Common Formats for Documentation of Online Sources

Online sources include websites. When a website offers information useful in research, the information is considered a screen of information, NOT a page of information. Consequently, page numbers are not used in the parenthetical references for online sources, e.g. (Smith).

The formats for online sources include two dates: the first date is the publication date of the online article, or the date the material was most recently updated. The second date is called the “access date.” This date is always the date the researcher retrieved the online information.

Finally, the online sources require the URL as part of the Works Cited entry to allow readers to locate the source easily.

Remember to check with your instructor to see if there are any websites that are not appropriate for the research project you have undertaken. Use the following common formats for online sources:

25. A Professional site

Mortimer, Gail. “Faulkner’s Style.” The William Faulkner Society Home Page. 16 Sept. 1999. UTEP Library. 1 Oct. 2000

<http://www.utep.edu/mortimer/faulkner/mainfaulkner.htm>.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (Mortimer).

NAIC Online. 29 Sept. 2000. National Association of Investors Corporation. 1 Oct. 2001 <http://www.better-investing.org>.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (NAIC Online).

“Cost of War.” National Priorities Project. 29 Mar. 2006

<http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=

com_wrapper&Itemid=182>

“Blah, blah, blah” (“Cost”).

Qazi, Abdullah. “The Plight of the Afghan Women.” Afghanistan Online

30 May 2005. 29 Mar. 2006

<http://www.afghan-web.com/women/>

“Blah, blah, blah” (Qazi).

26. Article in an electronic journal (ejournal)

Joyce, Michael. “On the Birthday of the Stranger (in Memory of John Hawkes).” Evergreen Review (5 Mar. 2000). 12 May 2001 <http://www.evergreenreview.com/evecite/joyce/index_ns.html.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (Joyce).

27. Article in an electronic magazine (ezine)

Adler, Jerry. “Ghost of Everest.” Newsweek 17 May 2001. 13 Oct. 2001 <http://newsweek.com/nwsrv/issue/20_99a/printed/us/so/so0120_1.htm>.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (Adler).

28. An online audio rebroadcast of a radio program

Nunberg, Geoff. “Use of the Word ‘Literacy.’” Radio essay. Fresh Air. Natl Public Radio. 8 Feb. 2001. 7 May 2001 <http://www.npr.org.archive>.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (Nunberg).

29. A Personal site

Pelligrino, Joseph. Home page. 16 Dec. 1998. 1 Oct. 1999

<http://www.english.eku.edu/peellligrino/personal.htm>.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (Pelligrino).

30. A Newspaper article from a website

Wren, Christopher. “A Body on Mt. Everest, a Mystery Half-Solved.” New

York Times 5 May 1999. 13 May 2001

<http://search.nytimes.com/search/daily/bin/fastweb?getdoc+site+site+33726+0+wAAA+%22
Geroge%7Emallory%22>.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (Wren).

31. Online Information Database (Not offered by a subscriber)

The Internet Movie Database. May 1999. Internet Movie Database Ltd.

11 May 1999 <http://us.imdb.com>.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (The Internet Movie Database).

32. Maps, charts, graphs, cartoons, etc.

“Phoenixville, PA.” Map. US Census Bureau. 4

Oct. 1999. 6 Mar. 2006

<http://www.tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer>

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (“Phoenixville”).

33. Email message

Penning, Sarah. “Mentor Advice.” Email to Rai Peterson. 6 May 1999.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (Penning).

34. A Posting to a Discussion group

Inman, James. “Re: Technologist.” Online posting. 24 Sept. 1999.

Alliance For Computers in Writing. 27 Mar 2001

<acw-@unicorn.acs.ttu.edu>.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (Inman).

Note: A server may at times be used as a source. See the sample below:

“Civil War Dead.” Photo. Google Images 29 Mar.2006

<http://www.times.com/archive>

“Blah, blah, blah, blah” (“Civil War Dead”).

MLA Documentation Guidelines
English Department

Page maintained by : Marla DeSoto
Last edited: 4/4/2006