How to Cite a Source with No Author
Updated June 2026
When a source genuinely has no author, the rule is the same in every style: the title moves into the author's position. Your citation — and your reference list ordering — keys off the title instead of a surname.
First, though, make sure it's really authorless: many "no author" pages actually have an organization as the author. This guide covers the true no-author case, the no-date case, and the in-text forms that catch people out.
First: is it really authorless?
Before treating a source as authorless, check for an organization author — a CDC page is authored by the CDC, a company report by the company. That's not a no-author source; the organization is the author. Only when no person and no organization is responsible do the rules below apply. (For group authors, see How to Cite Multiple Authors.)
The format: title takes the author slot
APA: Title of work in sentence case. (Year). Site Name. URL MLA: “Title of Page.” Site Name, Day Mon. Year, URL. Chicago: “Title of Page.” Site Name. Year. URL.
The entry starts with the title, and the reference list alphabetizes it by the title's first significant word — ignoring a leading A, An, or The. Italicize or quote the title following your style's normal rule for that source type.
In-text citations with no author
A shortened title stands in for the author. APA: (“First Few Words,” 2024) — quotes for articles/pages, italics for books/reports. MLA: (“First Few Words”) — no date. Chicago/Harvard: the shortened title in place of the surname. Match whatever the reference entry starts with, so a reader can find it.
No date, too
- APA: (n.d.) in both the reference and in-text — (“Title Words,” n.d.).
- MLA: lean on the access date when there's no publication date.
- Harvard: (no date) written out, or (n.d.) depending on your guide.
- Chicago: include an access date when there's no publication date.
When to use 'Anonymous'
Only use Anonymous as the author when the work is explicitly signed "Anonymous." An unsigned work is not "by Anonymous" — it's a no-author source, and the title takes the author position. Most web pages without a byline fall in the second category. For the full website walkthrough, see How to Cite a Website; official guidance is on the APA Style website and the MLA Style Center.
Keep every citation you make.
A free account saves your citation history and organizes sources into projects with notes and tags.
Create a free account →Find the sources you should be citing.
Premium searches 250 million scholarly works by topic, recommends citations for your claims, and flags statements in your writing that need support.
Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- How do I cite a website with no author?
- Move the title into the author position: in APA, Title. (Year). Site Name. URL. In text, use a shortened title: (“Title Words,” 2024) in APA, (“Title Words”) in MLA.
- Is an organization the same as no author?
- No — if a company, agency, or group is responsible, it's the author. True no-author means no person and no organization is credited.
- What if there's no author and no date?
- Combine the rules: the title takes the author slot, and the date becomes (n.d.) in APA/Harvard or relies on the access date in MLA. Example: (“Title Words,” n.d.).
- Should I write 'Anonymous' as the author?
- Only if the work is explicitly signed 'Anonymous.' Otherwise it's a no-author source and the title leads.