College-wide MLA Citation Guide: 9th edition

Library Homepage

NOTE: This section is mainly intended for articles from library databases, not open Internet websites.

A “magazine” is something you would find at a newsstand or in the supermarket and often contains many colorful advertisements, while a “journal” is usually a publication that is academic or professional in nature.

* DOI stands for “digital object identifier,” which is a way to identify digital content. Not all digital content has a DOI. MLA prefers DOI over URL.

* Titles and subtitles of articles are in quotes. Journal names are italicized.

* The “Container” is where the content is located, such as the name of the database.

An article in a digital journal (in a database)

Last name, First name. “Title of article.” Journal name, vol. #, no. #, Month. Year, pp. #-#. Container, URL or DOI.

With URL:

Haller, Harry B. "Beyond the Magic Theater: Life on the Outside." International Journal of Glass Bead Game,

vol. 16, no. 3, May 2016, pp. 1267-1273. Academic Search Complete,

With DOI:

Haller, Harry B. "Beyond the Magic Theater: Life on the Outside." International Journal of Glass Bead Game,

vol. 16, no. 3, May 2016, pp. 1267-1273. Academic Search Complete, doi:10.1089/cyber.2014.0535.

An article in a digital journal with two authors

Last name, First name, and First name Last name. “Title of article.” Journal name, vol. #, no. #, Month. Year, pp. #-#. Container, URL or DOI.

Rieux, Phillip, and Edwin Castel. "Reports from Inside the Plague." International Journal of French Medicine,

vol. 118, no. 20, Jan. 2016, pp. 3-12. Academic OneFile,

Rieux, Phillip, and Edwin Castel. "Reports from Inside the Plague." International Journal of French Medicine,

vol. 118, no. 20, Jan. 2016, pp. 3-12. Academic OneFile, doi:

An article in a digital journal with three or more authors

Last name, First name, et al. “Title of article.” Journal name, vol. #, no. #, Month. Year, pp. #-#. Container, URL or DOI.

Roquentin, Antoine, et al. "Homemade Cures for Nausea."

International Journal of Homeopathic Philosophy, vol. 38, no. 666, Aug. 2016,

pp. 55. Academic OneFile. eds.b.ebscohost.com.db02.linccweb.org

An article in a digital journal by corporate author (by organization, institution, etc.)

Organization. “Title of article.” Journal name, vol. #, no. #, Month. Year, pp. #-#. Container, URL or DOI.

World Health Organization. "Medical Cures for Nausea." International Journal of Internal Medicine,

vol. 8, no. 17, Nov. 2016, pp. 6-12. JTOR, doi:10.2307/130472.

An article in a digital journal by an editor

Last name, First name, editor. “Title of article.” Journal name, vol. #, no. #, Month. Year, pp. #-#. Container, URL or DOI.

Camus, Albert, editor. “Essays: Authentic and Committed Existentialism.” Sisyphus International,

vol. 24, no. 244, Mar. 2016, pp. 12-35. SpringerLink, doi: 10.1023/A:1014479612811.