How to Cite a Website in the MLA Format

• Tomas Elliott (MA)
• Published on 11/20/2023
• Updated on01/13/2024

Citing an entire website becomes pertinent when referencing the overall content or when the site’s material forms the basis of an argument or analysis. If the website itself is the primary source, citing the entire website is appropriate.

In this guide, we will explore how to cite websites in a way that’s clear and accurate. We’ll break down the important parts and show you how to create MLA citations that are precise and effective.

• Author’s Name: When you know the author of the webpage, start the citation with their name. Write it in the format of surname, first name. But if the author is unknown, begin the citation with the title of the page or article.
• Website Name (in Italics): Following the page title, italicize the name of the website. This emphasizes the larger source or platform where the particular content is found. It assists readers in recognizing the broader context of the information.
• Publication Date: Displayed as Day Abbreviated Month Year (e.g., 21 Sep. 2023). If the date is missing or content may change, consider adding an access date at the end.
• URL: The citation ends with the URL, the direct web address for accessing the content. It’s listed without the “https://” part for reader convenience.

WEBSITE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AUTHOR

For websites with a specified author, the citation structure includes the author’s name, the title of the website in italics, the publication date, and the URL. 

Citation	Lewis, Jane. Artistic Reviews. 15 May 2023, www.artisticreviews.org.
Structure	Author Surname, First Name. Title of the Website. Day Abbreviated Month Year, URL.

WEBSITE WITH TWO AUTHORS

Citation	Lewis, Jane, and Kate Liao. Kitchen Majic. 15 Oct. 2023, www.kitchenmajic.org.
Structure	Author 1 Surname, Author 1 First Name(s) or Initial(s), and Author 2 First Name(s) &/or Initial(s) Author 2 Surname. Title of the Website. Day Abbreviated Month Year, URL.

WEBSITE WITH THREE OR MORE AUTHORS

Citation	Lewis, Jane, et al. Health Matters. 21 Sep. 2023, www.healthmatters.com.
Structure	Author 1 Surname, Author 1 First Name(s) or Initial(s), et al. Title of the Website. Day Abbreviated Month Year, URL.

Abbreviate all months longer than four letters. For instance, January becomes Jan, February becomes Feb, and so on. Do not abbreviate the months of May, June, and July. Websites can undergo changes, and URLs may be updated. Ensure that the URL you provide is accurate and functional. Ensure uniformity in your citations. Use the same format for elements like author names, publication dates, and titles throughout your bibliography. When formatting your Works Cited page, employ hanging indents. The first line of each entry should be flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines indented.

CITING WEBSITES WITH NO AUTHOR OR GROUP OR ORGANIZATION AUTHOR

When a website is missing a specified author or if group or corporate author, then the citation should begin with the title of the website in italics, publisher (if available), followed by the publication date (if available), and the URL. 

Citation	Mountain Explorations. Mountain News, 2023, www.mountainexplorations.com.
Structure	Title of the Website. Publisher, Day Abbreviated Month Year, URL.

CITING WEBSITES WITH NO DATE

For websites without a publication date, it’s essential to include an access date at the end of citation to indicate when you accessed the content.

Citation	Lamer, Tina, et al. Beach Wonders. www.beachwonders.com. Accessed 15 May 2023.
Structure	Contributor. Title of the Website. URL. Accessed Day Abbreviated Month Year.

WEBSITE WITH DIFFERENT PUBLISHER

Sometimes, a website may have a different publisher than the overall site. In such cases, include details of the specific website, such as the contributor (if available), the title in italics, the publication date (if available), the publisher, and the URL.

Citation	Johnson, Mark. Science Discoveries. Space Enterprises, 2019, www.sciencediscoveries.com.
Structure	Contributor. Title of the Website. Publisher, Day Abbreviated Month Year, URL.

 

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