Missing Information in MLA Referencing

There are few things more frustrating when writing an essay than not being able to find the publication details for a source. Don’t worry, though! You can still cite a source with missing information. In this post, then, we look at how to handle missing information in MLA referencing.

Sources Without a Named Author

When a source has no named author, you can use the source title in citations instead. For example, to cite an article with no named author, we might write:

Many predicted that 2012 would be the end of the world, but this worry proved premature (‘Apocalypses Through History’ 12).

Here, for example, the citation is for page 12 of an article called ‘Apocalypses Through History’. If the source title is too long, moreover, you can shorten it to fit in citations. The same rule applies in the Works Cited list, so use the source title in the first position if it does not have a named author.

However, make sure to check carefully before doing this. Typically, there will at least be a corporate author. This is the organisation responsible for producing the source you are citing.

In-Text Citations Without Page Numbers

Some sources have no page numbers to cite (e.g. websites and ebooks). When this happens, if available, MLA recommends using paragraph or line numbers instead if these are available:

Page numbers are a thing of the past (Smith par. 12).

This citation, for instance, would point to paragraph 12 in a source. However, if a source does not include its own paragraph or line numbers, simply leave this information out of citations.

Other Missing Information in the Works Cited List

Finally, we have the Works Cited list. This is where you give full source information. If you cannot find certain details, however, you will need to adapt your reference accordingly.

The MLA Handbook does not have strict guidelines about how to handle missing information in the Works Cited list other than using the title in the absence of a named author (see above). Generally, then, if you cannot find a piece of information within a source (e.g. a place of publication or publication date), you can skip it and move on to the next detail. However, the MLA Handbook says you can include source information from a database or publisher’s website. To do this, simply place the information in question in square brackets.

Alternatively, your school or supervisor may have a preferred way to deal with missing information in MLA references. For example, some style guides suggest using ‘n.d.’ to indicate a missing date. As such, you should always check your style guide if you have one available.

Summary: Missing Information in MLA Referencing

If you cannot find information about a source you have cited, MLA recommends the following:

• Use the title when a source has no named author or organisational author. This applies in both citations and the Works Cited list.
• Use paragraph or line numbers if a source has no page numbers. If a source doesn’t have these, either, skip the pinpoint citation.
• For other missing information in the Works Cited list, if it is available from a third party, include it in square brackets. If not, skip the detail in question.

And if you want help checking your referencing, get in touch today.