Common Sources to Cite in MLA Format with No Author or Unknown Creator

Common Sources to Cite in MLA Format with No Author or Unknown Creator

Learning to cite sources without an author can be a challenge, but it's a common scenario in research and academic writing.

When working on a research paper or essay, you may come across sources that don't have a listed author. This could be due to the source being a government report, a corporate website, a blog post from an unknown person, or even a Wikipedia article. In these cases, it's essential to learn how to cite the source correctly in MLA format.

In this article, we'll explore some common sources that require no author or unknown creator citations in MLA format. We'll provide concrete tips, examples, and lists to help you navigate these situations with confidence.

1. Government Reports

Government reports are a great example of sources without authors. Here's how to cite them:

• Title Page (if available)
• Publisher Information (usually the U.S. government agency responsible for publishing the report)
• Publication Date

Example: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2022. Employment Situation.

Note: If you can't find a title page or publisher information, use the publication date only.

2. Corporate Websites

Corporate websites often don't have authors listed, but they may provide other ways to identify the source:

• Company Name
• Date of Publication (if available)
• URL (if available)

Example: General Electric Corporation. "Electric Vehicle Technology." GE Global Research, [www.geglobalresearch.com](http://www.geglobalresearch.com), 2022.

Note: If you can't find a date or URL, omit them and only include the company name.

3. Wikipedia Articles

Wikipedia articles are another common source without an author:

• Article Title
• Publication Date (usually the date of the current version)
• URL (if available)

Example: 2022 Census Data. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Census_Data, 2022.`

Note: If you can't find a publication date or URL, omit them and only include the article title.

4. Online Forums and Blogs

Online forums and blogs often don't have authors listed:

• Site Name
• Date of Publication (if available)
• Page Number (if applicable)

Example: Reddit. "The Future of Technology." r/tech , [www.reddit.com/r/tech](http://www.reddit.com/r/tech), 2022.

Note: If you can't find a date or page number, omit them and only include the site name.

5. News Articles

News articles may not always have authors listed:

• Newspaper Name
• Date of Publication
• Page Number (if applicable)

Example: The New York Times. "Breaking News." The New York Times , [www.nytimes.com](http://www.nytimes.com), 2022.

Note: If you can't find a date or page number, omit them and only include the newspaper name.

Conclusion

Citing sources without an author can be challenging, but with these common sources in mind, you'll be better equipped to handle them. By following our examples and tips, you'll be able to cite your sources correctly in MLA format, ensuring that your research paper or essay is well-structured and reliable.

Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you write and cite, the more comfortable you'll become with these guidelines.