How to Cite Salon in MLA 9 Format

What a Salon citation is in MLA 9

A Salon citation in MLA 9 is the Works Cited entry you create for an article published on Salon (Salon.com). In MLA, most online magazine style articles follow the same core pattern:

Author. "Title of Article." Website Name, Publisher (optional), Date, URL. Accessed Date (optional).

For Salon, the website name is usually Salon. The publisher is often omitted because it is the same as the website name, which MLA 9 says you can do to avoid repetition. The most important pieces are the author, the article title, the site name, the publication date, and the URL.

The core MLA 9 format for a Salon article

Standard Works Cited template (one author)

Last Name, First Middle. "Title of the Article." Salon, Day Month Year, URL.

Notes:
- Put the article title in quotation marks.
- Italicize the website name, Salon.
- Use the full date if available, for example, 7 Mar. 2024.
- End with the URL, without angle brackets.
- MLA 9 does not require “https://” but it is acceptable either way. Be consistent.

When to include an Accessed date

MLA 9 treats access dates as optional, but they are still useful when:
- The page has no publication date.
- The page is frequently updated.
- You want to show when you verified the information.

If you include it, place it at the end:
Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

Author rules you must follow (and why they matter)

Your rules emphasize author name clarity and consistency. These rules matter because MLA Works Cited lists are alphabetized, and because readers should be able to identify the author accurately.

1) Full first names, not initials

Use the author’s full first name whenever it is available. This improves clarity, helps distinguish authors with similar names, and respects the author’s identity.

• Prefer: Robinson, Amanda Lee.
• Avoid: Robinson, A. L.

If Salon only shows an initial, MLA allows you to use what is provided. However, your rule requires full first names, so you should try to confirm the full name from the author page on Salon, a staff bio, or another reliable profile.

2) First author name must be inverted

The first author in a Works Cited entry is inverted so the list can be alphabetized by last name.

Correct:
- Coates, Ta-Nehisi.

Incorrect:
- Ta-Nehisi Coates.

3) Two authors, use “and,” second author not inverted

MLA uses “and” between two authors. Only the first author is inverted.

Correct:
- Nguyen, Minh Anh and Jordan Castillo.

Incorrect:
- Nguyen, Minh Anh, and Castillo, Jordan.

This rule matters because it keeps MLA formatting consistent and makes it easier for readers to scan entries quickly.

4) Three or more authors, use “et al.” after the first author only

For three or more authors, list only the first author, then add et al. This prevents citations from becoming overly long while still giving credit.

Correct:
- Hernandez, Sofia Maria et al.

Incorrect:
- Hernandez, Sofia Maria, Priya Desai, and Lucas Martin.

5) No author, start with the title

If no author is listed, start with the title of the article. Do not write “Anonymous” or “n.d.” MLA prefers you to use the information that actually appears on the source.

Correct:
- "Title of Article." Salon, Date, URL.

Alphabetization tip: when alphabetizing, ignore A, An, and The at the start of titles.

Examples (with correct formatting and detailed explanations)

Example 1: One author (most common)

Works Cited entry

Parker, Jessica Anne. "Why Election Polls Keep Getting It Wrong." Salon, 14 Oct. 2024, https://www.salon.com/2024/10/14/why-election-polls-keep-getting-it-wrong/.

Why this is correct

• Author: First author is inverted, and the first name is spelled out in full, Jessica Anne Parker.
• Title: The article title is in quotation marks.
• Website name: Salon is italicized.
• Date: Uses MLA date style, day month year, with the month abbreviated.
• URL: Included at the end, followed by a period.

Practical tip

Copying the URL from the browser can add tracking codes. If the link contains long strings like “?utm_source=…”, remove them if the page still loads, since the clean URL is easier to read and more stable.

Example 2: Two authors (use “and,” second author not inverted)

Works Cited entry

Kim, Danielle Maria and Thomas Everett Reed. "The Real Cost of Student Loan ‘Relief’ Plans." Salon, 3 Feb. 2025, https://www.salon.com/2025/02/03/the-real-cost-of-student-loan-relief-plans/.

Why this is correct

• Two authors: MLA uses and between names.
• Name order: Kim is inverted because it is the first author. Thomas Everett Reed is in normal order because he is the second author.
• Quotation marks and italics: Article title in quotes, website name italicized.

