How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA | Format & Examples
An MLA Works Cited entry for a journal article contains the author(s); article title; journal name; volume and issue; month and year; page range; and a DOI if accessed online. In the in-text citation, include the author’s last name and the page number.
You can also use our free MLA Citation Generator to create accurate MLA citations for journal articles.
Generate accurate MLA citations with Scribbr
Citing an online journal article
When citing an online journal article, first look for a DOI, as this is more stable and less likely to change than a URL. A DOI should be formatted as a full link beginning with “https://”, even if not listed as such on the page with the article.
If there is no DOI, you can add a URL instead. If the article is in PDF form, you can optionally note this in your reference.
Citing an article in a database
For sources that you accessed via a database, include the database name along with the DOI or permanent URL.
Articles with multiple authors
In MLA style, up to two authors are included in citations. List them in the order they appear in the source, separated by commas, and don’t invert the second author’s name.
MLA format | Author last name, First name, and Author first name last name. “Article Title.” Journal Name, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Month Year, Page range. DOI or URL. |
MLA Works Cited entry | Eve, Martin Paul, and Joe Street. “The Silicon Valley Novel.” Literature and History, vol. 27, no. 1, May 2018, pp. 81–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306197318755680. |
MLA in-text citation | (Eve and Street 84) |
If an article has three or more authors, include only the first author’s name, followed by “et al.”
MLA format | Author last name, First name, et al. “Article Title.” Journal Name, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Month Year, Page range. DOI or URL. |
MLA Works Cited entry | Steffen, Will, et al. “The Trajectory of the Anthropocene: The Great Acceleration.” The Anthropocene Review, vol. 2, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053019614564785. |
MLA in-text citation | (Will et al. 92) |
Articles in special issue journals
Special issue journals focus on a specific theme, are written by a specific group of authors, or are compiled from a special event.
In these cases, include the special issue name, the phrase “special issue of,” and the journal’s regular name. If the special issue lists editors or other contributors, their names should also be included.
Frequently asked questions about MLA style
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Gahan, C. (2024, March 05). How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved May 21, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/journal-citation/