How to Cite a Website in MLA 9 Format

MLA 9 Website Citations, How to Format Them Correctly

An MLA 9 website citation (in your Works Cited list) is built from a set of core elements in a specific order. The goal is consistency, so readers can quickly identify what you used, who created it, where it was published, and how to find it. MLA 9 is flexible because websites vary a lot, but it still expects you to include the most useful details available.

This guide focuses on website pages and articles, which are the most common web sources students cite.

The Basic MLA 9 Format for a Webpage

Use this general template for a page on a website:

Author Last, First Middle. "Title of Webpage." Website Name, Publisher (if different from website name), Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Not every webpage has every part. MLA 9 expects you to include what is available and skip what is not.

The Core Elements, Explained Simply

1) Author

If a person wrote the page, list them first.

• Use full first names, not initials.
• Invert the first author’s name: Last, First Middle.
• If there is no author, start with the title of the page.

Why this matters: MLA Works Cited entries are alphabetized. Inverting the first author’s name makes sorting predictable and helps readers scan your list.

2) Title of the Webpage (in quotation marks)

Put the specific page title in quotation marks.

Example: "How to Start Composting"

Why this matters: Websites contain many pages. The page title tells readers exactly which part of the site you used.

3) Website Name (in italics)

Italicize the overall website name, like BBC, Mayo Clinic, or National Geographic.

Why this matters: The website name is often the “container” that holds the page. It helps readers understand the source’s context and credibility.

4) Publisher or Sponsoring Organization (only if different)

Sometimes the publisher is separate from the website name. If the website name and publisher are the same, you usually do not repeat it.

Why this matters: The publisher can clarify who is responsible for the content, especially when the site name is a brand and the publisher is an institution.

5) Date (when the page was published or last updated)

Use the format Day Month Year, like 12 Oct. 2023. If the page only shows a year, use just the year.

Why this matters: Web content changes. Dates help readers judge how current your information is and help them locate the correct version.

6) URL

Include the direct link. MLA 9 allows you to omit https:// in many classrooms, but your instructor may prefer that you keep it. Either way, be consistent.

Why this matters: URLs make sources findable. They are especially important for online-only content.

7) Accessed Date (often optional, sometimes recommended)

MLA 9 treats the accessed date as optional, but it is a good idea when:
- There is no publication date.
- The content is likely to change.
- Your instructor requires it.

Format: Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

Why this matters: If the page changes later, the accessed date shows when you viewed it.

Author Rules You Must Follow (Including Multi Author Pages)

One author

Last, First Middle.
Use the author’s full first name, not initials.

Two authors

• First author is inverted.
• Second author is in normal order.
• Use and between names.

Format:
Last, First Middle, and First Last.

Three or more authors

• List only the first author, inverted.
• Add et al. right after the first author.
• Do not list other authors before et al.

Format:
Last, First Middle, et al.

No author

Start with the title of the webpage. Do not use Anonymous. Do not use n.d.

Format starts like:
"Title of Webpage." Website Name, ...

Examples (With Detailed Explanations)

Example 1, One Author Webpage (Most Common Case)

Works Cited entry:

Nguyen, Alicia Marie. "How to Start Composting in Small Apartments." Green Living Journal, 18 Mar. 2024, https://greenlivingjournal.org/composting-small-apartments. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

Why it is formatted this way:
- Nguyen, Alicia Marie is inverted because she is the first and only author. Her first name is written in full.
- The page title is in quotation marks because it is a specific page, not the whole website.
- Green Living Journal is italicized because it is the website container.
- The date is written 18 Mar. 2024 in MLA style.
- The URL is included to help the reader locate the exact page.
- The accessed date is included because web content can change, and it adds clarity.

Practical tip: Copy the page title from the webpage, but check capitalization. MLA uses title case, so major words are capitalized.

Example 2, Two Authors Webpage (Correct Use of “and”)

Works Cited entry:

Martinez, Sofia Elena, and Daniel Cho. "Understanding Heat Waves and Urban Heat Islands." Climate Data Insights, 7 Aug. 2023, https://climatedatainsights.org/heat-waves-urban-heat-islands.

Why it is formatted this way:
- The first author is inverted: Martinez, Sofia Elena.
- The second author is not inverted: Daniel Cho.
- The word and connects the two authors, as MLA prefers.
- The page title is in quotes, the website name is italicized, and the date and URL follow.

Common pitfall: Many students invert both authors. In MLA, only the first author is inverted in the Works Cited entry for two authors.

