How to Cite a Journal Article in APA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 01/01/2024

Citing journal articles is a fundamental aspect of scholarly writing, ensuring that credit is given where it’s due and facilitating the traceability of research findings. In the APA format, a standard reference for a journal article includes the author’s name, publication year, article title, journal title, volume number, issue number (in parentheses), and page extent.

• Citation Basics: List authors’ names in order, using last names followed by initials, and enclose the publication year in parentheses after the author list.
• Article Formatting: Write the article title in sentence case. Italicize and capitalize the journal title. Include the volume number, and if there’s an issue number, put it in parentheses. Finish with the page numbers.
• DOI Integration: If available, include the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) in square brackets as a full URL beginning with “https://doi.org/.
• Database Exclusion: If no DOI is present and the article is from an academic database, end the reference after the page range, omitting database information unless it’s from a proprietary or limited-circulation database like UpToDate.

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CITATION ELEMENTS OF A JOURNAL ARTICLE

Essential citation elements needed when referencing a journal source.

AUTHORSHIP AND PUBLICATION YEAR

Begin the reference with the last name of the author, followed by their initials. If there are multiple authors, use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name. The publication year is enclosed in parentheses and followed by a period.

TITLE OF ARTICLE AND JOURNAL

The title of the article is written in sentence case and followed by a period. The title of the journal is italicized and title case, followed by a comma.

VOLUME AND ISSUE NUMBERS

Include the volume number in italics, followed by the issue number in parentheses (if applicable) and a comma. This is a crucial step as it provides readers with specific information about the location of the article within the journal.

PAGE EXTENT

Specify the page range of the article followed by a period. This helps readers pinpoint the exact pages where the information can be found.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

The inclusion of a DOI is a feature of the APA style. If the journal article has a DOI, it should be provided at the end of the reference, preceded by “https://doi.org/”. The DOI serves as a unique identifier, offering a permanent link to the article.

HANDLING ARTICLES WITHOUT A DOI

In cases where the journal article does not have a DOI but is retrieved from an academic research database, the reference should conclude after the page range. This is in line with APA guidelines, as database information is not required unless the source comes from a specialized database.

DATABASE CONSIDERATIONS

While general academic research databases do not necessitate the inclusion of database information, certain proprietary databases, such as UpToDate, may require it due to the limited circulation or proprietary nature of their content. Authors should be attentive to database specific guidelines when citing articles from these sources.

Check Journal Names: Spell and format journal titles accurately. Getting this right shows you pay attention to details and makes your research more trustworthy. Confirm names on reliable sources or the journal’s official website. Page Numbers: Be careful with page numbers. Make sure they’re right because wrong ones can confuse readers. Double-check with the original source to avoid mistakes. Use Online Tools for DOIs: Use online tools like CrossRef to check DOIs and get the correct citation details. This ensures your citations are accurate and up-to-date. Don’t Forget Issue Numbers: Always include issue numbers in parentheses. This helps readers find exactly where the article is in the journal, making your reference more helpful.

EXAMPLES

Examples of how to cite a journal article.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Citation	Garcia, L. R., & Patel, A. K. (2020). Exploring the role of technology in healthcare. Journal of Health Informatics, 15(3), 67-89.
Structure	Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), Page Range.

JOURNAL ARTICLE WITH DOI

Citation	Lowe, J. A., Paulson, M. R., & Davis, S. P. (2018). The impact of climate change on biodiversity. Science and Technology, 42(5), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/123456/
Structure	Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), Page Range. https://doi.org/DOI

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