12+ Ways To Cite An Article For Better Grades

Academic writing requires the proper citation of sources to maintain the integrity and credibility of one's work. Citing articles correctly is essential to avoid plagiarism, give credit to the original authors, and enable readers to locate the referenced materials. In this article, we will explore over 12 ways to cite an article, following various citation styles, to help students achieve better grades and develop good academic practices.

Introduction to Citation Styles

There are several citation styles used in academic writing, including MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), Chicago, and IEEE. Each style has its unique formatting guidelines for citing articles. Understanding these styles is crucial for students to correctly cite their sources and avoid plagiarism.

MLA Citation Style

The MLA citation style is commonly used in the humanities. When citing an article in MLA style, include the author’s last name, first name, article title, publication title, publication date, page numbers, and DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL, if available. The general format for citing an article in MLA style is:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Publication Title, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers, DOI or URL.

For example:

Smith, John. “The Impact of Climate Change.” Journal of Environmental Studies, 10 Jan. 2020, pp. 12-20, doi: 10.1039/jes.2020.001.

APA Citation Style

The APA citation style is widely used in social sciences. When citing an article in APA style, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year, article title, publication title, volume, issue, page numbers, and DOI. The general format for citing an article in APA style is:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Article title. Publication Title, Volume(Issue), pp. Page Numbers. doi: DOI

For example:

Smith, J. (2020). The impact of climate change. Journal of Environmental Studies, 10(2), 12-20. doi: 10.1039/jes.2020.001

Chicago Citation Style

The Chicago citation style is commonly used in history, philosophy, and arts. When citing an article in Chicago style, include the author’s first name, last name, article title, publication title, publication date, page numbers, and DOI or URL. The general format for citing an article in Chicago style is:

First Name Last Name, “Article Title,” Publication Title, Publication Date, pp. Page Numbers, DOI or URL.

For example:

John Smith, “The Impact of Climate Change,” Journal of Environmental Studies, January 10, 2020, 12-20, https://doi.org/10.1039/jes.2020.001.

Citing Articles from Different Sources

Articles can be found in various sources, including academic journals, newspapers, magazines, and websites. Each source requires a unique citation format. Here are some examples:

Citing an Article from an Academic Journal

When citing an article from an academic journal, include the author’s name, article title, journal title, publication date, volume, issue, page numbers, and DOI.

Citing an Article from a Newspaper

When citing an article from a newspaper, include the author’s name, article title, newspaper title, publication date, page numbers, and URL.

Citing an Article from a Magazine

When citing an article from a magazine, include the author’s name, article title, magazine title, publication date, page numbers, and URL.

Citing an Article from a Website

When citing an article from a website, include the author’s name, article title, website title, publication date, URL, and access date.

Best Practices for Citing Articles

Here are some best practices for citing articles:

• Use a citation management tool to organize and format citations.
• Always include the DOI or URL, if available.
• Use the most recent publication date, if available.
• Include the author’s name, if available.
• Use title case for article titles and sentence case for publication titles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when citing articles:

1. Forgetting to include the DOI or URL.
2. Using an incorrect citation style.
3. Not including the author’s name, if available.
4. Not using title case for article titles.
5. Not including the publication date.