Websites do not always list a personal author, especially when the page is published by a university, organization, government agency, or online resource center.
In MLA style, you should not invent an author or skip the citation.
Instead, you begin the Works Cited entry with the title of the webpage. This guide explains how to cite a website with no author in MLA, including in-text citations, Works Cited format, and common mistakes to avoid.
Quick Answer to How to Cite a Website With No Author in MLA
To cite a website with no author in MLA, start the Works Cited entry with the title of the webpage. Put the webpage title in quotation marks, italicize the website name, then include the publisher if needed, publication date if available, and URL.
Basic MLA format:
“Title of Webpage.” Website Name, Publisher, Date, URL.
Example Works Cited entry:
“How to Evaluate Online Sources.” University Writing Center, 12 Mar. 2024, https://www.example.edu/evaluate-online-sources.
Example in-text citation:
(“How to Evaluate”)
If the title is long, use a shortened version in the in-text citation. The shortened title should begin with the same words as the Works Cited entry so readers can match them easily.
What Counts as “No Author” in MLA?
A webpage has no author when it does not list a person, organization, agency, company, or group responsible for the content. Before deciding there is no author, check the page carefully.
Look for an author near:
the top of the webpage
the bottom of the page
the article byline
the “About” section
the page footer
the organization name connected to the content
If a university, agency, nonprofit, or company clearly created the page, that organization may count as the author. If no responsible author or organization is listed, then MLA begins the citation with the page title.
The MLA Style Center explains that MLA citations are built from core elements, beginning with the author when one is available and moving to the title when an author is not listed. Students can review the MLA Style Center guide to Works Cited entries for official examples.
MLA Works Cited Format for a Website With No Author
When there is no author, the title moves to the beginning of the citation.
Format:
“Title of Page.” Website Name, Publisher, Publication Date, URL.
If the website name and publisher are the same, MLA often allows you to omit the publisher to avoid repetition.
Citation Element | What to Include |
|---|---|
Page title | The title of the specific webpage, in quotation marks |
Website name | The larger website, italicized |
Publisher | The organization responsible, if different from the website name |
Date | Publication or update date, if available |
URL | Direct URL of the exact webpage |
Access date | Optional or required if your instructor asks for it |
The most important rule is to cite the exact webpage you used, not the homepage of the site.
Complete MLA Website Citation Example With No Author
Here is a complete example for a webpage with no listed author.
Source information:
Webpage title: How to Evaluate Online Sources
Website name: University Writing Center
Date: March 12, 2024
Works Cited entry:
“How to Evaluate Online Sources.” University Writing Center, 12 Mar. 2024, https://www.example.edu/evaluate-online-sources.
In-text citation:
(“How to Evaluate”)
Sentence in a paper:
Students should check the purpose, evidence, and publication context of a webpage before using it in academic writing (“How to Evaluate”).
This example is correct because the Works Cited entry begins with the webpage title instead of an author. The title is placed in quotation marks because it is a short work within a larger website. The website name is italicized because it is the container. The date appears in MLA day-month-year format, and the URL points to the exact page.
In the in-text citation, the shortened title “How to Evaluate” helps readers find the matching Works Cited entry.
How to Write the In-Text Citation
When an MLA website has no author, the in-text citation should use the title or a shortened version of the title.
Format:
(“Shortened Title”)
Example:
Online source evaluation requires students to check who created the content and why it was published (“How to Evaluate”).
Do not use the website name in the in-text citation unless the Works Cited entry begins with the website name. The in-text citation should match the first element of the Works Cited entry.
Long Title Example
If the webpage title is long, shorten it to the first few meaningful words.
Full title:
“A Student Guide to Evaluating Digital Sources for College Research Papers”
Works Cited entry:
“A Student Guide to Evaluating Digital Sources for College Research Papers.” Academic Skills Center, 2024, https://www.example.edu/digital-sources.
In-text citation:
(“Student Guide”)
The shortened title should still be clear enough for readers to identify the source on the Works Cited page.
What If the Website Has No Author and No Date?
Many webpages do not list a publication date. In MLA style, if no date is available, simply leave out the date. You may include an access date if the page is likely to change or if your instructor requires one.
