How to Cite a Journal Article in the UK

Written By

Jonathan Reed

✔️ 97% Satisfaction | ⏰ 97% On Time | ⚡ 8+ Hour Delivery

Journal articles are core academic sources. You'll cite them extensively at university. Yet many students struggle formatting them correctly. Different systems (Harvard, APA, Chicago) require different formats.

This guide shows how to cite journal articles properly in each major system UK universities use.

Understanding Journal Article Components

Keeping your research questions visible while writing each section helps you stay focused and avoid unnecessary tangents in your argument.

The relationship between your theoretical framework and your findings should be made explicit in your discussion chapter, where you show how the lens you chose helped you interpret the data you collected.

Journal articles contain information you need for citation. Author(s), publication year, article title, journal name, volume number, issue number, page numbers. Online versions include URL or DOI.

Finding this information is straightforward. It appears on the article's first page. Copy it carefully.

Between Oxford and Cambridge, precise article citation prevents mark loss. Get complete information before citing.

Harvard Citation Format

Format: Author(s). (Year). 'Article Title'. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pp. page range.

Example: Smith, J. and Jones, K. (2021). 'Learning Through Discussion'. Education Review, 15(3), pp. 234-251.

For online articles: Add Available at: URL or DOI (Accessed: Date).

Example: Smith, J. and Jones, K. (2021). 'Learning Through Discussion'. Education Review, 15(3), pp. 234-251. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1234/er.2021 (Accessed: 22 March 2024).

In-text citation: (Smith and Jones, 2021) or "Smith and Jones (2021) found..."

Understanding the marking criteria for your dissertation is a necessary step in preparing to write it, as the criteria specify exactly what your assessors are looking for and how they will distribute marks across different elements of your work. Many students are surprised to discover how much weight is given to aspects of their dissertation such as the coherence of the argument, the quality of the literature review, and the rigour of the methodology, relative to the novelty of the findings. Reading the marking criteria carefully before you begin writing allows you to make informed decisions about where to invest your time and effort, ensuring that you address the most heavily weighted components of the assessment as thoroughly as possible. If your module handbook does not include a detailed breakdown of the marking criteria, your supervisor or module leader will generally be willing to explain how the dissertation is marked and what distinguishes a first-class piece of work from a lower grade.

APA Citation Format

Format: Author(s). (Year). Article title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxx

Example: Smith, J., & Jones, K. (2021). Learning through discussion. Education Review, 15(3), 234-251. https://doi.org/10.1234/er.2021

Notice differences from Harvard:

No quotation marks around article title: No pp. before page numbers: Different punctuation

In-text citation: (Smith & Jones, 2021) or "Smith and Jones (2021) found..."

Between Durham and LSE, consistent APA formatting throughout essays matters .

Chicago Citation Format

Your supervisor is likely supervising several students at the same time, so making the most of your meetings means being prepared, focused, and ready to discuss specific aspects of your work rather than general concerns.

Format (Notes and Bibliography): Author. "Article Title." Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Year): page.

Example: Smith, J. and K. Jones. "Learning Through Discussion." Education Review 15, no. 3 (2021): 234.

In bibliography: Smith, J., and K. Jones. "Learning Through Discussion." Education Review 15, no. 3 (2021): 234-251.

Notice punctuation differs between notes and bibliography. This precision matters in Chicago style.

Citation Components Explained

Author(s): List all authors. Format varies by system. Harvard and Chicago list all surnames initially. APA uses surnames and initials.

Publication year: important for all systems. Goes in parentheses (Harvard/APA) or after author (Chicago).

Article title: Quoted in Chicago and Harvard. Not quoted in APA. Capitalisation varies. Check each system.

Journal name: Full journal name or standard abbreviation. Check each system's preferences.

Volume and issue: important for locating articles. Format as Volume(Issue) or Volume, no. Issue depending on system.

Page numbers: Where in journal the article appears. important information.

When selecting quotations from your sources, choose passages that do specific analytical work within your argument rather than passages that simply provide background information. The best quotations are those that demonstrate a point you're about to discuss or that articulate a position you intend to challenge or build upon.

DOI or URL: For online articles. DOI is preferable (more stable). Include if available.

Finding Complete Article Information

Article databases show all necessary information. PubMed for medical articles. Web of Science for sciences. JSTOR for humanities. Google Scholar for everything.

Your research contributes to a conversation that extends beyond your dissertation, and keeping that broader perspective in mind helps you write with the kind of purpose and direction that examiners find compelling.

Copy information directly from database. Don't paraphrase. Information must be exact.

Screenshot article first page if citing from library access. Information might not display if you lose database access.

At Newcastle and Edinburgh, careful information capture prevents citation errors.

