MLA In-Text Citation for Websites with No Author
When a website has no listed author, MLA in-text citations use a shortened version of the page title in the citation instead.
In MLA in-text citations, when a source does not list an author
Use a shortened version of the web page title in place of the author name.
Place the shortened title in quotation marks.
Include the title inside the parentheses of the in-text citation.
Do not change the Works Cited entry format.
Need to cite the same website in your Works Cited list?
Try the MLA Website Citation Tool.
MLA In-Text Citation Rules for a Website with No Author
Use the webpage title in place of the author
When a website has no listed author, MLA in-text citations use a shortened version of the webpage title instead of an author name.
Put the shortened title in quotation marks and place it inside the parentheses.
If the title is long, shorten it to the first few key words.
This rule applies to in-text citations only
Using a title in place of an author affects in-text citations only.
The Works Cited entry is formatted as a standard MLA website citation.
MLA In-Text Citation Examples for a Website with No Author
The examples below show how MLA in-text citations work when a website does not list an author.
Website with no author
Use a shortened version of the webpage title in quotation marks.
The policy was updated earlier this year ("Privacy Policy Updates").
Long webpage title
Shorten the title to the first few key words.
Recent changes affect many users ("How Online Privacy").
Webpage with page numbers
Include the page number if one is available.
The guidelines emphasize accessibility ("Accessibility Standards" 12).
Common Mistakes in MLA In-Text Citations for Websites with No Author
Using the full Works Cited entry in the in-text citation
In MLA style, an in-text citation for a website with no author uses a shortened webpage title, not the full Works Cited format.
Wrong
✕ ("Media Trends." Example Site, 2024, www.example.com/media-trends.)
Correct
✓ ("Media Trends")
Leaving out quotation marks around the webpage title
When you use a webpage title in an MLA in-text citation, the shortened title should appear in quotation marks.
Wrong
✕ Streaming habits have shifted significantly (Media Trends).
Correct
✓ Streaming habits have shifted significantly ("Media Trends").
Need to cite the same website in your Works Cited list?
Try the MLA Website Citation Tool.
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