How to Cite Journal Articles in APA Format
Journal articles are among the most commonly cited sources in academic writing. Understanding how to properly cite them in APA 7th edition format is essential for maintaining academic integrity and giving proper credit to researchers. This comprehensive guide covers both print and online journal citations with detailed examples and common pitfalls to avoid.
Why Proper Journal Citation Matters
Academic journal articles represent peer-reviewed research that forms the foundation of scholarly discourse. Proper citation serves multiple critical purposes: it allows readers to locate and verify your sources, demonstrates the breadth of your research, gives credit to original researchers, and helps you avoid plagiarism. In fields like psychology, medicine, and social sciences where APA format is standard, accurate journal citations are particularly important for maintaining the integrity of scientific communication.
The APA 7th edition has streamlined journal citation formats, making them more consistent and easier to create. The most significant change is the emphasis on Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), which provide permanent links to articles regardless of URL changes.
Basic Format for Journal Article Citations
Journal article with DOI:
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), page range. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx
Journal article without DOI (with URL):
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), page range. URL
In-text Citation:
- Parenthetical: (Author, Year)
- Narrative: Author (Year)
- Multiple authors (3+): (Author et al., Year)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Identify All Authors
List all authors in the order they appear on the article. Use the format: Last name, First initial. Middle initial. For multiple authors, separate them with commas and use an ampersand (&) before the final author. APA 7th edition allows you to list up to 20 authors. If there are 21 or more authors, list the first 19, insert an ellipsis (...), and then add the final author's name.
Step 2: Determine the Publication Year
The publication year appears in parentheses after the author names. This is the year the article was published in the journal, not when it was accepted or written. For advance online publications, use the year of online publication with the note "Advance online publication."
Step 3: Format the Article Title
Use sentence case for article titles, meaning only the first word, the first word after a colon or dash, and proper nouns are capitalized. Do not use italics, quotation marks, or underlining for the article title in the reference list.
Step 4: Format the Journal Title
Italicize the journal title and use title case (capitalize all major words). Include the full journal name without abbreviations unless the journal itself uses an abbreviated title (e.g., JAMA).
Step 5: Include Volume and Issue Numbers
The volume number should be italicized. The issue number goes in parentheses immediately after the volume number (not italicized). If the journal uses continuous pagination throughout the volume, the issue number is optional but recommended.
Step 6: Add Page Numbers
Include the complete page range of the article, separated by an en dash (e.g., 123–145). Do not use "p." or "pp." before page numbers in journal citations.
Step 7: Find and Format the DOI
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a permanent identifier for scholarly articles. Always include the DOI when available. Format it as a URL: https://doi.org/xx.xxxx. Do not add a period after the DOI. If no DOI is available, include the direct URL of the journal article. For print-only journals with no online presence, omit both DOI and URL.
Detailed Examples
Example 1: Journal Article with DOI (Single Author)
Reference list:
Thompson, R. J. (2024). The impact of mindfulness meditation on cognitive performance in college students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 116(3), 445–462. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000789
In-text citation:
(Thompson, 2024)
This example shows a standard journal article citation with a DOI. Note the sentence case article title and title case journal name.
Example 2: Journal Article with Multiple Authors and DOI
Reference list:
Martinez, A., Chen, L., & Williams, K. D. (2025). Neuroplasticity and language acquisition: A meta-analysis of bilingual brain studies. Cognitive Neuroscience Review, 42(7), 1203–1234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnr.2025.01.003
In-text citation (first time):
(Martinez et al., 2025)
In-text citation (narrative):
Martinez et al. (2025) found that...
For three or more authors, use "et al." in all in-text citations, but list all authors in the reference list.
Example 3: Print Journal Article without DOI
Reference list:
Davidson, M. P., & Rodriguez, S. A. (2023). Historical perspectives on environmental conservation movements in Latin America. Latin American Studies Quarterly, 58(2), 89–112.
In-text citation:
(Davidson & Rodriguez, 2023)
When a print journal article has no DOI and is not available online, end the citation with the page range.
Example 4: Online Journal Article without DOI
Reference list:
Park, J. H. (2024). Sustainable urban planning strategies in Asian megacities. International Journal of Urban Development, 19(4), 567–589. https://www.ijud.org/articles/vol19/park-urban-planning
In-text citation:
(Park, 2024)
When no DOI is available for an online article, include the direct URL to the article.
Example 5: Advance Online Publication
Reference list:
Zhang, W., Anderson, K., & Miller, T. (2026). Artificial intelligence in clinical diagnostics: Opportunities and challenges. Medical Informatics Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/med.2026.12345
In-text citation:
(Zhang et al., 2026)
For articles published online before appearing in a print issue, omit volume, issue, and page numbers, and include "Advance online publication."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Incorrect DOI Formatting
Always format DOIs as URLs beginning with https://doi.org/. Avoid older formats like "doi:" or "DOI:" prefixes. Never add a period after the DOI, as this may prevent the link from working.
2. Using Article Titles in In-text Citations
In-text citations should use author names and year, never the article title. The title only appears in the reference list.
3. Confusing Journal Titles with Database Names
The journal title is the name of the publication that published the article, not the database where you found it (like JSTOR or EBSCOhost). Never include database names in APA 7th edition citations.
4. Incorrect Capitalization
Remember: sentence case for article titles, title case for journal titles. This is one of the most common formatting errors in APA citations.
5. Omitting Issue Numbers
While issue numbers are technically optional when journals use continuous pagination, including them makes articles easier to locate. Always include the issue number when available.
6. Adding Unnecessary Access Dates
APA 7th edition does not require retrieval or access dates for journal articles, even when accessed online, because DOIs and URLs provide stable access. Only include retrieval dates for unarchived social media or other sources that change over time.
7. Using "Retrieved from" Before URLs
In APA 7th edition, do not use "Retrieved from" before DOIs or URLs unless you include a retrieval date. The link stands alone at the end of the citation.
Quick Reference Guide
Essential Elements in Order:
- Author(s) - Last name, First initial. Middle initial.
- Publication year in parentheses
- Article title in sentence case
- Journal title in italics and title case
- Volume number in italics
- Issue number in parentheses (not italicized)
- Page range
- DOI as URL (or article URL if no DOI)
Special Cases Quick Tips
- Two authors: Use & between names (Author, A., & Author, B.)
- Three or more authors: List all in reference; use "et al." in text
- Group/organization author: Use full name (American Psychological Association.)
- No author: Begin with article title
- Article number instead of pages: Use "Article 123456"
- In press articles: Use "(in press)" instead of year
Finding DOIs for Journal Articles
DOIs are typically found on the first page of an article or in the database record. If you're having trouble locating a DOI, try these methods:
- Check the article's first page near the copyright information
- Look in the database record where you found the article
- Visit CrossRef.org and search by article title and author
- Check the journal's website for the article
If you've exhausted these options and still cannot find a DOI, it's acceptable to use the article's URL or omit the DOI entirely for print sources.
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Try Free APA Citation Generator →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to include the database name where I found the article?
No. APA 7th edition no longer requires database information. Simply include the DOI or URL of the article itself.
What if the journal article has more than 20 authors?
List the first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis (...), and then add the final author's name. All 20+ authors should be included in in-text citations using "et al."
Should I include the month of publication?
No. For journal articles, only include the year in parentheses after the author names. Months are used for magazines and newspapers, not scholarly journals.
How do I cite a journal article that's been retracted?
Include "[Retracted]" in square brackets after the article title. Then add a note about the retraction at the end of the citation: "Retraction in [Journal Name], volume(issue), page. DOI"