Citing Periodical Articles

The pieces of information you need to cite a periodical could include:

-          author(s),
-          title of the article,
-          title of the periodical,
-          publication date,
-          volume and issue numbers,
-          page numbers,
-          edition (sometimes newspapers have early and late editions, or West Coast and East Coast editions),
-          database information (if a database is used).

 

Examples: Click on each element in the citations below (the elements are differentiated by alternating colors) for information on each.

Magazine Article from a Library Database

MLA style

Donnelly, Sally B. "More Guns in the Air."  Time 14 Feb. 2005: 13.  Proquest. 
        Web. 2 July 2009.

 

APA style

Donnelly, S. B. (2005, February 14). More guns in the air.  Time, 165, 13. Retrieved July 2, 2009, 
        from Proquest database.

  

Journal Article from a Library Database

MLA style

Menesini, Ersilia, Elena Melan, and Barbara Pignatti.  "Interactional Styles of Bullies and
        Victims Observed in a Competitive and a Cooperative Setting."  Journal of Genetic Psychology 
        161.3 (2000): 261+.  Academic Search Complete.  Web.  2 July 2009.

  

APA style

Menesini, E., Melan, E., & Pignatti, B.  (2000).  Interactional styles of bullies and victims observed
        in a competitive and cooperative setting.  Journal of Genetic Psychology, 161(3), 261-. 
        Retrieved July 2, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.

  

Newspaper Article from a Library Database

MLA style

Will, George F. "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Hypocrisy."  Editorial.  Washington Post 11 Dec. 2005, Final
        edition.: B07. Proquest. Web. 2 July 2009.

 

APA style

Will, G. F. (2005, December 11). 'Don't ask, don't tell' hypocrisy [Editorial]. Washington Post, p. B7. Retrieved
        July 2, 2009, from Proquest database.

 

Note that the citations provided in periodical databases are not always correct.  They can be a good starting point, but be sure to doublecheck the details in a style manual or on a style website.:

1.      Style manual

-          MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (call number LB2369 .G53 2009); in the INDEX, look up "Magazine Articles" or "Newspaper Articles" or "Journal Articles", then look for the "in works cited" section.

-          Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (call number BF76.7 .P83 2001); in the TABLE OF CONTENTS, check the "Reference List" chapter for the Periodicals section and the Electronic Media section.

2.      Online citation sites: http://www.nvcc.edu/library/bow_citingref.htm

 

 

 

 

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