I still remember getting marked down on a paper, not for bad arguments, but for formatting errors in the article title. That’s when I realized how confusing it can be to figure out if the articles are italicized or placed in quotes, especially when each citation style says something different. APA wants plain text, MLA prefers quotation marks, and Chicago has its twist. If you’re tired of second-guessing the rules, this guide is for you. I’ll break it down by style, with real examples so your citations are clean, clear, and professor-proof.
How Different Styles Format Article Titles in Citations (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard)
When I first started academic writing, I constantly found myself Googling, Are articles italicized or put in quotation marks or should article titles be italicized. Every time I’d switch between APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, I’d second-guess myself. I mean, why can’t there just be one rule, right?
Turns out, the answer lies in understanding the difference between article titles, which is the actual piece you’re citing, and source titles like the journal, magazine, or website it’s published in. Once I figured that out and learned how each style treats them, formatting citations became way less intimidating.
Let me break it down for you, style by style, along with the exact formatting I use myself.
1. APA Style (7th Edition): Plain Font, Sentence Case for Article Titles
APA style keeps things clean and simple when it comes to formatting titles in citations. Article titles are written in plain font and sentence case, which means only the first word of the title and subtitle, if any, and proper nouns are capitalized. No italics, no quotation marks.
On the other hand, container titles like the names of journals, newspapers, or magazines where the article is published are italicized and written in title case, where major words are capitalized.
Let’s break that down with an example:
Smith, A. L. (2021). Exploring the depth of ocean currents. Marine Science Review.
Here, “Exploring the depth of ocean currents” is the article title and stays in plain font with sentence case, while Marine Science Review is the journal name, it’s italicized and title-cased because it’s the container of the article.
This distinction helps readers quickly tell the difference between what was written (the article) and where it was published (the source). APA’s formatting choices aim for clarity and consistency, which is especially important in academic writing.
2. MLA Style (9th Edition): Quotation Marks for Article Titles
When I first learned citation styles, MLA confused me the most, mainly because I didn’t know when to use italics and when to insert quotation marks. So let me make this easier for you
In MLA style, formatting titles is all about distinction and elegance. When citing an article, the title of the article is placed inside double quotation marks. It’s written in title case, meaning all major words are capitalized. No italics are used for the article title itself.
Meanwhile, the container title, such as the name of the journal, magazine, or website where the article appears, is italicized and also written in title case. This contrast helps visually separate the work being referenced from the platform it’s found on.
Take this example:
Johnson, Maria. “Reclaiming Urban Spaces Through Architecture.” Design Quarterly.
Here, “Reclaiming Urban Spaces Through Architecture” is the article title, so it's wrapped in quotation marks and left unitalicized, while Design Quarterly is the source or container title and is italicized.
MLA’s approach helps maintain a polished, professional look in academic writing while communicating source hierarchy.
3. Chicago Style (17th Edition): Quotation Marks, Italicized Sources
When I had to format my first history paper in Chicago style, I recall how confusing it was to determine where to use italics versus quotation marks. It felt like a puzzle until I finally understood the pattern, which was pretty quick by the way.
In Chicago style, the rule is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Article titles are placed in double quotation marks and written in regular font. On the other hand, the name of the source, like a newspaper, journal, or magazine, is italicized.
For instance, here’s an example from one of my annotated bibliographies:
Reed, H. (2020). “Rebuilding Cities After Crisis.” Urban Development Review.
In this citation, “Rebuilding Cities After Crisis” is the article title, wrapped in quotation marks to set it apart, while Urban Development Review, the name of the journal, is italicized to signal the container.
After I understood this difference, Chicago style became a lot less intimidating, and my references finally looked like they belonged in an academic journal.
4. Harvard Style: Plain Font for Article Titles, Italics for Source
When I started using Harvard referencing, the contrast between article titles and source titles immediately caught my attention. It's a style that values clarity through minimal formatting, which makes it easy to follow once you know the rule.
In Harvard style, article titles appear in plain font, no italics, no quotation marks. On the other hand, source titles, such as journals, magazines, or websites, are always italicized. This distinction helps separate the specific work from the larger publication it's found in.
For example: Khan, R. (2022). Climate policy in South Asia. International Environmental Review.
Here, “Climate policy in South Asia” is the article title and remains unformatted, while International Environmental Review, the journal name, is italicized. This subtle formatting structure ensures consistency and professionalism across your citations.
