Citing an academic article is an important part of the research process. Proper citation not only gives credit to the original author, but it also helps to validate the ideas and information presented in your work. In this essay, we will discuss how to properly cite an academic article in various citation styles, including the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, the American Psychological Association (APA) style, and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS).
MLA style:
In MLA style, you should begin by listing the author's last name and the page number of the article you are citing in parentheses at the end of the sentence. For example:
According to Smith (34), the findings of the study suggest that ...
If the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, you should include it in the parentheses along with the page number. For example:
The findings of the study (Smith 34) suggest that ...
If the article has multiple authors, you should list all of their last names, separated by commas, and the page number in parentheses. For example:
According to Smith, Johnson, and Williams (34), the findings of the study suggest that ...
If the article does not have page numbers, you should include the paragraph number instead. For example:
According to Smith (para. 5), the findings of the study suggest that ...
At the end of your paper, you should include a Works Cited page, where you list all of the sources you have cited in your paper. For an academic article, you should include the following information:
- Author's last name, first name.
- "Title of Article."
- Title of Journal, volume number (issue number), year of publication, page numbers.
For example:
Smith, John. "The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health." Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 50, no. 2, 2020, pp. 34-50.
APA style:
In APA style, you should also include the author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses at the end of the sentence. For example:
According to Smith (2020), the findings of the study suggest that ...
If the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, you should include it in the parentheses along with the year of publication. For example:
The findings of the study (Smith, 2020) suggest that ...
If the article has multiple authors, you should list all of their last names, separated by commas, and the year of publication in parentheses. For example:
According to Smith, Johnson, and Williams (2020), the findings of the study suggest that ...
At the end of your paper, you should include a References page, where you list all of the sources you have cited in your paper. For an academic article, you should include the following information:
- Author's last name, first initial.
- (Year of publication).
- Title of article.
- Title of journal, volume number (issue number), page numbers.
For example:
Smith, J. (2020). The effects of social media on mental health. Journal of Social Psychology, 50(2), 34-50.
Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):
In CMS style, you should include the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. For example:
According to Smith (2020, 34), the findings of the study suggest that ...
If the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, you should include it