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Chicago journal article citation
The Chicago 18th edition (notes & bibliography) format for a journal article, a finished example, and a generator below that fills it in for you.
Author Last, First, and First Last. “Title of Article.” Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Year): pages. https://doi.org/xxxx.
Watson, James D., and Francis H. C. Crick. “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid.” Nature 171, no. 4356 (April 25, 1953): 737–38. https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0.
Full note: 1. James D. Watson and Francis H. C. Crick, “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid,” Nature 171, no. 4356 (April 25, 1953): 45, https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0.
Short note: 2. Watson and Crick, “Molecular Structure of Nucleic,” 45.
Watch out: Volume follows the journal name with no comma, the year goes in parentheses, and pages follow a colon.
Your citation types itself here as you fill in the form — or auto-fill it above.
Formatting runs in your browser. Auto-fill uses Crossref (DOI), Open Library and Google Books (ISBN) and the page’s own metadata (URL). Always check against the source.
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Tips for citing a journal article
- Always use the DOI when there is one, written as https://doi.org/… — it replaces the database URL.
- APA italicises the journal name and the volume number, but not the issue: Nature, 171(4356).
- Use an en dash (–) in page ranges. The generator converts hyphens for you.
- APA 7 lists up to 20 authors in the reference list; MLA switches to “et al.” at three or more.
See this source in all four styles side by side: how to cite a journal article. For the rest of the paper, read the Chicago format guide.
Chicago journal article citation questions
What is the Chicago format for a journal article?
Author Last, First, and First Last. “Title of Article.” Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Year): pages. https://doi.org/xxxx.
What do students most often get wrong?
Volume follows the journal name with no comma, the year goes in parentheses, and pages follow a colon.
Where is the DOI?
Usually on the first page of the article PDF, near the top or bottom, or in the database record. It starts with 10. followed by a slash.
Do I include the database name (JSTOR, EBSCO)?
Not in APA 7 or Harvard. MLA 9 lets you add the database as a second container when there is no DOI. Chicago prefers the DOI, then a stable URL.
What about an article with no volume or issue?
Leave them out. Some online-only journals use an article number instead of pages; put it where the page range would go.