Websites, blogs, and online journals are invaluable resources that drive our learning and research forward. However, the frequent updates to citation rules can often leave you feeling lost or unsure about how to cite online sources correctly. Specifically, when there's no clear author. In this article, I’ll explain how to cite websites with no author in the most common citation styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago.
How to Cite a Website with No Author
Key Elements of a Website Citation
Before going into the specific citation styles, it’s essential to understand the core elements that make up a website citation. These elements are common across APA, MLA, and Chicago styles but are presented in slightly different formats. The main elements included in website citations across all these styles are:
Common Elements of the Website to Use in Your Citation:
Now let's look at some of the common elements in all three styles but some differences might arise but the ability to identify this content is extremely important for any of these.
Author (or lack thereof) – If no author is listed, the title or the organization may take its place.
Date of Publication – The date the content was published or last updated, if available.
Page Title – The title of the specific webpage or article being cited.
Website Name – The name of the website that the page belongs to.
URL – The exact web address of the page being referenced.
Nasa Website
Author: No author information is given
Article title: NASA, Partners Adjust Summer 2025 Space Station Flight Planning
Date: May 14, 2025
Organization: NASA
Webpage URL:
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2025/05/14/nasa-partners-adjust-summer-2025-space-station-flight-planning/
Website URL: www.nasa.gov
The way this information is presented can vary between APA, MLA, and Chicago styles. For example, while APA places the publication date right after the title, MLA might place it after the website name. Chicago has its own distinctive approach, particularly with footnotes or endnotes. Understanding these key elements will ensure that you’re ready to cite your website correctly, no matter which style you're using.
How to Cite a Website Without an Author?
Now, let’s discuss how to cite website with no author in three major citation styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago. I'll share step-by-step instructions, along with my personal experience, to make these methods easier to follow.
Website citation without an Author in APA
So now that we understand the major components, let's see How to cite website with no author apa style in the two formats, reference list and how to cite website in-text.
Reference List：
When there is no individual author listed, the citation starts with the name of the organization (which is treated as the "author"). The title of the webpage is italicized, and the date of publication is placed in parentheses. The URL is added at the end of the citation. If the author's name and site name are identical, the site name is omitted.
Step 1: Begin the reference list on a new page after the main body of your text.
Step 2: Center the “References” label at the top of the page and bold it.
References heading centered
Step 3: Double-space the entire reference list, including both within and between entries.
Select line spacing
Step 4: Left-align the reference list (except for the centered "References" label).
Left align text
Step 5: Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 inches to all reference list entries.
Set indentation
Step 6: Finally, here's how your citation would look after formatting it in APA in the reference list.
formatted Reference list
In-text Citation：
Now lets look at How to cite website with no author in-text apa 7th edition For in-text citations, use the organization name (or the first few words of the title) and the year of publication in parentheses. Usually, it would be used, like at the end of some text, to show the authenticity. The in-text citation does not use italics.
Example:
(NASA, 2025)
At first, I was confused by the use of italics in the title and what it meant for citation formatting. But once I realized it only applies to the webpage title, it became clear. Remember, the organization name and URL are never italicized.
Website citation without an Author in MLA
MLA is another very famous citation style used in the academic field. It is likely that your professors might ask you to cite MLA in either Work cited entry or in text.
Works Cited Entry：
If no author is provided, you start the citation with the title of the webpage or source. The title is placed in quotation marks if it's a webpage title and in italics if it’s a larger work (like a report or book).
Step 1: Begin your Works Cited list on a new page following the final page of your written text.
Step 2: Center the words “Works Cited” at the top of the page. Use Times New Roman 12 pt font. Do not bold, underline, or use a larger font size for the heading.
Step 3: Double-space the entire Works Cited page, including both within and between entries.
Click Double space
Step 4: Alphabetize your entries based on the title of the webpage, not the author, if no author is listed. Do not create a separate list for sources with no authors.
Step 5: Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 inches to all reference list entries. The first line of each citation should begin at the margin, and subsequent lines should be indented.
Set indentation settings
Step 6: Format the citation for a website without an author by following this structure:
Start with the title of the webpage in quotation marks (not italics).
Include the website name (if different from the organization or title).
Provide the date of publication (if available).
Include the URL of the webpage.
Formatted works cited
In-text Citation:
For in-text citations, use the first few words of the title (in quotation marks) and the page number or paragraph number if available. The in-text citation does not use italics. It is commonly placed at the end of a sentence or quote to show authenticity.
Example:
(Partners Adjust).
MLA’s simplicity in in-text citations made it much easier for me to integrate them into my papers. No need for extra punctuation, just the title, and you’re set.
Website citation without an Author in Chicago
Chicago is another very famous citation style used in the academic field. It is likely that your professors might ask you to cite Chicago style in either Full note, short note, or bibliography. Let's look at each of them one by one.
