Works Cited

Because online information can change or disappear, it is always a good idea to keep personal copies of important electronic information whenever possible. Downloading or even printing key documents ensures you have a stable backup. You can also use the Bookmark function in your web browser in order to build an easy-to-access reference for all of your project's sources (though this will not help you if the information is changed or deleted).

It is also wise to keep a record of when you first consult with each online source. MLA uses the phrase, “Accessed” to denote which date you accessed the web page when available or necessary. It is not required to do so, but it is encouraged (especially when there is no copyright date listed on a website).

Important Note on the Use of URLs in MLA

Include a URL or web address to help readers locate your sources. Because web addresses are not static (i.e., they change often) and because documents sometimes appear in multiple places on the web (e.g., on multiple databases), MLA encourages the use of citing containers such as Youtube, JSTOR, Spotify, or Netflix in order to easily access and verify sources. However, MLA only requires the www. address, so eliminate all https:// when citing URLs.

Many scholarly journal articles found in databases include a DOI (digital object identifier). If a DOI is available, cite the DOI number instead of the URL.

Online newspapers and magazines sometimes include a “permalink,” which is a shortened, stable version of a URL. Look for a “share” or “cite this” button to see if a source includes a permalink. If you can find a permalink, use that instead of a URL.

Abbreviations Commonly Used with Electronic Sources

If page numbers are not available, use par. or pars. to denote paragraph numbers. Use these in place of the p. or pp. abbreviation. Par. would be used for a single paragraph, while pars. would be used for a span of two or more paragraphs.

Basic Style for Citations of Electronic Sources (Including Online Databases)

Here are some common features you should try to find before citing electronic sources in MLA style. Not every web page will provide all of the following information. However, collect as much of the following information as possible:

  • Author and/or editor names (if available); last names first.

  • "Article name in quotation marks."

  • Title of the website, project, or book in italics.

  • Any version numbers available, including editions (ed.), revisions, posting dates, volumes (vol.), or issue numbers (no.).

  • Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date.

  • Take note of any page numbers (p. or pp.) or paragraph numbers (par. or pars.).

  • DOI (if available), otherwise a URL (without the https://) or permalink.

  • Date you accessed the material (Date Accessed). While not required, saving this information it is highly recommended, especially when dealing with pages that change frequently or do not have a visible copyright date.

Use the following format:

Author. "Title." Title of container (self contained if book), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs and/or URL, DOI or permalink). 2nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

Citing an Entire Web Site

When citing an entire website, follow the same format as listed above, but include a compiler name if no single author is available.

Author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number (if available), Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), DOI (preferred), otherwise include a URL or permalink. Date of access (if applicable).

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number, Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), URL, DOI or permalink. Date of access (if applicable).

The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Accessed 23 Apr. 2008.

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

Is your source credible?

Don’t forget to consider these factors.

Purpose : Reason the source exists

  • Is the point of the information to inform, persuade, teach, or sell?

  • Do the authors/publishers make their intentions clear?

  • Does the information appear to be fact or opinion?

  • Does the point of view seem impartial? Do they identify counter-arguments?

Authority - Author:Source of the information

  • Who is the author? What are their credentials or qualifications?

  • What makes the author qualified to write on this topic?

  • Is there clearly defined contact information for the author?

Authority - Publisher:Source of the information

  • Who is the publisher? Is it a non-profit, government agency, or organization? How might this affect their point of view?

  • What makes the publisher qualified to generate works on this subject?

  • What can the URL tell you about the publisher? For instance, .gov may signify that it is a government agency.

Accuracy : Reliability and truthfulness of the content

  • Where does the information come from?

  • Can the information presented be verified? Is it supported by evidence that is clearly cited?

  • Does the language used seem free of emotion, and does the work seem impartial and objective?

  • Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? If an online source, are all links working?

  • If it was reproduced, who edited/reproduced it? Where was the information originally published?

  • How original are the ideas presented in the work? Do they seem to be common knowledge?

Relevance : Importance of the information to your topic

  • Does the information relate to your topic, or answer the question you have presented?

  • Who is the intended audience of the work? Does that audience match with yours?

  • Have you looked at other sources related to this one? Does it seem there are many others on the topic?

  • Are you utilizing the entire source, or just a part of it?

Currency : Timeliness of the information

  • When was the information published? When was it last updated? Does it reflect the most current information available?

  • How does your topic fit in with this source’s publication date? Do you need current information to make your point or do older sources work better?

Comprehensiveness

  • Does the source present one or multiple viewpoints on your topic?

  • Does the source present a large amount of information on the topic? Or is it short and focused?

  • Are there any points you feel may have been left out, on purpose or accidentally, that affect its comprehensiveness?