Example 3, No Author Webpage (Start With the Title)

Works Cited entry:

"Scholarship Application Checklist." Riverview University Financial Aid, Riverview University, 2 Jan. 2025, https://financialaid.riverview.edu/scholarships/checklist. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

Why it is formatted this way:
- There is no listed author, so the citation begins with the webpage title in quotation marks.
- The website name is italicized: Riverview University Financial Aid.
- The publisher is included as Riverview University because it clarifies the institution behind the site section, and it can be different from the section name.
- The accessed date is useful because administrative pages can be updated often.

Alphabetizing note: When a citation starts with a title, alphabetize by the first important word. Ignore A, An, and The.

Why These Rules Matter

They help readers find your exact source

A reader should be able to locate the same webpage you used. The title, website name, date, and URL work together to make that possible.

They show credibility and responsibility

Clear author and publisher information helps your reader evaluate reliability. It also shows you are citing carefully, not vaguely.

They keep your Works Cited consistent

MLA formatting is designed so your list can be scanned quickly. Inverted names, standardized dates, and consistent punctuation make your paper easier to read.

Practical Tips for Getting Website Citations Right

• Look for the author near the title or at the top and bottom of the page. Also check an “About” link or an author bio.
• Use the most specific date available. If you see “Last updated,” you can usually use that date.
• Use a stable URL when possible. If the site provides a “permalink,” use it.
• Do not cite the homepage if you used a specific page. Cite the page you actually read.
• Keep punctuation exact. Quotation marks for the page title, italics for the website name, periods and commas in the standard MLA order.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Using initials for authors. Your rule requires full first names, so write “Jordan Michael,” not “J. M.”
• Inverting the second author in a two author citation. Only the first author is inverted.
• Listing all authors for three or more authors. Use the first author plus et al.
• Putting the website name in quotation marks. The website name should be italicized.
• Using n.d. for missing dates. MLA 9 does not require n.d. Skip the date if none is provided, and consider adding an accessed date.

Quick Checklist Before You Submit

• Author present and formatted correctly, full first name, first author inverted.
• Webpage title in quotation marks and in title case.
• Website name italicized.
• Date in Day Month Year format, if available.
• URL included and accurate.
• Accessed date included if needed or required.

If you want, paste a URL you are using and I can format the Works Cited entry using these exact rules.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Common Errors for Website Citation Mla Citations

Validation Checklist

Special Cases

Special cases and edge cases for MLA 9 website citations

MLA 9 treats a “website citation” as a flexible set of core elements. Many web pages do not include every element, or they include confusing versions of them. The goal is to cite what you can verify, present it in a consistent order, and help readers find the exact page you used.

Your author rules matter because Works Cited entries are alphabetized by the first element, usually the author’s last name. Using full first names also reduces confusion between people with similar initials and better reflects author identity. Correct author formatting also signals that you are using MLA style carefully and consistently.

Below are the most common special cases and edge cases, plus practical tips and pitfalls.

1) Author problems and tricky bylines

A) No author listed

If there is no individual or group author, start with the page title. Do not use “Anonymous” or “n.d.” The title becomes the first element.

Tip: Look for an author in the byline area, the page header, the footer, an “About” section, or an author profile link. If none exists, treat it as no author.

Common pitfall: Using the website name as the author when the page does not actually credit the organization. Only use an organization as author if it is clearly presented as the author.

B) Group or organization as author

Many pages are written by an organization, such as a museum, a government agency, or a professional association. If the organization is clearly the author, use it as the author.

Tip: If the organization is both the author and the website name, you usually list it once as the author, then omit it as the container to avoid repetition.

C) Two authors and three or more authors

Follow your rules exactly.

• Two authors: first author inverted, second author normal order, use and.
• Three or more authors: first author inverted, then et al. only.

Common pitfall: Listing all authors on a web page with many contributors. MLA allows shortening to keep citations readable, and your rule requires et al. for three or more.

D) Username, handle, or missing full first name

Sometimes a web page credits a username or a handle instead of a real name. MLA prefers the name as presented. If you can verify the person’s full name from an official profile on the same site, you may use it, but do not guess.

Practical approach:
- Use the author name exactly as shown if a full name is not available.
- If a profile clearly provides the full name, use that full name.

2) Titles that are missing, unclear, or overly long

A) No clear page title

A page may have a vague heading like “Home,” or the title may be missing in the browser tab. Use the most specific title you can find, often the main heading at the top of the page.

Tip: If the page is a PDF or report hosted on a website, the document title usually matters more than the web page wrapper.

B) Titles with subtitles

If the page uses a title and subtitle, include both, separated by a colon.

Common pitfall: Copying an entire navigation breadcrumb trail as the title. Use the actual page title, not the menu path.

