How to Cite a Journal Article - Guidelines With Examples

Knowing how to cite journal articles is essential for researchers, students, and academics across various disciplines. Proper citation not only gives credit to the original authors but also allows readers to locate and access the sources you've used in your research. 

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how to cite a journal article in different citation styles, including in-text citations and reference list examples.

So, let’s dive in!

Citing a Journal in APA Style

APA style is widely used in the social sciences and education fields. Here's how to cite a journal article in APA 7th edition:

• In-text citation: (Author(s) Last name, Year)

Example: (Smith & Johnson, 2019)

• Reference list: Author(s) Last name, Initials. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), Page range. DOI or URL

Example: Smith, A., & Johnson, B. (2019). The impact of technology on education. Journal of Educational Research, 25(3), 123-135. doi:10.1234/jer.2019.1234

Citing a Journal in MLA Style 

MLA style is commonly used in the humanities and liberal arts disciplines. Here's how to cite a journal article in MLA format:

• In-text citation: (Author(s) Last name Page number)

Example: (Smith 125)

• Works Cited: Author(s) Last name, First name. Title of the Article.(in quotation marks) Title of the Journal, volume, issue, year, page range. Database or URL.

Example: Smith, John. "The Role of Literature in Society." Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 8, no. 2, 2017, pp. 45-60. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/123456789.

Citing an Article in Chicago Style

Chicago style is used in history, humanities, and some social sciences. Here's how to cite a printed journal article in Chicago style:

Footnote/Endnote citation: Author(s) First name Last name, "Title of the Article," Title of the Journal volume, issue number (Year): page range.

Example: John Smith, "The Evolution of Language," Linguistic Review 12, no. 3 (2018): 45-58.

Citing a Journal in Harvard Style

Harvard style is flexible and commonly used in various disciplines. Here's how to cite a journal article in Harvard style:

• In-text citation: (Author(s) Last name, Year)

Example: (Smith & Johnson 2019)

• Reference list: Author(s) Last name, Initials. (Year) "Title of the Article," Title of the Journal, volume number(issue number), page range. Doi (if available)

Example: Smith, A., & Johnson, B. (2019). "The Impact of Technology on Education," Journal of Educational Research, 25(3), 123-135.

Other Citation Styles for Citing Journal Articles

In addition to the common citation styles like APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard, there are several less common citation styles that researchers may encounter. Here are a few examples along with their in-text citations and reference list formats for journal articles:

AMA Style (American Medical Association)

Here's how to cite a journal article in ama format:

• In-text citation: Superscript Arabic numerals are used for in-text citations. They appear outside periods and commas, and inside colons and semicolons.

Example: Recent studies have shown promising results in cancer treatment¹.

• Reference list: Author(s) Last name First Initial. Title of the article. Title of the Journal. Year;Volume(Issue):Page numbers.

Example: Smith AB, Johnson CD. The role of genetics in cancer research. Journal of Oncology. 2018;25(3):123-135.

IEEE Style (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Check out these examples to learn how to cite a journal article in IEEE style. 

• In-text citation: In IEEE style, citations are numbered consecutively in square brackets throughout the text.

Example: Recent research indicates a significant advancement in renewable energy sources [1].

• Reference list: Numerical order is maintained for references in IEEE style.

Example: [1] A. Smith and B. Johnson, "Advancements in Solar Energy Technologies," IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 123-135, 2019.

ACS Style (American Chemical Society)

• In-text citation: ACS style uses superscript numbers for in-text citations.

Example: The reaction mechanism was proposed in a recent study².

• Reference list: Author(s) Last name First Initial. Title of the article. Title of the Journal. Year;Volume(Issue):Page range.

Example: Smith, A. B.; Johnson, C. D. The role of catalysts in organic synthesis. Journal of Organic Chemistry 2017, 82(3), 123-135.

Vancouver Style

• In-text citation: Vancouver style uses numerical citations in square brackets, which are assigned in the order of appearance in the text.

Example: The discovery was groundbreaking [1].

• Reference list: Numerical order is maintained for references in the Vancouver style.

Example:

1. Smith AB, Johnson CD. The role of genetics in cancer research. Journal of Oncology. 2018;25(3):123-135. 

Tips for Citing Journal Articles

Here are some additional tips that can assist you in correctly citing an article whether it's an academic journal, print, or any other journal type. 

• Accuracy: Ensure that you accurately capture all the necessary information about the journal article, including the author(s), title, journal name, volume, issue, page numbers, DOI, and publication date.
• Consistency: Maintain consistency in formatting and citation style throughout your document or manuscript.
• Access Date and URL: If the journal article is retrieved from an online source and doesn't have a DOI, include the access date and URL in your citation.
• Check Style Guides: Refer to the latest editions of style guides such as the APA Publication Manual, MLA Handbook, Chicago Manual of Style, or specific institutional guidelines for any updates or specific requirements.
• Use Citation Tools: Consider using citation management software like PerfectEssayWriter.ai’s citation machine to generate accurate citations automatically.

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