Skip to Main Content

MLA Style Guide (8th edition): Works Cited: Webpages

Quick reference guide to MLA style: how to do in-text citations and Works Cited page

Citing webpages

On your Works Cited page, list all your sources alphabetically by author name, according to the pattern shown here.  Use a hanging indent!

  • MLA requires a URL for online resources, but because URLs often change, it's important to also include the "container" -- the hosting site -- so that the resource can always be tracked down.  Do not include the "http://" part of the URL.
  • Scholarly resources often include a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), which is a number.  If a DOI is available, use that instead of a URL.
  • Scholarly resources and news sites often have unstable URLs and offer permalinks, which are shorter and permanent.  Look for a "permalink" button and use that if one is available.
  • If the website is one that changes often, it's a good idea to put the date of access at the end of the citation.  This is not required, but is at your discretion if you feel it would be useful.

Article from a database:

Gutman, Daniel. "Can Cities Reach the Zero Waste Goal?" Inter Press Service, 23 Jul. 2018. SIRS Issues Researcher, sks.sirs.com/webapp/article?artno=0000409882&type=ART

Scholarly article from a database (with DOI):

Blakeman, John R., B.S.N., Samuelson, Sheryl J,PhD., R.N., and McEvoy, Kimberly N, BSN,R.N., T.N.S. "Analysis of a Silent Voice: A Qualitative Inquiry of Embroidery Created by a Patient with Schizophrenia." Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, vol. 51, no. 6, 2013, pp. 38-45. ProQuest, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20130402-01.

Clayton, Margaret F., et al. “Nursing Support of Home Hospice Caregivers on the Day of Patient Death.” Oncology Nursing Forum, vol. 44, no. 4, July 2017, pp. 457–464. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1188/17.ONF.457-464.

Scholarly article from a database (without DOI):

Golna, C., et al. “Alternative Systems for the Provision of Pharmacologically Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence: From Strict Control to Care in the Community and Primary Health Care.” Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes, vol. 31, July 2014, pp. 25–34. EBSCOhost, butte.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=99013484&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Strickrodt, Silke. "African Girls' Samplers From Mission Schools in Sierra Leone (1820s to 1840s)." History in Africa, vol. 37, 2010, pp. 189-245. ProQuest, https://butte.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/871223519?accountid=39071 .

An entire website:

Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/. Accessed 10 May 2006.

One page or article on a website:

Stone, Francesca. “How to Make a Feather Candle.” eHow, 23 May 2017, www.ehow.com/how_12343886_make-feather-candles.html . Accessed 2 October 2018.

A blog post:

Slocum, Rebecca. "Laurie Halse Anderson and the Enduring Legacy of 'Speak.'" Intellectual Freedom Blog, 23 Oct. 2018,  www.oif.ala.org/oif/?p=15964 . Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.

An image:

Klee, Paul. Twittering Machine. 1922. Museum of Modern Art, New York. The Artchive, www.artchive.com/artchive/K/klee/twittering_machine.jpg.html. Accessed May 2006.

Adams, Clifton R. “People Relax Beside a Swimming Pool at a Country Estate Near Phoenix, Arizona, 1928.” Found, National Geographic Creative, 2 June 2016, natgeofound.tumblr.com/.

An email:

Newman, Matthew. “Re: Tutoring Appointment.” Received by Alex Martinez, 11 Dec. 2017.

A tweet:

@tombrokaw. “SC demonstrated why all the debates are the engines of this campaign.” Twitter, 22 Jan. 2012, 3:06 a.m., twitter.com/tombrokaw/status/160996868971704320.

A video:

McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.

MLA Handbook

Find more help

Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) has an excellent online style guide.  Take a look for more help!

Want to try a new, free software tool to build your bibliography?  MyBib is the best tool we've seen for building and keeping a list of citations.  It's easy to use and lets you switch between several styles.  Try it out at https://www.mybib.com/