Scholarly Journal Article in Print in MLA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 06/07/2024

When writing academic papers, proper citation is crucial to give credit to original authors and allow readers to trace the sources. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used in humanities disciplines for this purpose. This guide details how to cite an article in a special issue of a scholarly journal in print, following the MLA format.

CITATION ELEMENTS FOR A SPECIAL ISSUE OF A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL IN PRINT 

The structure of the citation can be broken down into several key components. Each part of the citation follows a specific format and includes essential details. Below is a detailed explanation of each component:

• Contributor: The author’s first name and middle initial (if any) follow the surname, ending with a period.
• Title of the Article: The title of the article is enclosed in quotation marks. Capitalize the first letter of each significant word, but do not capitalize linking words such as “and,” “of,” “the,” etc. End with a period inside the quotation marks.
• Title of the Special Edition: The title of the special edition is italicized. Similar to the article title, capitalize the first letter of each significant word. End with a comma.
• Special Issue of: Indicate that it is a special issue by using the phrase “special issue of” in lowercase. Follow with the title of the journal.
• Title of the Journal: The journal title is italicized. Capitalize the first letter of each significant word and end with a comma.
• Edited by (if applicable): If the special issue has an editor, include “edited by” followed by the editor’s name. If not, omit this part.
• Volume Number: Include the volume number of the journal preceded by “vol.” and followed by a comma.
• Issue Number: Include the issue number preceded by “no.” and followed by a comma.
• Abbreviated Month/Season: If applicable, use the abbreviated form of the month or season of publication. Follow with a period.
• Publication Year: List the year of publication followed by a comma.
• Page Extent: Indicate the page range of the article, preceded by “pp.” and ending with a period.

EXAMPLE CITATION FOR A SPECIAL ISSUE OF A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL IN PRINT 

Accurately Reflect Multiple Editors: Some special issues are edited by more than one person. In such cases, include all editors to give appropriate credit. List the editors in the order they appear in the journal, separated by commas, and use “and” before the last editor’s name. Use Accurate Abbreviations for Volume and Issue Numbers: While the basic format for citing volume and issue numbers in MLA is straightforward, it’s important to use the correct abbreviations consistently. Use “vol.” for volume and “no.” for issue. Double-Check Page Range for Accuracy: One common mistake when citing print sources is inaccurately listing the page range of the article. Ensure you check the starting and ending page numbers carefully to avoid errors. This attention to detail is crucial because it allows readers to find the exact location of the article within the journal.