How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA (9th edition)
Learn how to cite peer-reviewed and academic journal articles in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
MLA Works Cited Format
Here is the standard MLA format for citing a journal article in your Works Cited page:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. #–#.
MLA Example for a Journal Article
A complete MLA reference for a journal article, formatted by the official MLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Rivera, Maria, and David Chen. “The Mapping of Meaning: A Study of Citation Practice.” Journal of Scholarly Communication, vol. 12, no. 3, 2021, pp. 145–62, https://doi.org/10.1000/jsc.2021.145.
Matching in-text citation: (Rivera and Chen)
MLA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Smith and Jones 12)
Narrative
Smith and Jones argue that...
Key MLA Formatting Rules
- Put the article title in quotation marks.
- Italicize the journal name.
- Use "vol." and "no." before volume and issue.
- Include page range.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your journal article.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the MLA (9th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: mla.csl
Metadata to collect
- authors
- article title
- journal title
- year
- volume and issue
- page range or article number
- DOI
Common metadata traps
- Confirm that the DOI resolves to the same title, authors, and version.
- Distinguish a preprint from the final version of record.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a journal article in MLA?
- To cite a journal article in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the MLA format for a journal article citation?
- The MLA format for a journal article is: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. #–#.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a journal article in MLA?
- In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Smith and Jones 12)
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