Step 1: Use 12 pt. Times New Roman font for the entire document, including citations.
Select your font
Step 2: Double-space the entire document (including citations) to meet the standard for Chicago style.
Click Double space
Step 3: Set your margins to 1 inch on all sides of the page or larger.
Set margins to 1 inch
Step 4: Indent new paragraphs by ½ inch to ensure clarity and proper structure.
Set indentation settings
Full Note
Start the citation with the owner of the website (if available), followed by the title of the webpage in quotation marks. Then, include the date last modified or accessed (if available), and end with the URL of the webpage.
General Format:
Owner of Site, "Title of Page," date last modified or accessed, URL.Example:
NASA, "NASA, Partners Adjust Summer 2025 Space Station Flight Planning," May 14, 2025, https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2025/05/14/nasa-partners-adjust-summer-2025-space-station-flight-planning
Short Note
For the concise note, you only need the owner of the site and the title of the page in quotation marks.
General Format:
Owner of Site, "Title of Page."Example:
NASA, "NASA, Partners Adjust Summer 2025 Space Station Flight Planning."
Bibliography
For the bibliography, the format is similar to the full note, but it is formatted for the reference list.
General Format:
Owner of Site. "Title of Page." Date last modified or accessed. URL.Example:
Bibliography example
Chicago’s detailed citation system felt perfect for my long-form research papers. I appreciated the structure it brought to my citations, and the footnote system added clarity to my work.
Website Citations Best Helper: WPS Office
When I’m working on academic papers, especially those that require precise formatting, WPS Office has become my go-to tool. Its free features and powerful suite of functions make it an invaluable assistant for students and researchers like myself. Beyond being a basic text editing platform, WPS Office is perfect for ensuring that my papers conform to all website citation standards, whether it's APA, MLA, or Chicago.
WPS Office
One of the things I love about WPS Office is how compatible and lightweight it is. It integrates core functions like Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheet, PDF handling, format conversion, and even scanning. This makes it incredibly versatile, allowing me to handle multiple tasks within one suite. But what really stands out to me is the level of control it gives me over formatting. Whether I’m adjusting line spacing, margins, or paragraph indentation, WPS Office makes it so much easier to make sure my documents meet the exact formatting requirements, especially when I need to get those tricky APA formatting details right.
WPS Writer
When I need to handle website citations, WPS Writer is my go-to tool. It’s a reliable and professional word processing platform that makes text processing, editing, and formatting a breeze. Whether I’m working with APA, MLA, or Chicago style citations, WPS Writer ensures everything is formatted correctly, from line spacing to paragraph indentation.
WPS Office word editor
It simplifies the process, so I can focus on the writing itself instead of worrying about formatting. If you're looking for a solid, easy-to-use tool for academic writing and citations, WPS Writer has got you covered.
WPS AI
I’ve found WPS AI to be a game-changer when writing papers. It helps me craft contextualized narratives, which means it aids in weaving quoted content into my own ideas, making the quotes feel natural and relevant to the overall discussion. Additionally, it provides citation advice, ensuring my references are accurate and properly formatted.
WPS Office AI
If you need help with both writing and citations, WPS AI is a must-have tool.
How to use the WPS Office to cite Websites?
Now let's look at how to cite a website in APA style in simple steps on WPS Office using Writer.
Step 1: First, download WPS Office from wps.com and launch Writer. Start a new document or open an existing one.
Click New document
Step 2: Head to the “References” tab and select “Insert Citation.” Choose APA as your citation style and make sure to pick APA 7th edition to align with current guidelines.
Click references
Step 3: Now, input the author’s name, date, page title, website name, and URL. If you provide a URL, WPS AI will auto-fill the details for you.
Step 4: Click “OK” to insert the citation into your document and automatically generate the reference list entry.
Note: If you’re managing multiple citations, use “Manage Sources” to keep everything organized.
WPS handled the formatting for me instantly, and the auto-generated bibliography saved me tons of time.
FAQs
Q1: Is WPS Office free for website citation tasks on a Laptop?
Yes, WPS Office offers a free version that includes all the essential features needed for website citation tasks.
Q2: Does WPS Office support multiple citation styles?
Absolutely! WPS Office supports APA, MLA, Chicago, and other citation styles, making it a versatile tool for your academic writing.
Q3: Can WPS Office help organize multiple citations at once?
Yes, with the Manage Sources feature in WPS Office, you can easily organize and manage multiple citations, ensuring your references stay in order throughout your document.
Putting It All Together: Citing Websites With No Author
Knowing how to cite a website with no author with the right approach and tools, it becomes manageable. By following the proper citation formats for APA, MLA, or Chicago, you can easily incorporate website citations into your work. Additionally, using WPS Office has made the process faster and more efficient, helping me format citations with ease. Whether you’re a student or a researcher, this tool can significantly simplify your academic writing tasks.
