Citing sources in your journal articles is crucial in academic writing. Citing and referencing is the procedure of acknowledging the information sources mentioned in your work. This enables readers to verify the credibility of the source and follow up on them if necessary. Also, it is a fair practice of recognizing the contributions of others to your work.

There are various journal article citation formats available for research papers. In this blog, we will explore some popular citation styles (Vancouver, APA, MLA, and Chicago).

Importance of Proper Citation in Academic Writing

1. Avoid Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a significant issue in academia. A survey revealed that approximately 80% of college students have admitted to cheating at least once. Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, involves claiming another’s academic contributions as one’s own. Proper citation ensures that the original authors receive due credit for the information used in your paper. 

2. Validate Information for Readers

Citations help researchers assess the credibility of the information used. Accurate citations allow readers to easily cross-check the cited sources with the references listed in the research paper, ensuring the credibility of the information. Additionally, citations enable readers to conduct independent research on topics of interest.

3. Showcase One’s Research Skills

High-quality references enhance academic papers, showcasing robust research foundations and aligning with the work of established scholars. When authors carefully select credible sources, they demonstrate their expertise and commitment to producing reliable, valuable work. Moreover, citing high-quality references not only strengthens their argument but also enhances their reputation among the research community.

Different Citation Styles

Vancouver style: The Vancouver citation style uses numbers for reference citations and lists. The reference list is ordered sequentially depending upon their appearance in the text. It is a common reference style for biomedical and health sciences journals.

APA style: The American Psychological Association, or APA citation is the most preferred style for citation for social science research papers. It is widely used for criminology, pedagogy, sociology, economics, political science, and business research papers.

MLA style: The Modern Language Association, or MLA citation, is the second most common citation style after APA. Researchers and academics, particularly in the humanities fields like philosophy, literature, and language, primarily use it.

Chicago style: The Chicago citation style is known for its comprehensive system of footnotes and endnotes. Citations are placed in footnotes or endnotes, with a Chicago-style bibliography listing your sources in full at the end.

How to Cite Journal Articles in Vancouver Style

In-text citations format for Vancouver Style

The citation number is placed in square brackets.

Example: “This phenomenon is increasingly relevant [2].”

The numbers correspond to a numbered reference list at the end of the document, which provides full details of the sources.

Here’s the basic format for citing a journal article the reference list:
Format:
Author(s). Title of article. Title of Journal. Year;Volume(Issue):Pages.

Example: Smith J, Doe J. Exploring the Universe. Sci. Rep. 2024;12(3):45-67.

Author(s): List the last name followed by initials. If there are multiple authors, separate their names with commas.

Title of Article: Only the first word of the title and subtitle, along with any proper nouns, are capitalized.

Title of Journal: Abbreviate using standard journal abbreviations and do not italicize.

Year: Provide the year of publication.

Volume and Issue Numbers: Include the volume number followed by the issue number in parentheses.

Pages: Indicate the page range of the article.

How to Cite Journal Articles in APA Style

In-text citations format for APA

In APA, in-text citations are used to mention the institution or organization, and the date of publication in parentheses or brackets after the relevant phrase and before the punctuation mark.

In-text citations have two layouts

Parenthetical: This includes the author's last name and publication date in parentheses.

Example: (Einstein, 1940) 

Narrative: This includes the author’s name incorporated in the text as part of the sentence, immediately followed by the year in parentheses.

Example: Albert Einstein (1905) made a great contribution by introducing the Special Theory of Relativity.

Basic format for referencing journal articles in APA

A standard reference list entry for a journal article in APA should include:

     • Author or author's full name 

     • Year of article publication

     • Article title

     • Journal title followed by volume number (in italics) and issue number (not in italics)

     • Page range of articles in the volume

     • DOI or URL, if available

Examples of citations with and without DOIs

With DOI:

Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), Page range. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy

Example: Smith, J. A., & Doe, R. P. (2020). Advances in renewable energy technologies. Journal of Sustainable Energy, 15(3), 45-59. https://doi.org/10.1234/jse.2020.015034

Without DOI:

Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), page range. URL (if available)

Smith, J. A., & Doe, R. P. (2020). Advances in renewable energy technologies. Journal of Sustainable Energy, 15(3), 45-59.

How to Cite Journal Articles in MLA Style

In-text citation format for MLA

MLA in-text citation style is widely used to document the sources of information. The format includes the author’s last name followed by the page number from which the information, quotation, or paraphrase is taken, as in: (John 112). If the source does not have page numbers, omit the page number from the citation, for example: (John).

Basic Format for referencing journal articles in MLA

• The author’s full name.
• The title of the article, including any subtitles, enclosed in quotation marks.
• The title of the journal in italics, followed by the volume number, issue number, date of publication, and page range.
• The name of the database, followed by the DOI, permalink, or shortened URL for the article.

Two authors
When citing two authors, include both last names separated by "and." For example:

• In parentheses: (Johnson and Tuite 110)
• In text: Johnson and Tuite argue that...

Three or more authors
For sources with three or more authors:

• In parentheses, list only the first author’s last name followed by "et al." For example: Richard et al.
• In text, you can use "and colleagues" or "and others" instead of "et al." For example:
  Armstrong and colleagues suggest that...

How to Cite Journal Articles in Chicago Style

Footnotes and endnotes, often referred to as part of the "Chicago Style," differ significantly from in-text citation formats like APA or MLA. These citation methods require detailed information about each source to be provided at the point of citation. Typically, you should use either footnotes or endnotes, not both, in a single work. Since professors often prefer footnotes over endnotes, it is advisable to confirm their preference before starting your writing. Always ensure proper punctuation and adherence to formatting guidelines.

What is a Bibliography Entry for a Journal Article?

A Chicago-style bibliography includes all the sources cited in your text. Each entry begins with the author's name, followed by the title of the article in quotation marks, the journal title in italics, and the relevant publication details. The entries are organized alphabetically by the author's last name.

Chicago Style Bibliography Example – Journal

Smith, Darren. “Water Law Impacts.” Natural Resources Journal 32, no. 7 (May 2020): 345–357.

Conclusion

Accurate citation and reference in research are fundamental in academic writing, ensuring credibility and respect for original research. To maintain quality and consistency:

• Consistency: Stick to one citation style throughout your document (the one recommended by your target journal in case you are drafting your manuscript). This helps maintain clarity and avoid confusion.
• Double-check: Always verify the details of your references to ensure they are complete and accurate.
• Citation Management Tools: Consider using tools like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley to streamline the citation process and manage your sources efficiently.

By adhering to these practices, you uphold the integrity of your work and acknowledge the contributions of others effectively.