How to Cite an Article MLA: A Comprehensive Guide for Students

This guide provides comprehensive insights on how to cite an MLA article with numerous examples. You'll learn everything a student needs to know when handling a research paper and the consequences of not citing appropriately.

I. Introduction

When it comes to academic writing, citing sources is crucial. It’s not only about giving credit where it’s due, but also about providing evidence of your research and following a well-established academic convention. The MLA citation style is one of the most widely used citation styles in the humanities, and it’s important to know how to cite an article in MLA format. This article will cover everything you need to know about MLA citation style for articles.

II. “7 Simple Steps to Accurately Citing an Article in MLA Format”

By following these seven simple steps, you can effectively cite an article in MLA format:

Start with the author’s name, last name first, followed by the first name and a period.

Examples: Smith, John.

Add the title of the article in quotation marks, followed by a period.

Example: “This is the title of the article.”

Include the title of the magazine or journal, followed by a comma, and in italicized font.

Example: Time,

State the publication date in day-month-year format, followed by a comma.

Example: 12 Mar. 2021,

Add the page numbers, preceded by “pp.”

Example: pp. 23-27.

Indicate the format by stating “Print” for print articles or “Web” for online articles.

Example: Print

End the citation with the specific date of when you accessed the article

Example: Accessed 19 July 2021.

Double-check your citation to ensure that it’s accurate. Verify the names, dates, titles, and publishers, and confirm that you’ve followed all the steps correctly.

III. “Everything You Need to Know to Properly Cite an Article in MLA Style”

The MLA citation style is an established convention for documenting sources in the humanities that includes specific instructions for in-text citations and works cited pages. Some of the critical features of MLA citation style include:

Indenting the secondary lines of each citation.
Making the work cited page with double-spacing and 12-point Times New Roman font.
Having in-text citations with author-page numbers, mainly if there are multiple authors.

To properly cite an article in MLA style, you need to:

List the last name of the author, followed by a comma, and then the first name.
Put the article’s name in quotation marks, followed by a period.
Cite the author of the magazine or journal by listing their name after the title of the article in italics.
List the date of publication, followed by a comma, and then the page numbers.
Include the medium in which you found the article, like “Print” or “Web,” and then close the citation with a specific date of access and a period.

Make sure you double-check all details to ensure they are accurate.

IV. “A Beginner’s Guide: How to Cite an Article in MLA Format”

The MLA citation style is an essential part of academic writing that you must learn, regardless of your field of study. Here’s a simplified guide on how to cite an article in MLA format:

Start with the author’s name, last name first, then follow with first names and end it with a period.

Example: Smith, John.

Write out the title of the article in quotation marks, followed by a period.

Example: “Title of the article.”

Add the title of the magazine or.
journal in italicized font, followed by a comma.

Example: Time,

State the publication date of the article in day-month-year format, followed by a comma.

Example: 12 Mar. 2021,

Indicate the format by writing “Print” for print articles or “Web” for online articles.

Example: Print

Add the date of retrieval followed by a period

Example: Accessed 19 July 2021.

Make sure your citation follows these steps for accurate formatting.

V. “Citing Articles in MLA Style: Tips and Tricks”

Citing articles in MLA style can be tricky, especially when dealing with unique formats or complex sources. Here are a few more tips and tricks you can use to make the process easier:

For articles published on a website, include the website name in italics, the publication date in day-month-year format, and the date of retrieval followed by a period.

Example: New York Times, 21 Sept. 2017, www.nytimes.com, Accessed 1 Feb. 2022.

When citing an article written by more than three authors, use “et al.”

Example: Smith, John et al.

When citing an article from a scholarly journal, make sure to include the volume and issue number in which the article was published.

Example: vol.7, no.3

Use abbreviated names for months and leave nothing in between

Example: 21 Sept. 2017

When citing a short story or poem published in an anthology or journal, include the page range for the work being cited in your in-text citation.

Example: (1-4)

These tips will help you handle any article and ensure accurate citation.

VI. “Why Citing Articles in MLA Format is Important: A Guide for Students”

When it comes to writing a research paper, citing sources accurately is paramount to success. Proper citation ensures that you can evaluate your sources, give the original authors due credit, and avoid allegations of plagiarism. Proper citation also allows readers to follow up, both on your research and the sources that inspired it. Here are a few reasons why citing articles in MLA format is crucial for students:

To build credibility and respect in the academic community.
To protect yourself from plagiarizing unintentionally
To add value to your work by investing in research and accurate citations

By staying true to MLA citation style, students can protect their credibility and benefit from reliable sources.

VII. “Step-by-Step Guide: How to Cite an Online Article in MLA Style”

Online sources offer specialized formatting requirements when it comes to citation. Follow these step-by-step guidelines for citing an online article in MLA style:

List the author’s last name first, followed by a comma and the first name, and end with a period.

Examples: Smith, John.

Write out the article’s title in quotation marks, along with a period.

Example: “Title of the article.”

List the name of the website, followed by a comma and the publication date in day-month-year format.

Example: New York Times, 21 Sept. 2017,

Include the URL of the article, and make sure to include the full link in angled brackets

Example: <www.nytimes.com>

Enclose the access date of the article using the word “accessed,” followed by the date of retrieval, and end with a period.

Example: Accessed 5 Aug. 2022.

By following these guidelines, you can accurately cite an online article in MLA style.

VIII. “MLA Basics: How to Properly Cite an Article for Your Academic Writing”

Proper citation of your sources is one of the basic principles of academic integrity. Here’s a quick recap of the key points to remember when citing your sources in MLA style:

Include the author’s last name and first name.
Use quotation marks to enclose the title of the article and end it with a period.
Italicize the enclosing journal or magazine title.
Use a comma to separate the publication date and the article page number.
Indicate the medium you found the article, whether print or web.
Provide the date, month, and year of accessing the online article.

By following these instructions, you can easily and accurately cite an article for your academic writing.

IX. Conclusion

Citing articles in MLA format is an important skill that every student should master for academic writing. Accurate citation allows readers to understand the context of your work, and it gives credit to the authors of the sources you used. We hope this comprehensive guide has taught you the ins and outs of MLA citation style for articles and has made it easier for you to create proper citations in your academic writing. At the end of the day, accurate citation is about adhering to academic integrity and promoting knowledge.