3) Dates, updates, and what to do when dates are messy

A) No publication date

MLA 9 does not require a date, and you should not insert “n.d.” If there is no date, omit it.

Tip: Check for “Published,” “Updated,” “Last modified,” or a date near the headline. Use the most relevant date that reflects the version you read, often the update date if it is clearly labeled.

B) Multiple dates on one page

If a page shows both “Published” and “Updated,” you can usually cite the most recent date if it represents the version you consulted. If the update date is minor and the original publication date is more meaningful, you can use the publication date.

Common pitfall: Using a copyright year from the footer as the page’s publication date. A site-wide copyright year is not the same as a page date.

4) Containers, website names, and when to repeat or omit

In MLA, the “container” is the larger whole that contains the source. For a web page, the container is usually the website name.

A) Website name is the same as the author

If the organization is author and the website name is identical, list it once to avoid redundancy.

B) Website name differs from the publisher or sponsoring organization

Some sites have a brand name, but the publisher is a different organization. MLA often treats the website name as the container, and the publisher is optional for many web sources. Include a publisher if it helps clarify responsibility and is clearly stated.

Tip: If the publisher is the same as the website name, omit the publisher.

5) URLs, permalinks, and paywalls

A) Long URLs with tracking

Use the cleanest stable URL you can. Remove tracking parameters when possible.

Common pitfall: Copying a URL that includes session IDs, long tracking strings, or “utm” parameters.

B) DOIs versus URLs

If a DOI exists, it is usually preferred for scholarly content. Many “website” items are actually journal articles displayed on the web.

C) Paywalled pages

Still cite the page you accessed. If a stable permalink is offered, use it.

6) Access date, when it is useful and when it is optional

MLA 9 allows access dates, and they are often helpful for web pages that change frequently or do not have a clear publication date.

Use an access date when:
- No publication date is provided.
- The content is likely to change, such as dashboards, live pages, or wiki entries.
- You need to document the version you consulted.

Common pitfall: Adding an access date to everything without thinking. It is not wrong, but it is most meaningful in the cases above.

7) Parts of a page, sections, and anchored headings

Sometimes you cite a specific section of a long page, such as an FAQ answer or a specific heading. MLA does not require an anchor link, but you can include it if it helps readers locate the section.

Tip: If the page is very long, consider naming the section in your in-text citation or prose, and use the standard Works Cited entry for the full page.

Examples with detailed explanations

Example 1: Two authors, full names, page on a news site

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
Garcia, Maria Elena, and Thomas William Reed. “How Heat Waves Affect Urban Neighborhoods.” City Health Report, 18 July 2024, https://www.cityhealthreport.org/environment/heat-waves-urban-neighborhoods.

Why this is correct
- Two authors: The first author is inverted, Garcia, Maria Elena, and the second author is normal order, Thomas William Reed, joined by and.
- Title in quotation marks: The page is a short work within a website.
- Website name italicized: City Health Report is the container.
- Date included: The publication date is clear.
- URL included: It directs readers to the exact page.

Practical tip: If the page lists “M. E. Garcia,” do not convert initials to a full first name unless the site clearly provides the full name. Your rule requires full first names, so verify from an author profile or the byline’s expanded view before changing it.

Example 2: Three or more authors, use et al., and include an access date because content changes

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
Patel, Aisha Noor, et al. “Global Air Quality Dashboard.” World Atmosphere Data Portal, https://data.worldatmosphere.org/air-quality. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.

Why this is correct
- Three or more authors: Only the first author is listed, inverted, then et al.
- No date on page: Instead of adding “n.d.,” the date is omitted.
- Access date included: A dashboard changes, so the access date helps document what you consulted.
- Website name italicized: World Atmosphere Data Portal is the container.

Common pitfall: Listing all authors before et al. Your rule requires only the first author, then et al.

Example 3: No author, start with title, and handle organization repetition

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
“Student Privacy and Online Learning: Frequently Asked Questions.” Office of Academic Compliance, 3 Mar. 2023, https://www.oac.edu/policies/student-privacy-online-learning-faq.

Why this is correct
- No author: The entry starts with the page title in quotation marks.
- Title leads alphabetization: In your Works Cited list, alphabetize by the first significant word in the title, ignoring “A,” “An,” and “The.”
- Container included: Office of Academic Compliance is the website name.
- Date and URL included: Both help readers locate the source.

Practical tip: If the page clearly states “Office of Academic Compliance” as the author in a byline, then it should move to the author position. If it is only the site name in the header, keep it as the container.

