Citing articles is a fundamental skill in academic writing and research. It’s how you give credit to the original authors of ideas and information, avoid plagiarism, and allow your readers to delve deeper into your sources. Understanding how to properly cite an article is crucial whether you’re a student, researcher, or any professional who incorporates external sources into their work.
There are various citation styles, such as MLA, APA, Chicago, and more, each with its own set of rules. However, the basic information you’ll need to cite an article remains consistent. This guide will walk you through the essential elements and formats for citing articles, ensuring accuracy and academic integrity in your citations.
Citing Articles with a DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
A DOI is a unique and persistent identifier for a digital object, like a journal article. It makes finding the article straightforward and is the preferred method for citation when available.
Format (MLA Style Example):
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title, vol., no., Year, pp. #-#, DOI.
Example:
Richardson, Janice. “Spinoza, Feminism and Privacy: Exploring an Immanent Ethics of Privacy.” Feminist Legal Studies, vol. 22, no. 3, 2014, pp. 225-241, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10691-014-9271-3.
Key components explained:
- Author’s Name: Start with the last name, followed by the first name.
- Article Title: Enclose the title of the article in quotation marks. Use title case capitalization.
- Journal Title: Italicize the title of the journal, magazine, or newspaper. Use title case capitalization.
- Volume (vol.) and Issue Number (no.): These help locate the specific journal issue.
- Year: The year the article was published.
- Pages (pp.): The page range where the article appears in the journal.
- DOI: Include the DOI link. It’s usually found on the article’s first page or in the database record.
Citing Articles Without a DOI from Academic Databases or Print
Sometimes, articles found in databases or in print versions might not have a DOI. In these cases, you can use a permalink (for database articles) or simply omit the DOI for print versions.
Format (MLA Style Example – Database with Permalink):
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title, vol., no., Year, pp. #-#, Database Name, Permalink.
Example:
Russell, Bertrand. “The Expanding Mental Universe.” Saturday Evening Post, vol. 232, no. 3, 1960, pp. 24-93. Academic Search Premier, https://unr.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=17824382&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Key points for articles without DOIs from databases:
- Permalink: Use the permalink provided by the database instead of the browser URL. Permalinks are stable and designed for persistent access. Look for “Share,” “Permalink,” or “Persistent Link” options in the database interface.
- Database Name: Specify the name of the database where you found the article.
Citing Articles Without a DOI from Websites (Non-Database URLs)
For articles found on general websites without a DOI and not from an academic database, include the URL of the article.
Format (MLA Style Example – Website URL):
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title, vol., no., Day Month Year OR Season, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Example:
Ramanan, Mohan. “The Classical Music Culture of South India.” Indialogs: Spanish Journal of India Studies, vol. 1, 01 July 2014, pp. 134-45, revistes.uab.cat/indialogs/article/view/v1-ramanan/pdf. Accessed 10 Aug. 2017.
Important notes for web-based articles without DOIs:
- URL: Provide a shortened URL if the original URL is very long. You don’t need to include “https://www.”
- Access Date: Include the date you accessed the article, as web content can change.
By understanding these core formats and elements, you can confidently cite articles from various sources. Always double-check the specific requirements of your chosen citation style guide for nuances and further details. Accurate and consistent citations are essential for credible academic and professional work.
