How to Cite a Magazine Article in MLA 9th Edition

This guide explains how to format a magazine article citation in MLA 9th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a magazine article in MLA 9th Edition:

Template

Author Last, First. "Title of Article." *Magazine Name*, Day Month Year, pp. Page Range. URL.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Kolbert 54)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your Works Cited:

Works Cited entry

Kolbert, Elizabeth. "The Case for Catastrophe." The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022, pp. 52--59. www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/03/21/the-case-for-catastrophe.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the author name
List the author in Last, First format. If there is no author, begin with the article title.
2
Add the article title
Place the article title in quotation marks using title case. End with a period inside the closing quotation mark.
3
Include the magazine name
Italicize the magazine name. Follow it with a comma.
4
Add the date and page numbers
Write the date in Day Month Year format (abbreviate months longer than four letters). Add a comma, then "pp." followed by the page range.
5
Include the URL
Provide the URL without the "https://" protocol. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to italicize the magazine name.
Using a volume/issue format instead of the Day Month Year format typical of magazines.
Omitting "pp." before the page range.
Including the full URL protocol (https://) instead of omitting it.
Using sentence case for the article title instead of title case in quotation marks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a magazine article found online with no page numbers?

Omit the page numbers entirely and end with the URL. The Day Month Year date is still included after the magazine name.

What is the difference between citing a magazine and a journal in MLA?

Magazines use Day Month Year dating and page numbers with "pp." Journals use volume and issue numbers. The distinction depends on whether the periodical is aimed at a general or scholarly audience.

Should I include the database name if I accessed the magazine through a library database?

Yes. Add the database name (italicized) as a second container after the URL or in place of it: ...The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022, pp. 52--59. ProQuest.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your magazine article:

Author
Title
Magazine Name
Date
Pages
URL

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Step-by-Step Guide

Write the author name

List the author in Last, First format. If there is no author, begin with the article title.

Add the article title

Place the article title in quotation marks using title case. End with a period inside the closing quotation mark.

Include the magazine name

Italicize the magazine name. Follow it with a comma.

Add the date and page numbers

Write the date in Day Month Year format (abbreviate months longer than four letters). Add a comma, then "pp." followed by the page range.

Include the URL

Provide the URL without the "https://" protocol. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to italicize the magazine name.

Using a volume/issue format instead of the Day Month Year format typical of magazines.

Omitting "pp." before the page range.

Including the full URL protocol (https://) instead of omitting it.

Using sentence case for the article title instead of title case in quotation marks.