Practical tips and common pitfalls checklist

Tips

• Use the most specific page title, not a menu label.
• Prefer a stable permalink and remove tracking from URLs.
• Add an access date when the page is undated or frequently updated.
• Treat a PDF or report as the source if that is what you actually used, even if it is hosted on a website.

Common pitfalls

• Putting “n.d.” for missing dates. MLA 9 omits the date instead.
• Using “Anonymous” for missing authors. MLA 9 starts with the title.
• Inverting the second author in two-author entries. Only the first author is inverted.
• Listing all authors for long author lists instead of using et al. for three or more.
• Using a footer copyright year as the page’s publication date.

Why these rules matter

Correct handling of edge cases makes your citations reliable and easy to verify. Web sources are especially prone to missing authors, changing content, and unclear dates. Following consistent author formatting, using accurate titles, and choosing stable links helps readers find the same material you used. It also strengthens your credibility because your Works Cited entries look consistent, complete, and intentional.

If you want, share one or two real URLs you are citing, and I can show the best MLA 9 Works Cited entry for each using your author rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a website in MLA 9 when there is no author?

If a web page has no listed author, start the Works Cited entry with the page title in quotation marks. Then list the website name in italics, the publisher or sponsoring organization if it is different from the website name, the publication date (if available), the URL, and an access date only if it helps your reader (for example, content that changes often). In the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks, for example, ("Campus Safety Tips"). Practical scenario: You are citing a university web page that lists safety guidelines but does not name a writer. Use the page title to anchor both the Works Cited entry and your in-text citation. For more guidance and examples, see the MLA Style Center, https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/.

What is the correct MLA 9 format for a web page citation, and what order do the parts go in?

MLA 9 usually treats a specific web page as the source, not the entire website. A typical Works Cited entry follows this order: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Website Name, Publisher or sponsor (if different), Day Month Year, URL. If there is no date, omit it. If there is no author, start with the page title. Practical scenario: You are citing an article on a news site. Use the article title in quotation marks and the news site name in italics, then include the date and URL. In-text citations typically use the author’s last name, or a shortened title if no author. For a detailed breakdown of core elements, see https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/.

Do I need to include the access date when citing a website in MLA 9?

Access dates are optional in MLA 9, but they are recommended when the content is likely to change, has no publication date, or is a page you suspect might be updated or removed. If you include it, place it at the end of the Works Cited entry as, Accessed 31 Dec. 2025. Practical scenario: You are citing a living document like a Wikipedia article, a dashboard with updated statistics, or a company policy page that changes over time. Adding an access date helps readers understand when you saw the information. If the page has a clear publication or last updated date and the content is stable, you can often omit the access date. For MLA’s guidance on when access dates help, see https://style.mla.org/when-to-use-accessed-in-a-citation/.

How do I cite a website in MLA 9 if there is no date or the page only says "updated"?

If no publication date is provided, omit the date and move directly from the publisher or site name to the URL. If the page lists a last updated date, you can use that date as the publication date. MLA allows dates that indicate when the content was made available or last revised, as long as you present them as the date element in the citation. Practical scenario: You cite a nonprofit’s fact sheet that shows "Updated March 2024" at the bottom. Use that month and year as the date, for example, Mar. 2024. If there is no date at all, consider adding an access date, especially if the page is informational and may change. For more examples of handling missing dates, see https://style.mla.org/citing-articles-without-a-date/.

How do I cite a specific page on a website versus the whole website in MLA 9?

In most academic writing, you should cite the specific web page you used, not the website homepage, because the page title and URL help readers find the exact content you referenced. Cite the whole website only when you are discussing the site as a whole, such as analyzing its design, purpose, or overall content. Practical scenario: If you quote a paragraph from a museum’s page about one exhibit, cite that exhibit page. If you are comparing museum websites for usability, you might cite the museum site generally. For a whole website, you may use the website name in italics as the title and include the URL, but omit a page title if you are not using a specific page. Additional guidance is available at https://style.mla.org/citing-a-website/.

How do I do MLA in-text citations for a website when there are no page numbers?

MLA in-text citations for web sources usually use the author’s last name in parentheses, even when there are no page numbers, for example, (Nguyen). If there is no author, use a shortened version of the web page title in quotation marks, for example, ("Sleep and Memory"). Avoid using URLs in the in-text citation. Practical scenario: You paraphrase a statistic from a government web page with no listed author. Use a short title in parentheses and make sure the Works Cited entry clearly matches that title. If the page has section headings and you quote a specific part, you can also integrate the heading into your signal phrase, but keep the parenthetical citation simple. For more on in-text citations, see https://style.mla.org/in-text-citations/.

Last Updated: 2025-12-31
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