When referencing an article in MLA format, it is essential to include the author's last name, first name, title of the article, title of the publication, publication date, and page numbers. The MLA format is widely used in the humanities, and its guidelines are outlined in the MLA Handbook.
MLA Citation Basics
The MLA citation style has specific rules for citing different types of sources, including articles. For a basic article citation, the format is as follows: Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Publication, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. The citation should be formatted with a hanging indent, and the author’s name should be in last-name, first-name order.
Citing Articles with Multiple Authors
When an article has multiple authors, the citation format changes. For two authors, the format is: Lastname, Firstname, and Firstname Lastname. “Title of Article.” Title of Publication, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. For three or more authors, the format is: Lastname, Firstname, et al. “Title of Article.” Title of Publication, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers.
| Source Type | Citation Format |
|---|---|
| Single Author | Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Article." Title of Publication, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. |
| Two Authors | Lastname, Firstname, and Firstname Lastname. "Title of Article." Title of Publication, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. |
| Three or More Authors | Lastname, Firstname, et al. "Title of Article." Title of Publication, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. |
Examples of MLA Citations
Here are some examples of MLA citations for articles:
- Single Author: Smith, John. "The Impact of Climate Change." The New York Times, 10 Feb. 2020, pp. 1-3.
- Two Authors: Johnson, Jane, and Bob Smith. "The Effects of Social Media on Society." The Journal of Social Media Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2019, pp. 12-20.
- Three or More Authors: Williams, John, et al. "The Benefits of Meditation." The Journal of Mindfulness, vol. 5, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1-10.
Online Articles
When citing online articles, it is essential to include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL. The format for citing online articles is: Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Publication, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers, DOI or URL.
For example: Johnson, Jane. "The Impact of Technology on Education." The Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 10, no. 2, 2020, pp. 1-10, doi: 10.1037/edu0000100.
What is the MLA format used for?
+The MLA format is used for citing sources in the humanities, including literature, language, and cultural studies.
How do I cite an article with no author?
+When an article has no author, the citation should begin with the title of the article, followed by the title of the publication, and the publication date.
What is the difference between a DOI and a URL?
+A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique identifier for a digital object, while a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address of a webpage. When citing online articles, it is preferred to use the DOI, but if no DOI is available, the URL can be used.
