How do I cite an article?
Citing an article involves providing key information about the source in a structured format, allowing readers to locate it easily.
Properly citing sources is fundamental in academic and professional writing. It gives credit to the original author and provides a path for readers to find the source material. While many citation styles exist (like MLA, APA, Chicago), a common structure for citing online articles includes specific details to ensure accurate referencing.
The Specific Format Explained
Based on a prevalent structure often used for online articles, the citation follows this pattern:
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Journal/Magazine/Newspaper Title, vol., no., Day Month Year OR Season, Permalink or shortened URL.
Let's break down each component of this format:
- Author Last Name, First Name.
- Begin with the author's last name, followed by a comma, and then their first name (and any middle initial provided). End this section with a period. If there are multiple authors, specific style guides provide rules for listing them, but this format shows a single author.
- “Title of the Article.”
- Enclose the full title of the article in double quotation marks. Capitalize the first word and all other important words (Title Case). Place a period inside the closing quotation mark.
- Journal/Magazine/Newspaper Title,
- Write the name of the publication where the article appeared (the larger work) in italics. Follow the italicized title with a comma.
- vol., no.,
- If the article is from a journal or magazine that uses volume and issue numbers, include these details. Abbreviate "volume" as "vol." and "number" as "no.". Separate them with commas. Include a comma after the issue number. Omit this section if the article doesn't have volume/issue information (common for newspaper articles or standalone web articles).
- Day Month Year OR Season,
- Provide the specific date the article was published. This could be a full date (like 15 Jan. 2023) for daily publications or websites, or a season and year (like Fall 2023) for some academic journals or magazines. Follow the date information with a comma.
- Permalink or shortened URL.
- Include a stable web address (URL) where the article can be accessed online. Using a permalink or a reliable shortened URL is best. End the entire citation with a period.
Example Citation
Here are examples illustrating how to apply this structure to cite an article:
- Example (Journal Article):
Patel, Aarti. “Innovations in Solar Technology.” *Journal of Renewable Resources*, vol. 5, no. 4, Winter 2023, https://example.com/solar-tech-article. - Example (Newspaper Article):
Chen, Li. “Local Economy Shows Growth.” *Cityville Herald*, 25 October 2023, https://example.com/local-economy-news.
Key Elements for Citing Articles
Regardless of the specific citation style you use, the primary goal is to provide enough detail for someone else to easily find and consult the original article. The fundamental pieces of information typically needed include:
- The name(s) of the author(s).
- The title of the specific article.
- The title of the larger publication (journal, magazine, newspaper, website).
- The date of publication.
- Location information within the publication (like volume/issue numbers for journals or a URL/permalink for online sources).
Finding this information usually requires looking closely at the beginning or end of the article itself, or checking the publication's website.
| Component | Information Provided |
|---|---|
| Author | Who wrote the article? |
| Article Title | What is the title of the specific piece? |
| Publication Title | Where was the article published? |
| Volume/Issue | Specific identifier within the publication series. |
| Publication Date | When was the article published? |
| Permalink/URL | Where can the online article be accessed? |
