Anonymous or Unknown Author

9th Edition8th Edition
If the author is unknown, use an abbreviated version of the work’s title or description. The beginning phrase of the title or description should be used without the beginning article (a, an, the). If your title is a noun phrase, it should not be abbreviated. Format the title (or abbreviated title, or description) consistent with the formatting within the Works Cited. For example, if the title is italicized or in quotes on the Works Cited page, it should also be italicized or in quotes here.

Example:

An anonymous source claimed that the Iraq invasion was a bad idea from the beginning (“Bush Cannot Win” 104).

A person with a question markUse an abbreviated version of the work’s title if the author is unknown. If your title is a noun phrase, it should not be abbreviated.
Example:

An anonymous source claimed that the Iraq invasion was a bad idea from the beginning (“Bush Cannot Win” 104).

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