How do I cite a website in MLA 9th edition?

To cite a website in MLA 9, use this core format: Author. "Title of Page." Website Name, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL. Put the page title in quotation marks and italicize the website name (the "container"). If the publisher is the same as the website name, omit the publisher. Remove "https://" from URLs but keep the rest of the address. End the citation with a period after the URL. For in-text citations, use the author's last name in parentheses: (Lundman). If there is no author, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks: ("How to Make"). MLA 9 treats the website as a container — the larger work that holds the page — which is why the website name is italicized while the page title gets quotation marks.

What if the website has no author in MLA?

When no author is listed, start the Works Cited entry with the page title in quotation marks: "Title of Page." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL. For the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title, also in quotation marks: ("Title of Page"). Shorten long titles to the first noun phrase — for example, "A Comprehensive Guide to Climate Change Policy" becomes ("Comprehensive Guide"). Before deciding there is no author, check the page byline, the "About" section, or the website's parent organization. Government agencies, NGOs, and corporations often serve as group authors.

Do I need an access date in MLA?

Access dates are optional in MLA 9th edition, but the MLA Handbook recommends including one in two situations: (1) when the page has no publication date, so readers know when you saw the content, and (2) when the content is likely to change over time, such as a wiki, social media post, or frequently updated page. If you include an access date, place it at the end of the citation before the URL: "Title." Website, Accessed 15 Mar. 2024, URL. Use the abbreviated month format (Jan., Feb., Mar., etc.) that MLA requires for all dates.

Template + Example

MLA Website Citation Template

Learn MLA 9 website citation format with examples. Includes author, title, container, and URL formatting for your Works Cited page.

Copy-ready template

Author. "Title of Page." Website Name, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.

Filled example

Reference

Lundman, Susan. "How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow, www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html.

In-text citation

(Lundman)

Field mapping

author: Lundman, Susan
title: How to Make Vegetarian Chili
site: eHow
url: www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html
year: n.d.

Common mistakes

⚠Italicizing the page title instead of using quotation marks
⚠Including "https://" in the URL
⚠Forgetting the period after the URL
⚠Confusing website name with publisher

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