"Mastering MLA: How to Cite Websites in Text"

Citing Websites in MLA Style: A Comprehensive Guide

In the digital age, websites have become a primary source of information for academic research. When citing these sources in MLA style, it's crucial to maintain the integrity of your work and give proper credit to the original authors. This guide will walk you through the process of citing websites in text and creating a corresponding works cited entry.

In-Text Citations

MLA in-text citations include the author's last name and a page number (if available) enclosed in parentheses. If there's no author, use the title or a shortened version of the title. Here's how to format them:

With author: (Author's Last Name Page Number)
Without author: ("Title" Page Number)

For example, if you're citing a webpage by Jane Smith on page 5, your in-text citation would look like this: (Smith 5). If the webpage has no author, your citation would be ("The Impact of Climate Change" 5).

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No Page Numbers

Many websites don't have page numbers. In this case, you can use paragraph numbers or a specific section heading to indicate the location of the information. If neither is available, you can use a timestamp or a specific word count. Here's how to format these:

Paragraph number: (Author's Last Name Par. #)
Section heading: (Author's Last Name "Section Heading")
Timestamp: (Author's Last Name Time)
Word count: (Author's Last Name #)

For instance, if you're citing a paragraph without a page number, your citation might look like this: (Smith Par. 3).

Works Cited Entries

After your in-text citation, you'll need to create a corresponding works cited entry. Here's how to format a basic website entry:

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Element	Example
Author's Last Name, First Name.	Smith, Jane.
Title of the webpage.	The Impact of Climate Change on Polar Bears.
Title of the website, italicized.	National Geographic.
Publisher or sponsor of the website, if applicable.	National Geographic Society.
Date of publication or last update.	22 Jan. 2021.
Medium of publication.	National Geographic, https://www.nationalgeographic.com.

If there's no author, start the entry with the title of the webpage. If there's no publication date, use the access date instead. If the website has a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), include it at the end of the entry. Here's an example without an author or publication date:

"The Effects of Deforestation." World Wildlife Fund, https://www.worldwildlife.org, accessed 15 Feb. 2022, doi: 10.12809/100018.

Additional Tips

Always double-check your citations to ensure they're accurate and consistent. If you're unsure about a specific source, consult the MLA Handbook or ask your instructor for clarification.

Remember, the goal of citing sources is to give credit where it's due and to help your readers locate the sources you used. By following these guidelines, you'll be well on your way to creating a well-researched, properly cited paper.