Common pitfall

Many writers mistakenly invert both names. In MLA, only the first author is inverted in the Works Cited entry.

Example 3: No author listed (start with the title)

Works Cited entry

"Inside the Supreme Court’s New Ethics Debate." Salon, 19 May 2023, https://www.salon.com/2023/05/19/inside-the-supreme-courts-new-ethics-debate/.

Why this is correct

• No author: The citation begins with the article title.
• No “Anonymous”: MLA does not want you to invent an author.
• Everything else stays the same: Title, site name, date, URL.

Practical tip

If the page has no author on the article itself, check whether a name appears near the headline, at the top or bottom, or on a mobile view. If no author is truly provided, then use the title-first format.

Common pitfalls when citing Salon in MLA 9

Mixing up what gets quotation marks vs italics

• Article title, in quotation marks.
• Website name (Salon), in italics.

Using the wrong date format

MLA uses:
- 14 Oct. 2024, not October 14, 2024.
- Use standard MLA month abbreviations, for example, Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

Forgetting the inverted first author rule

This affects alphabetizing in Works Cited. If you write the author in normal order, the entry ends up in the wrong place.

Listing too many authors

For three or more authors, do not list everyone. Use the first author plus et al. This keeps citations readable and consistent.

Omitting the URL

For online articles, MLA expects a URL or DOI. Salon articles almost always need the URL.

Quick checklist for a correct Salon Works Cited entry

One author

• Last, First Middle. "Article Title." Salon, Day Month Year, URL.

Two authors

• Last, First Middle and First Middle Last. "Article Title." Salon, Day Month Year, URL.

Three or more authors

• Last, First Middle et al. "Article Title." Salon, Day Month Year, URL.

No author

• "Article Title." Salon, Day Month Year, URL.

If you share a specific Salon link, plus the author name as it appears on the page, I can format the exact MLA 9 Works Cited entry using your rules.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Common Errors for Salon Citations

Validation Checklist

Special Cases

Special cases and edge cases when citing Salon in MLA 9

Salon is a magazine style website that publishes news, opinion, interviews, and cultural criticism. In MLA 9, you usually cite a Salon piece as a web article. Most of the time the format is straightforward, but Salon pages can create tricky situations, especially with missing authors, multiple contributors, updates, paywalls, and syndicated material. The goal of MLA is consistency and traceability, so a reader can quickly identify what you used and find it again.

Below are the most common Salon specific edge cases, with practical tips, pitfalls to avoid, and 2 to 3 fully formatted examples.

Core MLA pattern for a Salon web article

A typical Works Cited entry looks like this:

Author. "Title of Article." Salon, Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Not every element appears every time. MLA 9 asks you to include what is available and useful. For Salon articles, the publication date and URL are usually available. An access date is optional in MLA, but it becomes useful in edge cases like frequent updates, paywalls, or unstable pages.

Edge case 1: Author name formatting and identity clarity

What makes Salon tricky

Salon pages sometimes show:
- A full byline, which is ideal.
- A shortened name, such as a middle initial only.
- A group or brand byline, such as “Salon Staff.”
- Multiple authors or contributors.

Why the rule matters

You asked to use full first names, not initials. This matters because it avoids confusion between writers with similar names and it respects author identity. It also helps your Works Cited list stay consistent and searchable.

Practical tip

If Salon displays an initial but you can confirm the full first name from the author profile page on Salon, use the full first name. If you cannot confirm it reliably, do not invent it. Use what the source provides.

Common pitfalls

• Using initials when a full first name is available on the author page.
• Inverting both names in a two author citation, MLA only inverts the first author.

Edge case 2: Two authors vs. three or more authors

What makes Salon tricky

Some Salon pieces are co written, or they list several contributors. MLA has different rules depending on how many authors you include.

Your required rules to follow

• Two authors: Use and between names. Only the first author is inverted.
• Three or more authors: Use first author only, then et al. Do not list additional authors before et al.

Why the rule matters

These rules keep citations readable and consistent. They also prevent Works Cited entries from becoming overly long.

Edge case 3: No author listed

What makes Salon tricky

Some pages show no byline, or they use a generic byline that is not a person. Sometimes Salon posts short news items, corrections, or aggregated content without a clear author.

Your required rule to follow

If there is no author, start with the title. Do not use “Anonymous” or “n.d.” In MLA, the title becomes the first element, and alphabetization ignores A, An, and The.

