How to Cite a Website with No Author

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.

(“Title,” Year) or (Title, Year)

(“Giant Panda,” 2022)

“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.

“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).

(“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)

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

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.

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

“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

• Abstract
• Annotated Bibliography
• Block Quotes
• Citation Examples
• et al Usage
• Footnotes
• In-text Citations
• Page Numbers
• Reference Page
• Sample Paper
• Title Page
• APA 7 Updates
• View APA Guide

MLA Format

• Abstract
• Annotated Bibliography
• Bibliography
• Block Quotes
• Citation Examples
• Containers
• et al Usage
• Footnotes
• In-text Citations
• Page Numbers
• Title Page
• Works Cited
• MLA 8 Updates
• View MLA Guide

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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:

Works cited list entry template and example:

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

Abbreviate the month in the accessed date field.