Works Cited entry with no date:
“Avoiding Plagiarism in Research Papers.” Student Academic Skills Center, https://www.example.edu/avoiding-plagiarism. Accessed 26 June 2026.
In-text citation:
(“Avoiding Plagiarism”)
Do not write “n.d.” in MLA the way you would in APA. MLA usually omits missing information rather than adding a placeholder.
What If the Organization Is the Author?
Sometimes a webpage looks like it has no author because no individual person is listed. But if an organization clearly created the content, use the organization as the author.
Example with organization as author:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Handwashing Facts.” CDC, 5 May 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/facts.html.
In-text citation:
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
In this case, the citation does not start with the title because the organization is the author. This is different from a truly no-author webpage.
What If the Website Name and Publisher Are the Same?
MLA does not usually require repeating the same organization twice. If the website name and publisher are the same, you can often omit the publisher.
Better:
“Guide to Academic Research.” University Writing Center, 2024, https://www.example.edu/research-guide.
Repetitive:
“Guide to Academic Research.” University Writing Center, University Writing Center, 2024, https://www.example.edu/research-guide.
The first version is cleaner because it avoids repeating the same name as both website and publisher.
MLA Website With No Author vs. APA Website With No Author
MLA and APA handle no-author websites differently.
Feature | MLA | APA |
|---|---|---|
Citation starts with | Page title | Page title |
Page title format | Quotation marks in Works Cited | Italics in many webpage references |
Date format | 12 Mar. 2024 | (2024, March 12) |
No date | Omit date or add access date if needed | Use n.d. |
In-text citation | (“Shortened Title”) | (“Shortened Title,” Year) |
Final source page | Works Cited | References |
A common mistake is using APA-style n.d. in an MLA citation. If your paper uses MLA, follow MLA rules for missing dates.
Common Mistakes When Citing a Website With No Author in MLA
Mistake | Correct Approach |
|---|---|
Inventing an author | Start with the title if no author is listed. |
Using the website name as the author automatically | Use the organization as author only if it clearly created the content. |
Starting the in-text citation with the URL | Use the shortened title, not the URL. |
Forgetting quotation marks around the page title | Put webpage titles in quotation marks. |
Forgetting to italicize the website name | Italicize the larger website name. |
Citing the homepage instead of the exact page | Use the direct URL of the webpage you used. |
Adding “n.d.” for no date | MLA usually omits missing dates instead. |
Making the in-text citation hard to match | Use the first meaningful words of the Works Cited entry. |
Tips Before Submitting Your MLA Citation
Before submitting, check that your in-text citation matches the first words of the Works Cited entry. If your Works Cited entry begins with “How to Evaluate Online Sources,” your in-text citation should begin with “How to Evaluate” or another clear shortened version.
Next, confirm that the page truly has no author. If an organization is responsible for the content, use that organization as the author. If no author or organization is listed, then begin with the page title.
Finally, check the URL. It should lead to the exact webpage you cited. Do not cite the homepage, a search result, or a general category page unless that is the actual source you used.
FAQ About MLA Website Citations With No Author
How do you cite a website with no author in MLA?
Start the Works Cited entry with the title of the webpage. Then include the website name, publisher if needed, date if available, and URL.
What does the in-text citation look like for a website with no author?
Use a shortened version of the webpage title in quotation marks, such as (“How to Evaluate”).
Do I use the website name as the author?
Only if the website name or organization is clearly responsible for creating the content. If not, start with the page title.
What if there is no author and no date?
Start with the page title and omit the date. Add an access date if the page may change or your instructor requires one.
Do MLA citations need URLs?
MLA usually includes URLs for online sources unless your instructor tells you not to. Use the direct URL of the page you cited.
Should the webpage title be italicized?
No. In MLA, the webpage title usually appears in quotation marks. The website name is italicized.
Conclusion
To cite a website with no author in MLA, begin the Works Cited entry with the webpage title and use a shortened version of that title in the in-text citation. Check first that there is truly no individual or organizational author. Then include the website name, date if available, URL, and access date when needed. Before submitting, make sure the in-text citation clearly matches the first words of the Works Cited entry.