For citing a journal article, which elements are required?

For citing a journal article, which elements are required?

• A. author name, title, journal name, volume and issue number, publication date, and page numbers
• B. author name, title, and page numbers
• C. title, journal name, and publication date
• D. author name, title, journal name, publication date, URL

Answer: (A)

When citing a journal article, you need the pieces that uniquely identify the source and show where it appears in the journal. The best choice lists the author, the article title, the journal name, the volume and issue number, the publication date, and the page numbers. Each part serves a purpose: the author and title identify the work; the journal name shows where it was published; the volume and issue pin down the exact journal issue; the publication date places the article in time; and the page numbers indicate the precise location within that issue. The other options omit essential pieces. One leaves out the journal name and/or the volume/issue and pages, making it hard to locate the exact article. Another includes a URL instead of the page numbers, which doesn’t always provide the precise location in the print journal and isn’t sufficient on its own in traditional citation formats.

When citing a journal article, you need the pieces that uniquely identify the source and show where it appears in the journal. The best choice lists the author, the article title, the journal name, the volume and issue number, the publication date, and the page numbers. Each part serves a purpose: the author and title identify the work; the journal name shows where it was published; the volume and issue pin down the exact journal issue; the publication date places the article in time; and the page numbers indicate the precise location within that issue.

The other options omit essential pieces. One leaves out the journal name and/or the volume/issue and pages, making it hard to locate the exact article. Another includes a URL instead of the page numbers, which doesn’t always provide the precise location in the print journal and isn’t sufficient on its own in traditional citation formats.