
- Double-Check Your Citations: Always review your citations for accuracy and completeness before submitting your work. Pay attention to punctuation, italics, and the order of elements.
Conclusion
Mastering how do you cite a website in MLA format is an essential skill in academic and professional settings. By understanding the core elements of an MLA citation, following the step-by-step guide, and adapting the format for different types of online content, you can ensure your work is properly sourced and credible. Accurate website citation not only avoids plagiarism but also strengthens your research by allowing readers to explore your sources. Embrace these guidelines to confidently navigate the world of online sources and enhance the quality of your writing.
