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Introduction
If you are a student or researcher, you must be familiar with the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style. It is one of the most commonly used citation styles in academic writing, especially for humanities subjects like literature or history. Journal articles are important sources of information in research papers, and citing them correctly is crucial to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original author. In this article, we will guide you through the process of citing a journal article in MLA style.
Basic Format
The basic format for citing a journal article in MLA style is as follows: Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal, volume number, issue number, year, pages. For example: Smith, John. "The Role of Education in Society." Journal of Education, vol. 45, no. 2, 2023, pp. 56-68.
Author(s)
The first element of the citation is the author's name(s). If the article has one author, write the last name followed by the first name. If the article has two authors, write both names separated by "and." If the article has more than two authors, write only the first author's name followed by "et al."
Title of Article
The title of the article should be in quotation marks and followed by a period.
Title of Journal
The title of the journal should be in italics and followed by a comma.
Volume Number
The volume number should be followed by a comma.
Issue Number
The issue number should be followed by a comma.
Year
The year of publication should be followed by a comma.
Pages
The pages of the article should be written in the format "pp. xx-xx" and followed by a period.
Variations
There are variations in the format of citing a journal article in MLA style, depending on the source's origin or accessibility. Here are some examples: - Online Journal Article: If the article is from an online journal, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) after the pages. For example: Smith, John. "The Role of Education in Society." Journal of Education, vol. 45, no. 2, 2023, pp. 56-68. DOI: 10.1080/00220671.2023.1234567. - Journal Article from a Database: If the article is from a database like JSTOR or ProQuest, include the name of the database after the date of access. For example: Smith, John. "The Role of Education in Society." Journal of Education, vol. 45, no. 2, 2023, pp. 56-68. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/123456. - No Author: If the article has no author, start the citation with the article's title. For example: "The Role of Education in Society." Journal of Education, vol. 45, no. 2, 2023, pp. 56-68.
Conclusion
Citing a journal article in MLA style may seem daunting at first, but it's not that complicated once you understand the basic format. Always check the guidelines provided by your professor or institution, as they may have specific requirements for citations. By citing your sources correctly, you show respect for the work of others and enhance the credibility of your own research.