How to Cite a Website In-Text MLA: 7 Easy and Powerful Examples

Introduction

Citing sources correctly can feel like a chore, but it does not have to be. If you are writing a paper and need to give credit to a web page, MLA style has a simple system. The goal is to help your reader find the full source on your Works Cited page without cluttering your writing.

Learning how to cite a website in-text MLA is easier than you think. You usually only need the author’s last name, and sometimes a page number if one exists. This guide breaks down the rules with clear examples so you can cite with confidence.

What Is an MLA In-Text Citation?

An MLA in-text citation is a brief reference inside your paper that tells readers where a quote or idea came from. It appears in parentheses at the end of a sentence, right before the period .

The citation must “key” to an entry on your Works Cited page. This means the first word or words in your parenthetical citation should match the first word or words of the Works Cited entry. That way, your reader can move from your sentence directly to the full source information .

The most basic form is just the author’s last name: (Smith). If there is a page number, add it: (Smith 12). For websites, page numbers are often missing, so the author’s name alone is enough .

How to Cite a Website In-Text MLA

The rules for websites are the same as for print sources, with one big difference: most websites do not have page numbers. Here is the basic process:

1. Look for an author. Check the top and bottom of the page. If you see a byline (a name), use it.
2. If no author, look for an organization. If a company, government agency, or university created the page, that group can serve as the author .
3. If no author and no organization, use the title. Start your Works Cited entry with the title, and use a shortened form in your in-text citation .
4. Check for paragraph numbers. Some online sources label paragraphs. If they do, you can cite them, but never count paragraphs yourself .
5. Write the citation. Put the author’s last name (or title) in parentheses before the period.

How to Cite a Website with an Author

When a webpage lists a specific author, citing it is straightforward. Use the author’s last name in parentheses.

Example sentence:
According to a recent report, remote work has changed how teams communicate (Johnson).

Works Cited entry:
Johnson, Sarah. “The Future of Remote Work.” Business Daily, 12 Mar. 2024, www.businessdaily.com/remote-work-future.

Why it works: The last name “Johnson” appears in the parentheses and at the start of the Works Cited entry. The reader can easily find the full source .

If the author’s name is already mentioned in your sentence, you can leave it out of the parentheses. You only need the page number or nothing at all.

Example:
Johnson argues that remote work has changed team communication.

How to Cite a Website Without an Author

Many websites do not list a personal author. When that happens, use the title of the page or article instead.

Example sentence:
The organization recommends regular exercise for heart health (“Heart Health Basics”).

Works Cited entry:
“Heart Health Basics.” American Heart Association, 15 Jan. 2024, www.heart.org/health-basics.

Key rule: If the title is long, you may shorten it to the first word or phrase in your parenthetical citation .

Sometimes a website has no author but is clearly produced by an organization, like a government agency. In that case, you can use the organization’s name as the author .

Example:
(Stanford University)

How to Cite a Website Without Page Numbers

This is the most common situation for websites. When there are no page numbers, you simply omit that part of the citation. The author’s last name (or title) alone is enough .

Correct:
(Smith)

Incorrect:
(Smith 0)
(Smith no page)
(Smith np)

What about paragraph numbers? If the website explicitly labels paragraphs (for example, “par. 4”), you may include them. Use the abbreviation “par.” or “pars.” .

Example:
(Chan, par. 2)

Important: Never count paragraphs yourself. Only use paragraph numbers if the source provides them .

How to Cite a Website with Multiple Authors

MLA has clear rules for sources with two, three, or more authors.

Two authors: Include both last names connected by “and.”

Example:
(Hopwood and Hoya 57)

Three or more authors: Use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”

Example:
(Garfield et al. 12)

Key rule: The “et al.” replaces all other author names. Do not list every author in the parenthetical citation .

MLA In-Text Citation Examples

Here are quick examples for different situations:

Full example with Works Cited:
Reading regularly improves vocabulary and critical thinking skills (Miller).

Miller, James. “Why Reading Still Matters.” Literacy Today, 5 June 2024, www.literacytoday.org/reading-matters.

Common MLA Citation Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using the year in your citation.
MLA does not use the publication year in in-text citations. That information belongs on the Works Cited page. Do not write (Smith 2024). Write (Smith) .

2. Repeating the author’s name.
If you mention the author in your sentence, do not repeat the name in parentheses.

Wrong: Smith argues that reading is important (Smith).
Right: Smith argues that reading is important.

3. Including “online” in the citation.
MLA does not require you to indicate that a source is online in the in-text citation .

Wrong: (Smith, online)
Right: (Smith)

4. Counting paragraphs yourself.
Only use paragraph numbers if the source labels them. Never count them manually .

5. Forgetting to key to the Works Cited page.
Every in-text citation must match the first word of a Works Cited entry. If your citation says (Johnson), there must be an entry starting with “Johnson” .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need page numbers for a website citation?
No. Most websites do not have page numbers. If no page numbers exist, simply omit that part of the citation. The author’s last name alone is correct .

2. What if the website has no author and no organization?
Use the title of the page or article. Put a shortened version of the title in quotation marks in your parenthetical citation .

3. Should I include the URL in my in-text citation?
No. URLs only go on the Works Cited page. In-text citations use the author’s last name or title, not web addresses.

4. How do I cite a website with two authors?
Use both last names connected by “and”: (Smith and Jones). For three or more authors, use the first author’s name followed by “et al.”: (Smith et al.) .

5. What if I am citing the same author multiple times?
If you cite the same author more than once, you still just use the last name each time. If you cite two different authors with the same last name, add the first initial to avoid confusion .

Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to cite a website in-text MLA. The key takeaways are simple: use the author’s last name if available, use the title if there is no author, and omit page numbers when they do not exist. Always make sure your parenthetical citation matches the first word of your Works Cited entry.

With these rules and examples, you can cite websites correctly and focus on what matters most: writing a strong paper.