Free MLA Journal Citation Generator
Generate accurate MLA citations for journal articles, scholarly papers, and academic publications. Search by DOI, title, or author for instant Works Cited entries.
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How to cite a journal article in MLA
Search for the journal article
Paste a DOI, URL, ISBN, title, or author name to find the exact source record.
Check the MLA formatting fields
Verify author, year, title, container, and publication details before copying the final citation.
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MLA Journal Citation Format
Basic Format:
Title Formatting:
Article in "quotes," journal in italics
DOI Formatting:
https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
MLA Journal Citation Examples
Print Journal Article
In-text: (Smith and Johnson 130)
Journal Article with DOI
In-text: (Williams 82)
Online Journal Article
In-text: (Garcia)
Article from Database
In-text: (Thompson 210)
Examples formatted in MLA style
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a journal article in MLA format?
Include author, article title in quotes, journal name in italics, volume, issue, year, pages, and DOI if available. Example: Smith, John. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. 15, no. 3, 2024, pp. 45-67.
Do I need to include the DOI in MLA citations?
Yes, if a DOI is available, include it at the end of the citation. Format it as a URL: https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx. DOIs are preferred over URLs for academic articles.
How do I cite an online journal article in MLA?
Cite it the same as a print article, but add the DOI or URL at the end. If accessed through a database, include the database name in italics before the URL.
What if there is no volume or issue number?
Omit any elements that are not available. Include as much information as you have: author, title, journal name, date, pages (if available), and DOI/URL.
How do I format page numbers in MLA journal citations?
Use "pp." for a page range (pp. 45-67) or "p." for a single page. For online-only articles without pages, omit page numbers entirely.
MLA Formatting Rules for Journal Articles
MLA journal citations follow the core elements model: Author. "Article Title." Journal Title, vol., no., date, pp. page range. MLA 9th edition strongly recommends including a DOI or stable URL when available. Italicize the journal title but put the article title in quotation marks.
APA places the year immediately after the author and italicizes the article title. MLA places the date near the end and puts the article title in quotation marks instead.
Common Formatting Mistake
Article title must be in quotation marks, journal title must be italicized, and MLA uses an en-dash for page ranges.
Common mistakes in MLA journal article citations
Review the most frequent formatting mistakes before submitting your assignment.
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MLA Journal Article mistakes
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MLA examples
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