Have you ever meticulously researched a topic, synthesized information from multiple sources, and crafted a brilliant argument, only to feel a pang of uncertainty when it comes to properly citing your sources? You're not alone. Accurate and consistent citation is a cornerstone of academic integrity and effective scholarly communication. Failing to properly acknowledge your sources can lead to accusations of plagiarism, undermine your credibility, and hinder the ability of other researchers to trace your intellectual lineage.
In the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, citing articles from scholarly journals requires adherence to a specific format, ensuring clarity and facilitating easy access to the original materials. Mastering this skill is essential for students, researchers, and academics across various disciplines within the humanities. It demonstrates intellectual honesty, strengthens your arguments by providing evidence, and contributes to the ongoing scholarly conversation.
What are the common questions about citing journal articles in MLA?
What's the basic format for citing a journal article in MLA?
The basic format for citing a journal article in MLA (Modern Language Association) style is as follows: Author's Last name, First name. "Title of Article." *Title of Journal*, Volume, Number, Date of Publication, Page Numbers. *Database Name* (if accessed online), DOI or URL.
To break this down further, let's consider each element. The author's name is inverted (Last name, First name). The article title is enclosed in quotation marks, while the journal title is italicized. Volume and number are included if the journal uses them; the date of publication is the year, month, and/or day as specified in the journal. The page numbers indicate the full range where the article appears. If the article was accessed through an online database, the database name is italicized, followed by either the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or a stable URL. For example, a citation might look like this: Smith, John. "The Impact of Social Media on Political Discourse." *Journal of Communication*, vol. 65, no. 2, 2015, pp. 70-85. *JSTOR*, doi:10.1111/jcom.12145. Remember to pay close attention to punctuation and capitalization, as these are crucial for accurate MLA formatting.How do I cite an article with multiple authors in MLA?
When citing an article with multiple authors in MLA format, the in-text citation and Works Cited entry differ based on the number of authors. For two authors, include both last names. For three or more, use the first author's last name followed by "et al." in the in-text citation. The Works Cited entry lists all authors, up to a maximum of including the first author, then "et al." if there are more.
Specifically, for the in-text citation, if the article has two authors, you would cite them like this: (Smith and Jones). If there are three or more authors, the format is (Smith et al.). Remember that the page number (if available) follows the author information: (Smith and Jones 24) or (Smith et al. 24). This abbreviation, "et al.," is Latin for "and others." It streamlines the citation when dealing with numerous contributors while still giving proper credit.
In the Works Cited entry, you'll provide more detail. For two authors, list both names in the order they appear on the publication: Smith, John, and Jane Jones. For three or more authors, list the first author's name followed by "et al." like this: Smith, John, et al. After the author information, continue with the remaining elements of the citation, such as the article title, journal title, volume, issue, year, and page range. This detailed Works Cited entry allows readers to find the source material easily.
What if the journal article is only available online?
When a journal article is only available online, your MLA citation will include similar elements to a print article citation, but you'll also add information about the online source. Crucially, you’ll need a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available. If there's no DOI, then provide a stable URL for the article.
The core structure remains the same: Author. "Article Title." *Journal Title*, Volume, Number, Date, Pages. Include a DOI or URL at the end. A DOI is always preferred because it provides a persistent link. Think of it as the article's unique digital fingerprint. If you locate a DOI, format it as "https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx". The specific numbers after "doi.org/" will vary, representing the specific article. If a DOI isn't available, carefully copy and paste the URL for the journal article. Ensure the URL is stable, meaning it's likely to remain active over time. Avoid using shortened URLs or links that require a login.
Pay close attention to the specific elements required for accurate citation. It is crucial that you find the accurate volume, issue number, and page numbers. Even for online only articles, journals commonly maintain consistent volume and issue numbering. Verify each element before submitting your work. Furthermore, many online journals provide a “Cite” button that automatically generates a citation in various formats, including MLA. Always double-check the automatically generated citation against the MLA handbook or a reliable online resource like the Purdue OWL. While convenient, these automated tools are not always perfectly accurate and may require correction.
How do I format the volume, issue, and page numbers?
In MLA format, the volume number immediately follows the journal title, the issue number (if present) immediately follows the volume number and is separated by a period, and the page range follows, punctuated by a hyphen. For example: *Journal of Applied Linguistics*, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 125-148.
