How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA
- Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
- Published on 01/06/2024
- Updated on03/30/2024
In this guide, we will break down the steps for citing print journal articles in MLA format.
CITATION ELEMENTS FOR JOURNAL ARTICLE
- Contributor Information: Start with the contributor’s last name, followed by their first name and/or initials.
- Title of Article: Enclose the title of the article in double quotes and apply title case (capitalize all major words), followed by a period.
- Title of Journal: Italicize the title of the journal and capitalize all major words, followed by a comma.
- Volume and Issue: Include the volume number (vol.) and issue number (no.) when possible, separated by commas.
- Month/Season and Publication Year: Include the abbreviated month or season of publication, followed by the full year and a comma.
- Page Extent: Specify the page range of the article, followed by a period.
Use our MLA citation generator to create citations for MLA books, referencing MLA journals, citing webpages in MLA, and incorporating MLA in-text citations.
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Abbreviate Effectively: Use appropriate abbreviations (‘vol.,’ ‘no.’) for volume and issue numbers to maintain a concise and standardized citation style. Punctuate Accurately: Employ correct punctuation, such as double quotation marks for the article title, italics for the journal name, and pp. before the page numbers. Specify Page Range: Include a range of page numbers rather than a single page to pinpoint the exact location of information within the journal. |
EXAMPLES OF JOURNAL ARTICLE CITATIONS
| Citation |
Lewis, Janet. “The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity.” Journal of Environmental Science, vol. 15, no. 1, Spring 2023, pp. 123-145.
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| Structure |
Author Surname, Author First Name &/or Initial(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume, Issue no., Abbreviated Month/Season Publication Year, Page Extent.
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| Citation |
Brown, Juliet, et al. “Assessing the Long-Term Effects of Climate Change on Agricultural Practices.” Sustainable Agriculture Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, Jan. 2024, pp. 178-194.
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| Structure |
Author 1 Surname, Author 1 First Name(s) &/or Initial(s), et al. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume, Issue no., Abbreviated Month/Season Publication Year, Page Extent.
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Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
Hannah Berry has lectured at several colleges and teaches at the WEA. Besides publishing extensively, she has taught citation skills and written multiple style guides.