Why the rule matters

Starting with the title keeps your Works Cited accurate and prevents you from assigning authorship incorrectly.

Practical tip

Check carefully for a byline near the headline, near the top of the article, or at the end. Also check the mobile view if the desktop view is cluttered.

Edge case 4: Updates, corrections, and multiple dates

What makes Salon tricky

Salon articles sometimes show:
- A publication date and an updated date.
- A timestamp that changes after edits.
- A correction note at the end.

What to do in MLA 9

MLA generally uses the date of publication shown on the page. If the page clearly emphasizes an updated date, you can use the date that best matches the version you read, and include an Accessed date to show when you consulted it.

Why the rule matters

Dates help readers locate the correct version of a story, especially when content changes.

Common pitfalls

• Mixing up the updated date with the original publication date.
• Omitting an access date when the article is frequently updated.

Edge case 5: Paywalls, app pages, and unstable URLs

What makes Salon tricky

Salon sometimes restricts content. You might access it through:
- A paywall prompt.
- A cached or reader mode view.
- A database or aggregator.
- A shortened link.

What to do

• Prefer the canonical URL from the address bar if it is stable.
• Avoid tracking heavy URLs if a clean URL exists.
• Include an Accessed date if the page is paywalled or likely to change.

Why the rule matters

A clean URL and access date increases the chance your reader can find the same page later.

Edge case 6: Syndicated or republished content on Salon

What makes Salon tricky

Salon sometimes republishes work from another outlet, or it hosts content that originally appeared elsewhere. The page may say something like “This article originally appeared in…” or “Republished with permission.”

What to do

Cite the version you actually used. If you read it on Salon, cite Salon as the container. If the page clearly identifies the original publisher and you want to emphasize that origin, you can mention the original context in your discussion, but your Works Cited should match the source you consulted.

Common pitfall

Citing the original outlet even though you only accessed the Salon copy. That makes your citation harder to verify.

Examples with detailed explanations

Example 1: One author, standard Salon article

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
Goldberg, Michelle. "The Problem with Political Purity Tests." Salon, 14 Feb. 2019, https://www.salon.com/example-url. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Why it is formatted this way

• Goldberg, Michelle uses inverted order for the first author, and it uses the full first name.
• The article title is in quotation marks because it is a short work within a larger website.
• Salon is italicized as the container.
• The date is in MLA style, day month year.
• The URL is included without extra labels like “URL:” or “Retrieved from.”
• Accessed is included because web pages can change, and it is especially useful for Salon if updates occur or access is restricted.

Practical tip

If the page includes a time as well as a date, you can ignore the time in MLA unless it is essential to distinguish versions.

Example 2: Two authors, apply “and,” second author not inverted

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
Smith, Jordan Michael, and Taylor Renee Johnson. "How Disinformation Spreads Online." Salon, 3 May 2021, https://www.salon.com/example-url. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Why it is formatted this way

• The first author is inverted: Smith, Jordan Michael.
• The second author is in normal order: Taylor Renee Johnson.
• You use and, not an ampersand.
• Full first names are used, not initials.

Common pitfall to avoid

Do not write: “Smith, Jordan Michael, and Johnson, Taylor Renee.” MLA only inverts the first author in a two author entry.

Example 3: No author listed, start with the title

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
"Inside the Culture War over Public Schools." Salon, 9 Sept. 2022, https://www.salon.com/example-url. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Why it is formatted this way

• There is no author, so the title comes first.
• The title is in quotation marks because it is a web article.
• Salon remains the container in italics.
• No “Anonymous” is used, and no “n.d.” is invented.

Practical tip

For alphabetizing in your Works Cited list, ignore “A,” “An,” and “The” if your title begins with one of those words.

Why these rules matter in an MLA Works Cited list

MLA citations are not just formatting. They are a map. When you apply consistent author rules, title rules, and date rules, you help your reader:
- Verify your evidence quickly.
- Distinguish between similar articles and similar authors.
- Understand what version of a changing web page you used.
- Locate the source even if the website design changes.

Quick checklist for Salon citations (tips and pitfalls)

Tips

• Confirm the byline, then use full first names when you can verify them.
• Use the article page URL, not a search results URL.
• Add an access date if the page is updated often, paywalled, or likely to change.
• Treat Salon as the container, italicized.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Using initials when the full first name is available and verifiable.
• Inverting the second author’s name in a two author citation.
• Listing multiple authors when there are three or more, your rule requires first author plus et al.
• Inventing an author, or using “Anonymous,” or using “n.d.”
• Citing a different site than the one you actually read.

