Skip to content

The MLA Style Center

MLA Style Center logo
  • Citing Sources
    • Citations by Format
    • Interactive Practice Template
    • Works Cited: A Quick Guide
  • Writing and Research
    • Advice from the Editors
    • Formatting Your Research Project
    • Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
    • Quizzes
    • Research
    • Sample Essays: Writing with MLA Style
    • Student Guide to AI Literacy
  • Teaching
    • Submit a Resource
    • Teaching Resources
  • Ask The MLA
menu search
Search for posts, topics, or tags.

I’m citing a chat message. Do I include a URL if it’s not publicly resolvable?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook.

No; it’s not likely to be useful to your reader. Read more on URLs and on citing chat messages.

Filed Under: digital sources, text messages, URLs, works-cited lists

Published 10 May 2019

The cover of the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook is displayed on an e-reader. Behind the e-reader is the book's print cover.

Get the MLA Handbook

Apple Kindle Nook

Recommended Posts

Ask The MLA

I have had an essay accepted for publication. In my works-cited list, if there are two or more works by the same author, after the first entry should I use three hyphens or a 3-em dash in place of the author’s name?
Ask The MLA

How do I cite an unpublished student paper?
Ask The MLA

How do I cite the MLA’s publication Profession?

Get MLA Style News from The Source

Be the first to read new posts and updates about MLA style.

  • About the MLA Style Center
  • Buy the Handbook
  • Contact Us
  • MLA Bookstore
  • Terms of Service

The MLA Style Center

The MLA Style Center

Facebook

Facebook

Linked In

Linked In

Twitter

Twitter
© 2025 Modern Language Association of America