The key is to present these elements in a specific sequence and with consistent punctuation. The volume number is crucial for locating the correct year or sequence of publication for the journal. If an issue number is present, it provides further specificity within that volume. If an issue number is not available, skip it. Always include a "vol." before the number. Use "no." before the issue number if given. The page range indicates the specific pages where the article can be found within the journal. Precede page numbers with "pp." and include the full range (e.g., 125-148, not 125-48).
Following this format ensures that your citation is accurate and easily verifiable by your readers. Consistency across your bibliography is important for maintaining academic credibility. If your journal uses a numbering system other than volume and issue (such as season or month), adapt your citation accordingly, prioritizing the information that helps readers locate the source as precisely as possible.
Should I include the DOI or URL in the citation?
Yes, your MLA citation should include either a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or a URL for online scholarly journal articles. The DOI is preferred because it's a persistent link, meaning it's more stable and reliable than a URL, which can change over time. If a DOI is available, always use it; otherwise, provide the URL.
The purpose of including either a DOI or URL is to allow readers to easily locate the source material you've cited. DOIs are unique alphanumeric strings assigned to journal articles (and other electronic documents) to provide a permanent link to the article, regardless of where it's moved on the internet. Think of it as a permanent address for the article. If a DOI is present on the article's webpage or within the database where you found it, that is what you should include in your citation. Look for the DOI near the article title, abstract, or publication information.
If no DOI is provided, include the URL. However, be sure to provide the direct URL to the article itself, not just the homepage of the journal or database. If a database URL is extremely long and complex, you can usually omit the "https://" part and any tracking information after the core URL. Remember to verify that the URL is still active before submitting your work. Including this information will help ensure the credibility of your citation and give readers the ability to quickly verify your source.
What if the article has no author listed?
When citing an article in a scholarly journal that doesn't list an author, begin the MLA citation with the title of the article. Follow the same formatting rules as you would for an author's name (e.g., use quotation marks for article titles), and then continue with the rest of the citation elements like the journal title, volume, issue, date, and page range.
The absence of an author usually indicates that the article is a collective effort of the journal's editorial staff or that the author's identity is intentionally withheld. Treat the title of the article as if it were the author's name, placing it in the first position of the citation. This allows readers to easily locate the entry in your works cited list, which is organized alphabetically. Be sure to maintain accurate capitalization and punctuation within the title.
For in-text citations, use a shortened version of the article title within parentheses. If the title is long, shorten it to the first few significant words to avoid disrupting the flow of your writing. For example, if the article title is "The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health," your in-text citation could be "(Impact of Social Media)." Remember to include the page number(s) if applicable.
How do I cite an article from a database like JSTOR in MLA?
To cite an article from a database like JSTOR in MLA format, you need to include the author's name, the article title, the journal title, the volume and issue numbers (if available), the year of publication, the page numbers, the database name, and the DOI or permalink. If a DOI is not available, use a permalink. The general format is: Author Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." *Journal Title*, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Year, pp. Page Numbers. *JSTOR*, DOI or Permalink.
Let's break that down further. The author's name should be inverted (Last Name, First Name). The article title should be in quotation marks, while the journal title should be italicized. Make sure to include the volume and issue numbers, as this information helps readers locate the specific article within the journal. The year of publication is crucial for understanding the article's context and relevance. Page numbers indicate the exact location of the article within the journal. Finally, specify the database you accessed the article from, in this case, *JSTOR*, also italicized. Following this with either the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or a stable permalink is essential, as it provides a persistent link to the article.
For example, a citation might look like this: Smith, John. "The Impact of Technology on Education." *Journal of Educational Technology*, vol. 15, no. 2, 2023, pp. 45-60. *JSTOR*, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1234567890. If a DOI were available, you'd replace the permalink with the DOI, which would look something like this: https://doi.org/10.1234/example. Keep in mind that consistent and accurate citations are crucial for academic integrity and allowing your readers to easily verify your sources.
And that's it! You're now armed with the knowledge to properly cite those scholarly journal articles in MLA style. Hopefully, this guide has been helpful and has taken some of the mystery out of citation. Thanks for reading, and feel free to pop back anytime you need a little citation refresher!