Secondary sources play an important role in any dissertation, providing the theoretical and empirical context within which your own research is situated and helping to establish the significance of your research question. However, it is important not to rely too heavily on secondary sources at the expense of engaging directly with the primary sources, original texts, and raw data that form the foundation of your academic field. A dissertation that draws on a variety of high-quality sources and demonstrates the ability to synthesise those sources into a coherent argument will always be more favourably received than one that relies on a small number of introductory texts. As you gather sources for your dissertation, keep careful records of the bibliographic details of each source, since reconstructing this information at the end of the writing process is time-consuming and can introduce errors into your reference list.

Common Journal Citation Mistakes

A recurring theme in examiner feedback is the importance of clarity above all else. Methodology chapters rewards those who invest in a surface-level reading would indicate, and this is precisely what separates adequate work from excellent work. Read your work aloud at least once before submitting any draft for feedback.

Don't abbreviate journal names unless instructed. Full names are safer. If abbreviating, check correct abbreviations.

Don't forget issue numbers if available. Volume(Issue) is more precise than volume alone.

Don't forget page numbers. Articles must be locatable.

Don't confuse article title capitalisation rules. Each system differs.

Don't mix citation systems. If using Harvard, use it throughout. Don't switch to APA mid-essay.

Citation of Special Article Types

We've noticed that students who can't find time to write consistently often haven't built writing into their weekly schedule.

Reviews: Cite like regular articles. Review article isn't specified.

Case reports: Cite like regular articles.

Letters to editor: Cite like articles, but might note they're letters.

Commentaries: Cite like articles.

All follow same general format. Article appears in journal. You cite it .

Digital vs. Print Articles

Academic writing at dissertation level requires a degree of precision that most students haven't needed before. Every claim needs to be supported, every generalisation needs to be qualified, and every assertion needs to be traceable back to your evidence or your theoretical framework. That discipline is what makes academic work credible.

The transition between chapters should be handled with care, using brief linking paragraphs that remind the reader where you have been, signal where you are going, and explain how the two sections connect to each other.

Print articles: Full page numbers. Format as shown above.

Online articles: May not have page numbers (e-only journals). Use DOI or URL instead of page numbers.

At Warwick and Bristol, online articles are now standard. Print article access is increasingly rare.

Multiple Articles by Same Author

If citing multiple articles by Smith from different years, use year to distinguish: (Smith 2020) and (Smith 2021).

Your dissertation is the longest and most sustained piece of writing you have attempted at this stage of your education, and approaching it with patience, planning, and persistence will serve you far better than rushing.

If citing multiple articles from same year: (Smith 2021a), (Smith 2021b).

Letters follow articles: (Smith 2021a) for first article, (Smith 2021b) for second.

The process of receiving and responding to feedback from your supervisor is one of the most valuable parts of the dissertation journey, yet many students find it difficult to translate written comments into concrete improvements in their work. When you receive feedback, try to approach it as an opportunity to develop your academic skills rather than as a judgement of your intelligence or your worth as a student, since supervisors give feedback because they want you to succeed. If you receive a comment that you do not understand or disagree with, it is entirely appropriate to ask your supervisor to clarify their feedback or to discuss your response with them in a meeting or by email. Keeping a record of the feedback you receive throughout the dissertation process and revisiting it regularly will help you to identify patterns in the areas where you most need to improve and to track your progress over time.

FAQ

Do I need DOI and URL or just one? Just one. DOI is preferable. It's permanent. URLs change. If DOI exists, use DOI. If no DOI, use URL. Never both unless instructed specifically.

How should I handle multiple author citations? First two: list both. More than two: check your citation system. Harvard lists all authors. APA lists first author then "et al." after six authors. Chicago lists all authors. Follow your system.

What if an article has no visible page numbers? Some online journals don't use page numbers. Use DOI instead. Or note "online publication" instead of page numbers. Your system should address this.

Can I cite an article I've only seen quoted in another article? No. Cite the original article if possible. If you must reference without reading, cite the article where you found the quote: "(Smith 2020, quoted in Jones 2021)." Better practise is reading original articles.

What about preprints and preprint servers? Cite preprints like articles: Author. (Year). Title. Preprint server. DOI. These aren't peer-reviewed. Note this in your writing if relevant.

Conclusion

Journal article citation requires complete information formatted according to your system. Accuracy prevents mark loss. Consistency throughout essays shows professionalism.

Different systems differ subtly. Master the system your university requires. Small differences compound across many citations.

dissertationhomework.com provides citation support. Their advisors check article citations. They ensure formatting matches system requirements. They prevent citation errors .

Cite journal articles completely. Include all necessary information. Format according to your system. Journal article citation competence improves grades.

Need Expert Help With Your Dissertation?

Our UK based experts are ready to assist you with your academic writing needs.

Order Now