How to cite an article in mla format

Below are a handful of the most common citations. You will see the source type (for example, article, book, website) followed by the formatting guideline and examples for both the full citation for the works-cited list and the short in-text citation that appears in the body of the paper.

Book

Format

Works Cited List: Author Last Name, First Name. Title. Publisher, Year.

In-text: (Author Last Name Page Number)

Examples

Works Cited List: Olsen, Dale A. Music of El Dorado: the Ethnomusicology of Ancient South American Cultures. UP of Florida, 2002.

In-text:(Olsen 25)

E-Book

Format

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title. Edition if given and is not first edition, Publisher Name often shortened, Year of publication. Name of Library Database, Permalink URL.

Example

McClean, Shilo T. Digital Storytelling: The Narrative Power of Visual Effects in Film. MIT Press, 2007. eBook Comprehensive Academic Collection (EBSCOhost), unr.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e025xna&AN=446856&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_Cover.

Journal Article from Database

Format

Works Cited List: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title." Journal/Magazine/Newspaper Title, Publication Information [volume, issue/number, year, pages]. Name of Database, DOI, Permalink or shortened URL for article in the database. 

In-text: (Author Last Name Page Number)

Examples

Works Cited List: Latartara, John. "The Timbre of Thai Classical Singing." Asian Music, vol. 43, no. 2, 2012, pp. 88-114. Project MUSE, https://doi.org/10.1353/amu.2012.0013

In-text: (Latartara 97-8)

Website

Format

Works Cited List: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Page or Article." Title of Site, Sponsor or Publisher [include only if different from website title or author], Date of Publication or Update Date, URL. Accessed Date [optional; include date you accessed source if it is likely to help readers].

In-text: (Author Last Name or page title)

Examples

Works Cited List: Andaya, Barbara. "Introduction to Southeast Asia." Center for Global Education, Asia Society, 2017, asiasociety.org/education/introduction-southeast-asia. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.

In-text citation: (Andaya)

Note: If an author is not listed, begin the citation with the title of the page. For example if the author was not evident on the citation above, the works cited entry would be:

"Vietnam: a Historical Introduction." Center for Global Education, Asia Society, 2017, asiasociety.org/education/vietnam. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.

Works Cited in another Source

Format

Sometimes an author will mention work by another author by using a quotation or paraphrased idea. For example, the Kirkey article you are reading includes a quotation by Smith. The basic rule is that in both the works-cited list and in-text citation, cite Kirkey. Use the words “qtd. in” for the in-text citation.  

Examples

Works Cited List: Kirkey, Susan. "Euthanasia." The Montreal Gazette, 9 Feb. 2013, p. A.10. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies.

In-text citation: According to a study by Smith (qtd. in Kirkey), 42% of doctors would refuse to perform legal euthanasia.

Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) states that “even if euthanasia was legal, 42% of doctors would be against this method of assisted dying” (A.10).

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Note that magazines are different from journals in that journals only contain scholarly articles that are peer-reviewed and relate to a specific academic field. If you are looking for the format for citing a journal article, this guide on citing a journal in MLA can help.

How to cite magazine articles published and found in print

Works CitedStructure

Last, First M. “Article Title.” Magazine Title, vol. volume number, no. issue number, date published, page number(s).

Rothbart, Davy. “How I Caught Up with Dad.” Men’s Health, Oct. 2008, pp. 108-13.

Cite your source

In-text CitationsStructure

(Last Name page numbers)

(Rothbart 112)

How to cite magazine articles found on a website

Works CitedStructure

Last, First M. “Article Title.” Magazine Title, date month year published, URL.

Rothbart, Davy. “How I Caught up with Dad.” Men’s Health, 18 Sept. 2008, www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19534762/rekindling-a-father-son-relationship.

Cite your source

Note: When citing sources reproduced online from their in-print version, it is not necessary to include online information such as the website publisher or the date of electronic publication.

(Last Name)

(Rothbart)

Published October 31, 2011. Updated May 18, 2021.

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How do I create an MLA in-text citation for a magazine?

To create an in-text citation for a magazine found in print:

Place the author’s last name and the page number of the quote in parenthesis after the borrowed quote or information. Example: “Time spent with family or friends is more important now than ever” (Garcia 120).

To create an in-text citation for a magazine found on a website:

Place the author’s last name in parenthesis after the borrowed quote or information. No page number is needed. Example: “Every day I was excited to see my dad, the way you’re excited to be around a new friend” (Rothbart).

Who uses the MLA citation style?

MLA is the style most often used in literature, language, history, art, and theater subjects.

Why should I use the EasyBib Citation Generator?

No matter what citation style you’re using (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) the EasyBib Citation Generator can help you create the right bibliography quickly.

How do I cite a magazine article with multiple authors and no page numbers?

To cite a magazine with multiple authors and no page numbers in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the authors, publication date, title of the article, magazine name, and the URL. The templates for in-text citations and works cited list entries of a magazine article written by multiple authors along with examples are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues.” In subsequent citations, use only the surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues.” In parenthetical citations, always use only the surname of the first author followed by “et al.”

Citation in prose:

First mention: Katherine Zoepf and colleagues . . . or Katherine Zoepf and others . . .

Subsequent occurrences: Zoepf and colleagues . . . or Zoepf and others . . .

Parenthetical:

. . . (Zoepf et al.)

Works cited list entry template and example:

The title of the article is in plain text and title case; it is placed inside quotation marks. The title of the magazine is set in italics. Follow the format given in the template and example for setting the date, month, and year.

Template:

Surname, F., et al. “Title of the Article.” Magazine Name, Publication Date, URL.

Example:

Zoepf, Katherine, et al. “Shopgirls: The Art of Selling Lingerie.” The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2019, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/12/23/shopgirls.

Use only the first author’s name in surname–first name order in the entry, followed by “et al.”

How do I cite an online journal or magazine article in MLA format?

To cite an online journal or magazine article in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author, publication date, title of the article, journal or magazine title, volume and issue numbers, and the URL. The templates and examples for in-text citations and works cited list entries for an online journal article (with one author) are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author in the first occurrence. In subsequent citations, use only the surname. In parenthetical citations, always use only the surname of the author.

Citation in prose:

First mention: Roger Dawkins . . .

Subsequent occurrences: Dawkins . . .

Parenthetical:

. . . (Dawkins)

Works cited list entry template and example:

The title of the journal or magazine article is in plain text and title case; it is placed inside quotation marks. The title of the journal or magazine is set in italics.

Template:

Surname, F. “Title of the Article.” Journal or Magazine Title, vol. #, no. #, Publication Date, URL.

Example:

Dawkins, Roger. “How We Speak When We Say Things About Ourselves in Social Media: A Semiotic Analysis of Content Curation.” M/C Journal, vol. 18, no. 4, 2015, www.journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mcjournal/article/view/999.