How to Cite Magazine Articles in APA Format

Magazine articles bridge the gap between scholarly journals and newspapers, offering in-depth analysis and feature stories on diverse topics. Whether you're citing National Geographic, The Atlantic, or Time, understanding APA 7th edition magazine citation format ensures your research properly credits writers while maintaining academic credibility.

Understanding Magazine Citations

Magazines differ from scholarly journals in their purpose and audience. While journals publish peer-reviewed academic research, magazines provide accessible journalism, analysis, and commentary for general audiences. However, many magazines maintain high editorial standards and feature articles by expert authors, making them valuable sources for research in communications, cultural studies, current events, and interdisciplinary work.

Magazine citations in APA format closely resemble newspaper citations, with one key distinction: magazines often include volume and issue numbers like scholarly journals. The format you use depends on whether the magazine publishes this information. Understanding when and how to include these elements distinguishes magazines from newspapers in your reference list.

Basic Format for Magazine Citations

In-text Citation:

• Parenthetical: (Author, Year)
• Narrative: Author (Year)
• With page or paragraph: (Author, Year, p. 45)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Identify the Author

Magazine articles typically credit individual writers. Use the format: Last name, First initial. Middle initial. For multiple authors, separate them with commas and use an ampersand before the final author. Some magazine articles may list only a staff writer or no author at all—in these cases, begin your citation with the article title.

Step 2: Determine the Publication Date

Magazine dates vary by publication frequency. Weekly magazines use the full date (Year, Month Day), while monthly magazines use only year and month (Year, Month). Bimonthly or quarterly magazines should include the season or months (Year, Spring) or (Year, May/June). Always use the format that matches how the magazine displays its publication date on the cover or table of contents.

Step 3: Format the Article Title

Use sentence case for the article title: capitalize only the first word, the first word after a colon or dash, and proper nouns. Do not use italics or quotation marks around the article title in your reference list. Include subtitles after a colon.

Step 4: Format the Magazine Title

The magazine title should be italicized and use title case (capitalize all major words). Use the magazine's official title as it appears on the cover. Do not abbreviate magazine titles unless the magazine itself uses an abbreviated form.

Step 5: Include Volume and Issue Numbers (If Available)

Some magazines publish volume and issue numbers like scholarly journals. If these appear in the magazine (often on the contents page or copyright information), include them after the magazine title. Italicize the volume number and place the issue number in parentheses without italics. Many popular magazines don't use volume/issue numbers—if they're not listed, simply omit them.

Step 6: Add Page Numbers or URL

For print magazines, include the page range of the article (pp. 34–42). If the article doesn't appear on consecutive pages, list all pages (pp. 34–36, 42–45). For online magazines, omit page numbers and include the direct URL to the article instead. Never include both page numbers and URLs.

Detailed Examples

Example 1: Weekly Magazine Article (Online)

Example 2: Monthly Magazine Article (Print)

Example 3: Magazine Article with No Author

Example 4: Bimonthly Magazine Article

Example 5: Online-Only Magazine

Example 6: Special Issue or Supplement

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing Magazines with Journals

The key difference is peer review and audience. Scholarly journals publish peer-reviewed research; magazines publish journalism and commentary for general audiences. If you're unsure, check if the publication undergoes peer review (journal) or has a general editorial process (magazine). This affects how you cite volume/issue information.

2. Wrong Date Format

Match the date format to the magazine's publication schedule. Weekly magazines need the complete date (Year, Month Day), while monthly magazines use year and month only (Year, Month). Using the wrong format signals you haven't carefully examined the source.

3. Including Volume Numbers When Not Present

Many popular magazines (Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker) don't publish volume and issue numbers. Don't invent these or use database-assigned numbers. If the magazine doesn't print them, omit them from your citation.

4. Using Quotation Marks Around Article Titles

APA format does not use quotation marks around article titles in the reference list, even though MLA format does. This is a common error when switching between citation styles.

5. Omitting Page Numbers for Print Articles

When citing print magazine articles, page numbers help readers locate your source. Even if you read the article online first, if you're citing the print version, include page numbers instead of URLs.

6. Including Database Information

APA 7th edition does not require database names for magazine articles found in databases. Use the magazine's own URL if available, or omit the URL entirely for print citations.

7. Adding Unnecessary Access Dates

Unlike websites that change frequently, magazine articles are archived content. Don't include access or retrieval dates unless the content is designed to change (which is rare for magazine articles).

Quick Reference Guide

Date Formats by Magazine Type

• Daily/Weekly: (Year, Month Day)
• Biweekly: (Year, Month Day)
• Monthly: (Year, Month)
• Bimonthly: (Year, Month/Month)
• Quarterly: (Year, Season) or (Year, Month–Month)
• Annual: (Year)

Special Article Types

• Interview article: Use interviewer as author, add [Interview] if needed
• Review: Add [Review of the book Title, by A. Author]
• Special section: Include section name in magazine title
• Cover story: Cite as regular article, no special designation

Magazine vs. Newspaper vs. Journal

Understanding the differences between these publication types helps ensure correct citation format:

Finding Citation Information

For print magazines, look for citation information in these locations:

• Cover: Magazine title, date, sometimes volume/issue
• Table of contents: Article titles, authors, page numbers
• Article byline: Author name, often with credentials
• Masthead/copyright page: Official publication information

For online magazines:

• Article page: Author, date, title
• Website header: Magazine name
• URL bar: Complete web address
• About section: Publication information if unclear

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a publication is a magazine or a journal?

Journals publish peer-reviewed academic research and use consistent volume/issue numbering. Magazines publish journalistic articles for general audiences and may or may not use volume numbers. When in doubt, check if the publication describes itself as peer-reviewed or scholarly.

Should I cite the print or online version?

Cite the version you actually read. The two versions sometimes differ slightly in content or pagination. Be honest about which version you consulted.

What if I found the magazine article through a database?

Cite the article itself, not the database. Use the magazine's own URL if available, or cite it as a print article if no magazine URL exists. Don't include database names in APA 7th edition.

How do I cite a magazine article with multiple parts?

If the article spans multiple issues, cite each part separately, noting "Part 1," "Part 2," etc. in brackets after the title.

Do I need to include the magazine's location?

No. Unlike older citation formats, APA 7th edition does not require the city or location where the magazine is published.

Related Guides

• How to Cite Newspapers in APA Format
• How to Cite Journal Articles in APA Format
• How to Cite Websites in APA Format