It is important to cite the sources you use in your academic writing. Not only does this give credit to the original author, but it also allows your reader to follow up on the information if they so choose. There are many different ways to cite an article, depending on the citation style you are using.
APA
When citing an article in APA format, you will need to include the author’s name, the date of publication, the title of the article, and the URL. For example:
Smith, J. (2018, January 15). How to cite an article.
Harvard
If you’re using the Harvard referencing system, you’ll need to cite articles in a slightly different way from other sources. Here’s how:
- Start with the author’s last name and first initial.
- Follow with the year of publication in parentheses.
- Include the title of the article, followed by a period.
- List the name of the journal where the article was published, followed by a comma.
- Add the volume number of the journal, if there is one, followed by a comma.
- Type out the issue number of the journal, if there is one, followed by a comma.
- Use the page range where the article can be found, followed by a period.
- End with the URL or DOI number for the article, if there is one (optional).
Chicago/Turabian
To cite an article in Chicago or Turabian style, you will need the following information:
-Author’s last name, first name
-Article title
-Journal title
-Volume number
-Issue number
-Page numbers
-Publication date
Here is an example of how to cite an article in Chicago/Turabian style:
Smith, John. “How to Cite an Article.” Journal of citation styles, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1-5. Jan. 2010.
MLA
MLA format is a style of writing and citation that is used in many different disciplines, including the humanities. It stands for the Modern Language Association, which is a professional organization for scholars of languages and literature. The MLA Handbook is the official publication of the MLA and provides detailed instructions on how to format your paper and cite your sources using MLA style. You can find more at wr1ter.com/how-to-cite-an-encyclopedia-in-mla
To cite an article in this style, you need to find the following information:
-The author’s last name and first name
-The title of the article
-The name of the journal or website where the article was published
-The date of publication
-The DOI number (if available)
With this information, you can create a citation for an article in MLA style using the following format:
AuthorLastName, AuthorFirstName. “ArticleTitle.” JournalTitle, VolumeNumber, IssueNumber (Year): PagesFrom-To. doi:xxxxxxxxxxx.
Different types of citing?
There are many different types of MLA citations, and each one is suited for another purpose. Here are some of the most common:
-Parenthetical citations appear in the body of your paper, usually after a quote or paraphrase. They include the author’s last name and the page number (or just the page number, if the author’s name is already in the text).
-A Works Cited page appears at the end of your paper and lists all the sources you’ve used. It should be formatted alphabetically by the author’s last name.
-If you’re citing a source that doesn’t have an author (like a website), you can use an abbreviated version of the title in your parenthetical citation.
In-Text Citations
You will need to include in-text citations for any sources that you use. These citations will give your reader information about the source, including the author, title, and page number.
To create an in-text citation, you will need to use the author’s last name and the page number from which you are quoting. For example, if you were quoting from John Smith’s “MLA Format for Dummies”, you would write (Smith 3).
If you are writing a paper that uses multiple sources, you will need to make sure that your in-text citations are clear and consistent. For example, if you are quoting from two different books by John Smith, you would need to make sure that your reader knows which source each quote is coming from. You can do this by including the author’s last name and the page number in each in-text citation, like this: (Smith, MLA Format for Dummies 3) and (Smith, In-Text Citations Made Easy 5).
Including clear and consistent in-text citations is important not only for giving credit to your sources but also for ensuring that your paper is easy to follow and understand.
Works Cited Page
The MLA format requires that you create a Works Cited page at the end of your paper. This page lists all of the sources that you have cited in your paper. Each entry on this page must include the following information:
- The author’s name
- The title of the work
- The publication date
- The URL or other location information for the source
When creating your Works Cited page, remember to keep the following in mind:
- All entries must be alphabetized by the author’s last name.
- If no author is listed for a work, alphabetize by the title of the work.
- All entries must be double-spaced, with no extra space between entries.
- Indent each entry after the first line by 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).
Citation Examples
(Smith 12)
This would tell your reader that the information you are presenting can be found on page 12 of Smith’s book. If you are quoting directly from the source, you will also need to include quotation marks around the quoted material. MLA also requires you to list all of your sources on a Works Cited page at the end of your paper. Each entry on this page should include all of the same information as your in-text citation (author’s name and page number), as well as the publication details for the source (title, publisher, etc.).
Books:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Print.
Websites:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Website. Publisher of Website, Date of Publication. Web. Date of Access.
Conclusion
MLA citation is a system for crediting sources in academic writing. By using MLA citation, you can give credit to the original authors of the ideas and information that you have used in your work. This helps to ensure that your work is not plagiarized and that you are giving credit where it is due. In addition, MLA citation can help to prevent academic dishonesty by making it easier for readers to check your sources. When using MLA citation, be sure to follow the guidelines set forth by the Modern Language Association so that you are correctly crediting your sources.
