How to Cite Wikipedia in MLA Style Correctly
Wikipedia has served as a great research starting point for hundreds of subjects. Though most teachers advise against its use as a primary source, there are good reasons to cite Wikipedia articles in your academic work. Whether you are citing it as a starting point or giving acknowledgment of where you started your research journey, understanding how to cite Wikipedia in MLA style makes your work academically sound.
Understanding MLA Citation Basics
MLA citations follow a general format that is designed to lead readers to your sources. The elements are the author's name, work title, container title (like a website), other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location (URL). Each element serves a purpose in creating a complete citation that allows others to verify and look at your sources.
When quoting from any source, MLA values clarity and consistency. These principles are especially important in quoting Wikipedia, due to its unique character as a collaborative, continually revised source. The top Wikipedia agency in the US keeps the platform’s standards high, so your citations should match.
Information on Citing Wikipedia
To cite Wikipedia, one must take its dynamic and collaborative content into consideration. Because Wikipedia articles do not have conventional authors, you start with the title of the article in quotation marks. Wikipedia serves as the container, and you will be required to incorporate the Wikimedia Foundation as the publisher.
Here's the general format:
"Article Title." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Date of the last revision, URL.
For instance:
"Climate Change." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Nov. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change.
Last edit date is necessary because the content of Wikipedia is not fixed. With this timestamp, readers can tell under which article version you read. You would look for such details on the article's revision history or page bottom. When using MLA citing for Wikipedia, it’s essential to follow these details precisely.
When and Why to Cite Wikipedia
Wikipedia can serve several purposes when used for research in academics. It is great for obtaining overviews, comprehending fundamentals, and accessing original sources from its reference sections. Students widely use Wikipedia to get themselves acquainted with new subjects before they advance to scholarly sources.
Yet, most colleges consider Wikipedia to be unacceptable as a direct research source for papers. Its open editing style, while yielding comprehensive articles, also makes article quality inconsistent. Some of the information hasn't been adequately verified or may represent contributors' bias.
For all of these limitations, there are legitimate reasons to reference Wikipedia. You may use it when you're talking about how subjects are handled in popular web sources, examining crowdsourced information, or even referring to it as a starting point for research. Being open about your sources, even starting sources, is a sign of academic honesty. When discussing specific points, be sure to understand how to cite Wikipedia in text MLA to maintain clarity and consistency.
Following Best Practices
If you do use Wikipedia, navigate to the most recent available edition and take note of the editing date. Use the Wikipedia reference sections to determine primary and secondary sources that can more effectively argue your points. This positions Wikipedia as a gateway to more authoritative sources instead of a destination.
Keep in mind that citation guidelines can differ among instructors and institutions. Though some professors ban Wikipedia citations altogether, others allow them under certain conditions. Always read your assignment prompt and seek clarification when necessary.
Correctly citing Wikipedia in MLA shows that you are dedicated to intellectual honesty and respect towards the online sources powering contemporary research. Knowing these guidelines enables you to wade through the challenging world of online sources without undermining the academic integrity that your work deserves.