If you share a specific Salon URL or a screenshot of the byline and date area, I can format the exact MLA 9 Works Cited entry using your author name rules, and I can also show the matching in text citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a Salon article in MLA 9 for a Works Cited entry?

To cite a Salon article in MLA 9, start with the author’s name (Last, First). Then put the article title in quotation marks. Next, italicize the website name, Salon. After that, list the publisher only if it differs from the site name (for Salon, you usually omit the publisher). Add the publication date, then the URL without https://. End with the access date only if the page is likely to change, or if your instructor requires it. Example scenario, you are citing a political commentary you read online for a research paper. Your entry might look like: Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Salon, Day Month Year, www.salon.com/.... For more guidance on MLA web citations, see the MLA Style Center’s page on web works: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/.

How do I cite a Salon article in MLA 9 with no author listed?

If a Salon article does not list an author, begin the Works Cited entry with the article title in quotation marks. Then italicize Salon, followed by the publication date and the URL. Do not use “Anonymous” unless the site explicitly credits the author that way. Practical scenario, you found a short news brief or staff post on Salon with no byline, and you still need to cite it. Your Works Cited would start with “Title of Article.” Salon, Day Month Year, URL. In your in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks, like (“Shortened Title”). If the page lists an organization or “Salon Staff” as the author, you can use that as the author element. More help on missing authors is available from the MLA Style Center: https://style.mla.org/citing-works-without-an-author/.

What should I use for the in-text citation for a Salon article, especially if there are no page numbers?

For a Salon article, MLA in-text citations usually use the author’s last name in parentheses, like (Nguyen). Since web articles typically have no page numbers, you do not add a page number. If there is no author, use a shortened title in quotation marks, like (“Housing Crisis”). Practical scenario, you quote a sentence from a Salon feature and want to integrate it smoothly. You can write: Nguyen argues that the policy “fails to address core costs” (Nguyen). If you mention the author in the sentence, you can omit the parenthetical name. If you cite the title, keep it short enough to match the first words of the Works Cited entry. For more on MLA in-text citations, consult: https://style.mla.org/in-text-citations/.

How do I cite a Salon article I found through Google News, Apple News, or another aggregator in MLA 9?

If you read the article on an aggregator but it is clearly a Salon article, you should usually cite the version you actually consulted. If the aggregator page has stable bibliographic details and a stable URL, cite that page and identify Salon as the original site in the container information when appropriate. Practical scenario, you opened a Salon story inside Apple News and cannot easily access the Salon URL. In that case, cite Apple News as the container, and include Salon as the original publisher when it is shown, along with the date and the Apple News link. If you can access the Salon webpage directly, prefer citing the Salon URL. MLA’s container concept can help you structure this correctly: https://style.mla.org/containers/.

How do I cite a Salon podcast episode or video in MLA 9?

To cite a Salon podcast episode or video, start with the episode or video title in quotation marks. Then include the website or platform as the container, such as Salon or YouTube, followed by the publisher if needed, the date, and the URL. You can also include the relevant contributors, like the host, narrator, or director, if they matter for your discussion. Practical scenario, you analyze a Salon interview clip embedded on a Salon page, cite the video as the source you watched. If you watched it on YouTube, cite YouTube. Include a timestamp in your in-text citation only if your instructor requests it, since MLA does not require it, but it can be helpful. See MLA guidance on audiovisual works: https://style.mla.org/citing-a-video/.

Do I need an access date for Salon in MLA 9, and how do I cite a Salon article that was updated?

MLA 9 treats access dates as optional, but they are recommended when a source may change, or when no publication date is given. Salon articles sometimes show an update time, so you should cite the version information that is available on the page. Practical scenario, you are citing a breaking news piece that shows “Updated” later the same day, and you want to document what you relied on. Use the publication date shown, and if an updated date is clearly labeled, you can include it after the original date in your notes or in the citation if your instructor prefers. Adding an access date can also help, for example: Accessed 1 Jan. 2026. For MLA guidance on access dates and web sources, see: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/.

Last Updated: 2026-01-01
Reading Time: 10 minutes