Referencing journals in MLA
This page outlines the correct format for journal articles in an MLA list of works cited:
Journal article
Order: Author(s) (the first author uses last name-first name format and subsequent authors use first name-last name format). Article title (in quotation marks with the first letter of major words capitalised). Journal name (italicised with the first letter of major words capitalised), volume number, issue number, year of publication, page number range of the article.
Salih, Sara. "Filling up the Space Between Mankind and Ape: Racism, Speciesism and the Androphilic Ape." Ariel, vol. 38, no. 1, 2007, pp. 95-111.
- The name of the journal is italicised with major words (over 3 letters capitalised), but the name of the article goes in quotation marks.
- The page number range includes the first and last page of the full article, not just the pages you used.
- Something missing? More than one author? See referencing elements for answers to common issues.
Online journal article
For most undergraduate assignments it is unnecessary to include the second container (the larger whole the source is part of) for online journal articles. However, if required, journal articles retrieved through a database can include the name of the database (which is the second container in this instance). Otherwise, you can simply give the DOI, webpage or URL details (omit http:// and https://). Note the access date is optional but recommended.
Order: Author(s) (the first author uses last name-first name format and subsequent authors use first name-last name format). Article title (in quotation marks with the first letter of major words capitalised), journal name (italicised with the first letter of major words capitalised), volume number, issue number, year of publication, page number range of the article. If required: 2nd container used (italicised, e.g. database; note that the 2nd container will usually be unnecessary), DOI or web address. Access date (optional).
Norcia, Megan A. "Out of the Ivory Tower Endlessly Rocking: Collaborating Across Disciplines and Professions to Promote Student Learning in the Digital Archive." Pedagogy: Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature, Language, Composition, and Culture, vol. 8, no. 1, 2008, pp. 91-114. Project Muse, muse.jhu.edu/article/229014. Accessed 7. Sept., 2017.
An image in a journal article
In-text, and in your works cited list, you cite the author of the journal the work appears in. In-text you may want to refer to the artist of the work as part of your discussion.
Note: Your caption should refer to the artist and location of the work, as well as the author of the article where you found the image. For more information, read about how to format captions here.
Order: Author of article (the first author uses last name-first name format and subsequent authors use first name-last name format), article name (in double quotation marks, with the first letter of major words capitalised), journal name (italicised with the first letter of major words capitalised), volume and issue number, date of publication, page number range of the article. Access date details (optional if found online).
Tresize, J.B. "Shifting the Balance: The Abstract Art of Roy Good." Art New Zealand, no. 126, Spring 2006, https://www.art-newzealand.com/Issue126/Good.html. Accessed 4 July, 2009.
Magazine or newspaper article
Magazine articles and newspaper articles follow the same format as journal articles, with a few alterations. See the section on referencing other material for details.
References and further reading
MLA Handbook. 8th ed., Modern Language Association, 2016. [Massey Library link]
The MLA Style Centre. Modern Language Association, 2018, https://style.mla.org/.
Disclaimer
These pages are provided as a guide to proper referencing. Your course, department, school, or institute may prescribe specific conventions, and their recommendations supersede these instructions. If you have questions not covered here, check in the style guide listed above, ask your course coordinator, or ask at Academic Q+A.