In Text Web Citation Mla: Easy Formatting Guide

The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is widely used in the humanities, including literature, language, and cultural studies. When it comes to citing online sources, such as web pages, MLA provides specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. In this article, we will delve into the world of in-text web citations, providing an easy-to-follow guide on how to format them correctly.

Understanding In-Text Citations

In-text citations are brief references to sources that are included in the text of your paper. They provide the author’s last name and page number(s) where the information can be found. For web sources, the page number may not be available, so the citation will only include the author’s last name. If the author’s name is not provided, the title of the web page is used instead.

In-Text Web Citation Basics

To create an in-text web citation, you will need to include the following elements:

• Author’s last name (if available)
• Page number(s) (if available)
• Title of the web page (if no author is provided)

For example, if you are citing a web page with an author, the in-text citation would look like this: (Smith 24). If the web page has no author, the citation would be: (“Web Page Title” 24).

Formatting In-Text Web Citations

When formatting in-text web citations, it is essential to follow the MLA guidelines. Here are some key rules to keep in mind:

Author’s Name: Always use the author’s last name in the in-text citation, unless the author is a corporation or organization, in which case the full name is used. For example: (Microsoft 12) or (American Psychological Association 23).

No Author: If the web page has no author, use the title of the page in the in-text citation. The title should be in title case, meaning that major words are capitalized. For example: (“How to Cite a Web Page” 12).

No Page Numbers: If the web page has no page numbers, the in-text citation will only include the author’s last name. For example: (Johnson).

Examples of In-Text Web Citations

Here are some examples of in-text web citations:

Best Practices for In-Text Web Citations

To ensure accuracy and consistency in your in-text web citations, follow these best practices:

1. Always check the MLA guidelines for the most up-to-date information on citation styles.
2. Use a citation management tool, such as Zotero or EndNote, to help you format your citations correctly.
3. Double-check your citations for accuracy and consistency before submitting your paper.