To cite a quote from a website, put the author’s last name in the in-text citation and, because web pages rarely have page numbers, leave the page number out. In MLA that means just the author’s name; in APA it means the author, year, and a paragraph or section marker if you can find one. The full source goes in your Works Cited or References list.
Here is exactly how each style handles a quoted line from a web page.
Citing a website quote in MLA 9
In MLA, the in-text citation normally gives the author and a page number. Websites usually have no pages, so you give only the author’s last name.
Example: The report calls the shift “the largest in a generation” (Cordero).
If there is no named author, use a shortened version of the page or article title in quotation marks instead: (“Annual Review”). If the page has numbered paragraphs or sections, you may cite those, but do not count paragraphs yourself; only use numbering the source provides.
The Works Cited entry carries the full detail: author, title of the page, name of the website, publisher if different, date, and URL. For the in-text side of this in general, see MLA quote citation and how to quote in MLA.
Citing a website quote in APA 7
APA in-text citations use author and year, plus a location for direct quotes. When a web page has no page numbers, APA asks you to point to another locator so a reader can find the line: a paragraph number, a section heading, or both.
Example with a paragraph number: (Cordero, 2021, para. 3).
Example with a section heading: (Cordero, 2021, Key Facts section, para. 3).
If the page has no headings and no numbered paragraphs, use author and year alone: (Cordero, 2021). The full reference gives author, date, title, site name, and URL. See APA quote citation for the reference-list format.
What if there’s no author?
Many web pages are published by an organization rather than a person. In that case the organization is the author. In MLA, use the organization or a shortened title in the in-text citation. In APA, use the organization name and year: (World Health Organization, 2023). Only fall back to a title when there is genuinely no author or organization to name.
What if there’s no date?
In APA, use “n.d.” (no date) in place of the year: (Cordero, n.d.). In MLA, the date lives in the Works Cited entry, not the in-text citation, so a missing date does not change what you write in the sentence.
Quick comparison
MLA: author’s name only, no page number for a standard web page. APA: author and year, plus a paragraph or section locator for the direct quote when one exists. In both styles the exact quoted wording must match the source, and the complete citation belongs in the reference list. For choosing between the two, see how to cite a quote in APA and MLA.
FAQ
Do you need a page number to cite a website quote?
No. Web pages rarely have page numbers. In MLA you give the author’s name alone; in APA you add a paragraph or section marker if the page has one, otherwise author and year.
How do you cite a website quote in MLA with no author?
Use a shortened version of the page or article title in quotation marks in the in-text citation, and list the full source under that title in Works Cited.
What does “para. 3” mean in an APA citation?
It points the reader to the third paragraph of the web page, standing in for a page number that the online source does not have.
How do you handle a website quote with no date in APA?
Use “n.d.” for no date in place of the year, both in the in-text citation and the reference list.
Leave a Reply