MLA 9th EditionJournal Article

How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA 9th Edition

Master MLA 9 journal article citations. Examples with DOIs, volumes, issues, and page numbers for your Works Cited.

Quick Citation

9th Edition

Enter a URL, DOI, or ISBN to generate a citation instantly:

MLA Journal Article Format

Template

Author. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. ##-##. Database, DOI.

Example

Reference List Entry

Kincaid, Jamaica. "In History." Callaloo, vol. 24, no. 2, 2001, pp. 620-626. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1353/cal.2001.0069.

In-Text Citation

(Kincaid 621)

Source Details

Author
Kincaid, Jamaica
Title
In History
Site
Callaloo
Year
2001
Pages
620-626
URL
https://doi.org/10.1353/cal.2001.0069

Formatting Tips

  • Put article titles in quotation marks
  • Italicize journal names
  • Include page numbers in in-text citations
  • Use vol. and no. abbreviations

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Italicizing article titles
  • Forgetting page numbers in parenthetical citations
  • Not including the database name
  • Using full "volume" instead of "vol."

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. 1

    Gather source information

    Collect all required information for your journal article: author names, title, publication date, URL or DOI, and other relevant details.

  2. 2

    Format author names

    In MLA, author names are formatted with last name first, followed by initials or full first name depending on the style requirements.

  3. 3

    Structure the citation

    Arrange the elements in the correct MLA order: typically author, date, title, source, and access information.

  4. 4

    Apply formatting rules

    Apply italics, quotation marks, and punctuation according to MLA 9th Edition guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to include the database in MLA?

Yes, if you accessed the article through a database, include the database name (italicized) and DOI or URL.

How do I cite a journal article with no DOI?

Use the stable URL from the database. If no stable URL exists, include just the database name.

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