How to Cite a Website with No Author

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Published September 2, 2020. Updated July 9, 2022.

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The exact formatting of website citations for websites without an author depends on which citation style you are using, but the general rules are the same. For example, it is usually preferable to list the title of the webpage article first if no author is available.

Here is how to cite a webpage without an author in three of the most popular citation styles: APA 7, MLA 9, and Chicago (17th ed.).

APA 7

Reference Entry Template:

Title of webpage/article. (Year, Month Date of publication). In Website Name. URL

Reference Entry Example:

Giant panda. (2022, June 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_panda

When there isn’t a known author, use the source’s title in the in-text citation. For titles usually italicized in the reference entry (books, films, etc.), italicize the title in the in-text citation. For titles that aren’t italicized (magazine articles, reference book entries, etc.), enclose the title in double quotation marks.

Parenthetical Citation:

(“Title,” Year) or (Title, Year)

(“Giant Panda,” 2022)

Narrative Citation:

“Title” (Year) or (Title, Year)

“Giant Panda” (2022)

MLA 9

Works Cited Entry Template:

“Title of the Webpage/Entry.” Title of the Website, Name of the publisher (if different from the website name), Date of publication, URL.

Example:

“Taiwan Cool to China Panda-plomacy.” CNN.com, 6 Jan. 2006, http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/01/06/china.taiwan.ap/index.html

When there isn’t a known author, use the source’s title in the in-text citation. For titles usually italicized in the reference entry (books, films, etc.), italicize the title in the in-text citation. For titles that aren’t italicized (magazine articles, reference book entries, etc.), enclose the title in double quotation marks.

Citation in Prose:

“Title” (page number)

“Taiwan Cool to China Panda-plomacy” says Taiwan may not accept the gift of two pandas (1).

Parenthetical Citation:

(“Title” Page #) or (Title Page #)

Taiwan may not accept the gift of two pandas (“Tawain Cool to China Panda-plomacy 1).

Chicago (17th ed., note-bibliography style)

Note Template:

  1. “Article Title,” Website Title, Month Day, Year, URL.

Note Example:

  1. “Taiwan Cool to China Panda-plomacy.” CNN.com, January 6, 2006, http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/01/06/china.taiwan.ap/index.html.

Bibliography Template:

“Article Title.” Website Title. Month Day, Year. URL.

Bibliography Example:

“Taiwan Cool to China Panda-plomacy.” CNN.com. January 6, 2006. http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/01/06/china.taiwan.ap/index.html.

For more citation help, visit the EasyBib Writing Center!

Citation Guides

APA Format

MLA Format

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How do I cite a website with no author, date, or title in MLA format?

To cite a website with no author, date, or title in MLA format, it is important that you know the name of the website and URL. As the publication date is not available, it is important to add the accessed date after the URL in the works cited list entry. The templates and examples for an in-text citation and works cited list entry for a webpage with no author, date, or title are provided below:

In-text citation template and example:

(Website Name)

(Chegg)

Works cited list entry template and example:

Name of the Website, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Chegg, www.cheggindia.com. Accessed 21 Aug. 2021.

Abbreviate the month in the accessed date field.