Which is the correct way to identify the title of a magazine article?

According to MLA style which of these is correct way to identify the title of a magazine article

"Understanding the Exercise Conundrum" (in quotation marks) is the correct way to identify the title of a magazine article according to MLA style.

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Asked 12/27/2017 1:15:31 PM

Updated 12/27/2017 6:32:49 PM

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"Understanding the Exercise Conundrum" (in quotation marks) is the correct way to identify the title of a magazine article according to MLA style.

Added 12/27/2017 6:32:49 PM

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Prior to computers, people were taught to underline titles of books and plays and to surround chapters, articles, songs, and other shorter works in quotation marks. However, here is what The Chicago Manual of Style says: When quoted in text or listed in a bibliography, titles of books, journals, plays, and other freestanding works are italicized; titles of articles, chapters, and other shorter works are set in roman and enclosed in quotation marks.

Below are some examples to help you:

Example: We read A Separate Peace in class. (title of a book)

Example: That Time magazine article, “Your Brain on Drugs,” was fascinating.
Note that the word “magazine” was not italicized because that is not part of the actual name of the publication.

Example: His article, “Death by Dessert,” appeared in The New York Times Magazine.

Note that the and magazine are both capitalized and set off because the name of the publication is The New York Times Magazine.

Newspapers, which follow The Associated Press Stylebook, have their own sets of rules because italics cannot be sent through AP computers.

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To write the name of a journal or magazine in an APA paper:

• The title of the journal should be in italics - Example: Journal of the American Medical Association
• Capitalize all the major words.

To write the the name of an article title in the body of your paper:

• The title of the article should be in quotation marks - Example: "Tiger Woman on Wall Street"
• Capitalize all the major words.

Example:

The article "Tiger Woman on Wall Street" in the Journal of the American Medical Association was very informative.

Visit the APA Help guide for more examples.  

Thank you for using ASK US. For further information, please contact your Baker librarians.

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Academic titles

See academic and administrative titles on the capitalization page for guidance.

See quote attribution and degree formatting for guidance on current students and alumni.

Events

Proper names of events should be capitalized. In limited cases, events may also be italicized as necessary by University Marketing.

Note: Quotation marks may be used only when capitalization and italicization cannot fulfill the need for technical or aesthetic reasons.

Publications

Titles of books, journals, magazines, plays, newspapers, and freestanding publications

Titles of books, journals, magazines, plays, newspapers, and freestanding publications are italicized when quoted in text or bibliography. Always preserve original spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, and punctuation.

Examples

David McCullough’s best selling biography, John Adams, was recently made into a television mini-series.

She receives most of her news from Time magazine and the New York Times.

Exception

Ampersands can be changed to and with editorial discretion.

Additional book rules

Book series

Titles of book series or editions are capitalized but not italicized.

Parts of a book

When referring to parts of a book—preface, foreword, appendix, chapter, etc.—use lowercase.

Titles of articles, chapters, poems, and shorter works

Titles of articles, chapters, poems, and shorter works are set in roman type and enclosed with quotation marks. If quotation marks are used in the original titles, then single quotation marks must be substituted.

Attribution formatting

For attribution, format as follows:

#11 best town in the nation to go stargazing

–  BuzzFeed

See quote attribution and degree formatting for more information on attribution.

Movies, television, and radio

1. Titles of movies, television, and radio shows are italicized. A single episode is enclosed in quotation marks.

2. Formal names of broadcast channels and networks are capitalized:

   • The Discovery Channel offers a variety of programs from health to the environment.
   • She often watches the Oxygen and Comedy Central channels.

Musical works

1. The names of operas and musicals are italicized. Individual songs and arias are set in quotation marks:

   • Handel’s Messiah includes the well-known “Hallelujah” chorus.
   • “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” is performed in the opening scene of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, Oklahoma!

2. Album/CD recording names are italicized. Individual songs are set in quotation marks.

3. Instrumental music such as symphonies, quartets, rhapsodies, etc., that also include a number or key signature in the title should be capitalized but not italicized. Descriptive titles of the same work can be italicized.
   Note: The number (no.) or opus (op.) of the work should remain lowercase.

   • Beethoven’s Symphony no. 3; or Third Symphony; or Eroica Symphony
   • Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Major
   • Etude in G Minor, op. 33

Quote attribution and degree formatting

General formatting

Make sure to use an en dash (–) with a space after to introduce all testimonials and quote attribution lines. Quote attribution lines should always be italicized on a separate line below the quote. Always use an en dash (–) with spaces on both sides to differentiate between a degree name and an emphasis name.

Follow these same general guidelines in running text but without an introductory en dash or italics. Limited exceptions may be made in small spaces where short copy is required, including removing emphasis and minor names when necessary.

Current undergraduate student:

“Quote.”

– Firstname Lastname, DegreeName – EmphasisName major with a minor in MinorName

Current graduate student or other:

“Quote.”

– Firstname Lastname, pursuing a master’s, doctorate, graduate certificate, or endorsement in Degree Name – Emphasis Name

Alumni

“Quote.”

– Firstname Lastname, BS DegreeName, ’year

Faculty/staff

“Quote.”

– Firstname Lastname, Title, Department, College

Notes and exceptions

• Ensure that you are using a proper curly apostrophe preceding graduation year.
• Always use “Honors” before the degree name for current Honors students:
  • Marie Curie, Honors Chemistry – American Chemical Society – Comprehensive – Certified by the American Chemical Society major
• Follow all normal capitalization style rules and consult the NAU catalog for degree names whenever possible. However, keep in mind that degree names change over time.
• To avoid jargon, use “Undergraduate Certificate” and “Graduate Certificate” instead of GCERT or UCERT.
  • Araceli Hermoso-Palacios, Postbaccalaureate Secondary Education Certification Undergraduate Certificate, ’18

Websites

1. Treat a reference website as you would an authoritative book or other source material: italicize.

2. Always omit the http://www; it’s unnecessary and clutters your text.

For more information on how to format a website, see the Addresses page.

Works of art

1. Names of paintings, sculptures, and statues are italicized.

2. Photographs are set in quotation marks.

3. Cartoons and comic strips are italicized.

How do you write the title of an article in MLA?

Are journal articles italicized MLA?

Do you italicize book titles in MLA?

How do you quote a book title in MLA?