Citing Journals in MLA Format

Citing journal articles correctly in the Modern Language Association (MLA) format is essential for maintaining the integrity of your work. It ensures readers can trace your research trail, validating your work’s authenticity. In this guide, we will navigate the process of referencing journal articles using the MLA format.

Components of Article Citation

In MLA, a citation for a journal article typically includes the author’s name, the article title, the journal name, the volume and issue number, the year of publication, and the page numbers. These components must be presented in a specific order.

MLA Citation Structure

The structure of a citation for a journal article in MLA format goes as follows:

Last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, volume number, issue number, Year, pages.

Practical Example

Let’s illustrate this with an example. Consider the journal article, “The Impact of Climate Change on Global Warming” by John Smith, published in 2010 in the journal “Environmental Studies,” volume 25, issue 2, on pages 100-120. The citation in MLA format would be:

Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change on Global Warming.” Environmental Studies, vol. 25, no. 2, 2010, pp. 100-120.

Citing from an Online Database

For articles accessed from an online database, the citation includes additional elements: the name of the database or website, the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL, and the date of access. The revised structure becomes:

Last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, volume number, issue number, Year, pages. Database Name, DOI or URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

For instance, if our previous example was accessed from the JSTOR database on 23rd May 2023, the citation would be:

Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change on Global Warming.” Environmental Studies, vol. 25, no. 2, 2010, pp. 100-120. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/657295. Accessed 23 May 2023.

In-Text Citations

An in-text citation briefly identifies the source within the text and corresponds to an entry in the Works Cited page. The basic format is: (AuthorLastName PageNumber). In our example, an in-text citation could be: (Smith 105).

Citing journal articles in the MLA format requires attention to detail, but by understanding the key components and their order, it becomes a straightforward process. Remember that the goal is to acknowledge the original author and allow your reader to find the source material if needed. For more complex citation scenarios, such as multiple authors or multiple works by the same author, consult the MLA Handbook for further guidance.