WisPaper
Scholar Search
Download
Pricing
WebApp
Home > FAQ > If the cited article has no author, how should it be cited?

If the cited article has no author, how should it be cited?

October 30, 2025
academic database searchefficient paper screeningresearch paper fast readingintelligent research assistantfast paper search
When citing an article without a named author, list the title first in the reference entry and use the first few words of the title within the in-text citation. Key principles dictate beginning both the reference list entry and the in-text citation with the article title. The title should be italicized in the reference list for standalone works (like books or reports) or placed in quotation marks for articles within larger publications. Use "Anonymous" only if explicitly stated. The publication year follows the title in the reference, while the in-text citation consists of the shortened title in quotation marks (or italics, matching the reference style) and year. Consistency with a specific citation style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago) is mandatory. This method allows proper attribution and retrieval. In-text citations guide readers to the corresponding full reference entry beginning with the title, ensuring source transparency even when an author is undisclosed. Always verify publisher or organizational authorship before resorting to using the title alone.
If the cited article has no author, how should it be cited?
PreviousHow should one handle different editions of books when citing them?
NextHow to handle book citations by multiple authors in APA format?