How to Cite a Website in MLA 9

Complete guide with examples for citing webpages, online articles, blogs, and other online content in MLA 9th edition.

Basic Format: Webpage with an Author

The basic MLA format for a webpage includes the author, page title (in quotation marks), website name (italicized), publication date, and URL.

Works Cited Entry

Author's Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Work.” Website Name, Date Published, URL.

Example: News Article

Citation

Rabinovitch, Ari. “Canada to Start Sending Beef to Australia for 1st Time in 20-Plus Years.” Global News, 29 July 2025, globalnews.ca/news/11309520/canada-beef-australia/.

In‑Text Citation (Parenthetical)

(Rabinovitch)

Webpage with a Group or Corporate Author

When the author is an organization, use the organization's name as the author.

Example

Canadian Council for Practical Nurses Regulators. “Code of Ethics for Licensed Practical Nurses in Canada.” CCPNR, 2013, ccpnr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IJLPN-CE-Final.pdf.

In‑Text Citation (Parenthetical)

(Canadian Council for Practical Nurses Regulators)

Webpage with No Author

If no author is listed, begin the citation with the title of the webpage. In the in‑text citation, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks.

Example

“The Tolkien Society.” Tolkien Gateway, 2013, tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Tolkien_Society.

In‑Text Citation (Parenthetical)

(“Tolkien Society”)

Webpage with No Publication Date

If no publication date is provided, omit the date element. Optionally, you may include an access date at the end of the citation.

Example

“Indigenous Languages in Canada.” Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada, www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/indigenous-languages.html. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include "http://" or "https://" in the URL?

MLA 9 recommends omitting "http://" or "https://" from URLs unless the link requires it to function. Use the shortest stable URL possible.

What is a container in MLA style?

The Website Name acts as the "container" for the webpage. Think of it as the larger whole that holds the specific page you are citing.

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