Step-by-Step: How to Format Article Titles in Citations Using WPS Word
Back when I was juggling citation styles for multiple assignments, I realized something: formatting shouldn’t take longer than writing. But it often did, especially when using different tools or switching between citation rules. That’s when I discovered WPS Word.
If you haven’t used it before, WPS Writer is a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Word. Compared to Word or Google Docs, it took me a while to figure out where things like italics or hanging indents were hiding. I’ve been through the trial-and-error phase, so you don’t have to.
This part walks you through exactly how I format article titles depending on the citation style: APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard, using WPS Word. Whether you need to italicize journal names, add quotation marks, or fix indents, I’ve broken down each step clearly so you can follow along with ease.
Let’s get into the practical part, This is where your citations start looking clean and professional.
1. If You Need to Italicize Source Titles (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard)
When I first started formatting citations, I often forgot one crucial thing: it's not the article title that’s italicized, it’s the container title (like the journal, newspaper, or website). For all major styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard), source titles get the italics treatment.
Here’s how I italicize text in WPS Writer quickly and cleanly:
WPS Writer Steps:
Step 1: Highlight the journal, newspaper, or website name in your citation (e.g., The New York Times).
Step 2: On the top menu, go to the "Home" tab.
Step 3: Click the italic “I” icon in the toolbar (or simply press Ctrl + I on your keyboard).
That’s it! Your container title is now formatted correctly.
2. If You Need to Add Quotation Marks Around Article Titles (MLA, Chicago)
If your professor’s comments are telling you to “use proper quotation marks”, this step can help you add them. MLA and Chicago styles both require article titles to be enclosed in double quotation marks, and luckily, it only takes a few seconds to get it right in WPS Word.
WPS Writer steps:
Step 1: Highlight the article title that needs quotation marks. For example: Understanding the climate crisis.
Step 2: Type the opening quotation mark (") before the highlighted text and the closing quotation mark (") after it.
Step 3: Double-check spacing to ensure there’s no extra space between the quotation marks and the title.
3. If You Need to Keep Article Titles in Plain Font (APA, Harvard)
Ever spend extra time styling your titles only to realize APA or Harvard didn’t need italics or quotation marks at all? I’ve been there, double-checking a citation just to undo formatting I added minutes before. These styles keep it simple: article titles should be in plain font and sentence case. Here's how to do that in WPS Word:
WPS Writer Steps:
Step 1: Highlight the article title you want to format.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab on the top menu.
Step 3: Look for the Clear Formatting option, which usually looks like an eraser icon or can be found in the Font section. Click it.
4. If You Need to Apply a Hanging Indent (All Styles)
If you’ve ever looked at a perfectly formatted reference page and wondered how the second line starts further in, yes, that’s a hanging indent. It’s a small formatting detail, but it instantly makes your citations look clean and professional. I remember the first time I had to apply it, I spent ten minutes fiddling with the tab key before realizing there was a much easier way. Here’s how to do it properly in WPS Word:
WPS Writer Steps:
Step 1: Highlight the full citation text you want to format.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab and click on the small paragraph settings arrow in the bottom-right corner of the "Paragraph" group, and click on “More”.
Step 3: In the Indentation section of the dialog box, under Special, select Hanging from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: Click OK, and you’re done!
FAQs
Q1: Should I italicize article titles in APA references?
Nope! In APA style, the article title stays simple, just plain font and sentence case. No italics, no quotation marks. It’s the source title, like the journal or magazine name, that gets italicized.
Q2: Do article titles need quotation marks in MLA citations?
Yes, they do! MLA (9th edition) uses double quotation marks around article titles. Meanwhile, the container title, like a journal, magazine, or website, is italicized to stand out.
Q3: How should I format article titles in Chicago Style?
Chicago style loves quotation marks for article titles. You’ll wrap the article title in double quotes, and italicize the name of the source it was published. This applies whether you’re using footnotes or a bibliography.
Q4: Can I format article citations properly using WPS Word?
Absolutely. WPS Word gives you all the formatting tools you need, italics, quotation marks, font tweaks, and even hanging indents. Once you get used to it, you’ll fly through citation formatting like a pro.
Q5: What’s the difference between article titles and source titles?
This is a big one. The article title is the specific piece you’re referencing (like an essay or news story). The source title is the broader container that published it (like a journal or website). Different styles treat each one differently, so getting this distinction right matters.
