How to Cite a Website MLA in Essay

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Citing a website in an essay using MLA (Modern Language Association) format involves several components to ensure proper attribution. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

In-Text Citation

In-text citations in MLA format typically include the author’s last name and the page number (if available). For websites, page numbers are usually not available, so you only include the author’s last name or the title of the web page if no author is listed.

Example with Author:

  • Author Known: (Smith)
  • Author Unknown: (“Title of the Web Page”)

Works Cited Entry

The works cited entry provides full details about the source. For a website, the format is as follows:

  1. Author. “Title of the Web Page.” Website Name, Publisher (if different from the website name), Date of publication, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Detailed Breakdown:

  1. Author: Last name, First name.
  2. Title of the Web Page: In quotation marks.
  3. Website Name: Italicized.
  4. Publisher: If the publisher is different from the website name, include it. If it’s the same, you can omit it.
  5. Date of Publication: Day Month Year format.
  6. URL: The full web address.
  7. Access Date: Day Month Year format (optional, but recommended if the content is likely to change over time).

Examples

Example with Author:

  • In-Text Citation: (Smith)
  • Works Cited Entry:
    Smith, John. "How to Write a Great Essay." *Essay Writing Tips*, Essay Experts, 15 July 2023, www.essaywritingtips.com/great-essay. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

Example without Author:

  • In-Text Citation: (“How to Write a Great Essay”)
  • Works Cited Entry:
    "How to Write a Great Essay." *Essay Writing Tips*, Essay Experts, 15 July 2023, www.essaywritingtips.com/great-essay. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

Additional Tips

  • Italicize: Only the website name should be italicized.
  • Quotation Marks: The title of the web page should be in quotation marks.
  • Punctuation: Pay attention to commas, periods, and spaces.
  • Publisher Information: If the publisher’s name is the same as the website name, omit the publisher.
  • URL: Do not include “http://” or “https://”.

Using the above guidelines will ensure that you properly cite websites in MLA format in your essays. For more detailed information, you can refer to the MLA Handbook or the MLA Style Center online.

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