No. Article titles stay plain; the journal name and volume get italics in most academic styles.
Writers hit a snag: what to italicize when citing work from scholarly journals. Style guides set clear patterns, and they differ by style. This guide shows the moves so your citations read clearly.
What “Italicize” Means In Scholarly Writing
Italics are a signal. They mark titles of complete works, terms that need emphasis, and specific elements in references. In academic citations, italics usually apply to the periodical title and the volume number. The individual article title stays in plain type. Quotation marks appear in some styles, not all.
When To Italicize Titles In Peer-Reviewed Journals
Here’s the broad pattern across major systems. Each row shows what happens to the article title, the journal title, and any volume or issue numbers. Use it as a map before you format your list.
| Style | Article Title | Journal + Volume |
|---|---|---|
| APA | Plain (sentence case); no quotes | Journal title and volume in italics |
| MLA | In quotation marks (headline case) | Journal title in italics; volume and issue follow |
| Chicago (Notes-Bibliography) | In quotation marks (headline case) | Journal title in italics; volume in roman |
| Chicago (Author-Date) | Plain or in quotes per local style; common practice uses quotes | Journal title in italics; volume in roman |
| AMA | Plain (capitalize only first word and proper nouns) | Journal name abbreviated and italicized |
| IEEE | In quotation marks (title case) | Journal or magazine title in italics |
Why This Pattern Exists
Think in parts and wholes. A journal is a complete publication, like a book series. An article is a part of that whole, like a chapter. Many systems set the whole in italics and the part in quotes or plain type. That contrast helps readers spot where the source lives.
Core Rules By Style With Examples
APA Style (7th Edition)
In references, keep the article title in sentence case and plain type. Italicize the periodical title and the volume. Add the issue in parentheses right after the volume, without italics. End with the page range and the DOI link when present. In running text, use sentence case for the article title and keep it plain.
Author order and punctuation follow the manual. The italics rule is steady: journal and volume take italics, not the article title. See the official APA italics guidance for confirmation.
APA Sample
Smith, J. A., & Lee, R. (2023). Decision speed in team settings. Journal of Organizational Research, 12(3), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.0000/jor.2023.01203
MLA Style (9th Edition)
In the works cited list, set the article title in quotation marks with headline capitalization. Set the journal title in italics. Add volume, issue, year, page span, and a DOI or URL if your instructor or editor allows links. In running text, keep the same pattern: article title in quotes; journal title in italics.
Purdue OWL states this pattern plainly on its periodicals page: article titles go in quotes, the periodical title goes in italics. See MLA periodicals.
MLA Sample
Smith, John A., and Rachel Lee. “Decision Speed in Team Settings.” Journal of Organizational Research, vol. 12, no. 3, 2023, pp. 145–162. https://doi.org/10.0000/jor.2023.01203.
Chicago Style
Both Chicago systems set the periodical title in italics. The article title sits in quotation marks in most house guides. Volume numbers are in roman type. Issue numbers and months sit in parentheses after the volume. Page numbers finish the entry. Running text keeps the same contrast.
Chicago Sample (Notes-Bibliography)
1. John A. Smith and Rachel Lee, “Decision Speed in Team Settings,” Journal of Organizational Research 12, no. 3 (2023): 145–62, https://doi.org/10.0000/jor.2023.01203.
AMA Style (11th Edition)
In references, write the article title in plain type with minimal capitalization. Abbreviate the journal name per the National Library of Medicine and set it in italics. Include year, volume, issue, and page range. Add the DOI if available. In the text of a paper, writers often keep the article title plain and set the journal name in italics.
AMA Sample
Smith JA, Lee R. Decision speed in team settings. J Organ Res. 2023;12(3):145-162. doi:10.0000/jor.2023.01203
IEEE Style
IEEE sets article titles in quotation marks. The journal or magazine name appears in italics. Add volume, number, pages, month, year, and the DOI when present.
IEEE Sample
J. A. Smith and R. Lee, “Decision Speed in Team Settings,” Journal of Organizational Research, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 145–162, 2023, doi: 10.0000/jor.2023.01203.
Common Edge Cases With Quick Fixes
Articles Ahead Of Print Or Online First
Use the same italics and quotes. Replace page numbers with an article ID or omit them when none exist. Include the DOI.
Special Sections, Supplements, Or Errata
Keep the same italics pattern. Add labels like “Suppl.” or “Erratum” where the guide expects them. Place the label after the volume or in the issue slot per system rules.
Non-English Journals
Follow the native title. Do not translate the journal name unless your editor asks. The italics rule stays the same.
Article Titles With Scientific Names
Italicize Latin genus and species inside the article title, even when the rest of the title is plain type. That small patch of italics is part of the scientific name, not a style shift for the title.
Very Long Article Titles
Do not shorten inside the reference list unless the guide allows it. In running text, paraphrase if needed while keeping a full entry on the reference page.
In-Text Mentions Versus Reference Entries
In running text, you can refer to a paper by plain title, by a paraphrase, or by a short title in quotes per house style. The journal name still takes italics. In the reference list, follow the system rules with full detail and stable punctuation.
Formatting Steps You Can Follow Every Time
- Start from the required style guide. Confirm whether the article title takes quotes, plain type, or sentence case.
- Write the periodical title in title case. Set it in italics.
- Add the volume number. In APA, the volume is italicized; in Chicago and others it stays roman.
- Place the issue number in parentheses right after the volume when the system wants it.
- Add the page span or article ID.
- Finish with the DOI as a URL if the guide allows links.
Quick Reference Table Of Italics And Quotes
| Element | Use Italics? | Use Quotes? |
|---|---|---|
| Article Title (APA) | No | No |
| Article Title (MLA) | No | Yes |
| Article Title (Chicago) | No | Yes |
| Article Title (AMA) | No | No |
| Article Title (IEEE) | No | Yes |
| Journal Title (All) | Yes | No |
| Volume Number (APA) | Yes | No |
| Volume Number (Chicago/MLA) | No | No |
Proof Checklist Before You Submit
- Article title set plain or in quotes per system, not in italics.
- Journal name in italics; volume handled per the system.
- Issue number placed right after the volume when needed.
- Year placed where the system wants it.
- Page range or article ID in the right format.
- DOI present and live when available, always.
- Spacing, commas, and periods match the samples above.
Quick Clarifications
Do You Ever Italicize An Article Title?
Yes in one narrow case: when the article title itself contains a Latin binomial. The scientific name stays italic by convention. The rest of the title remains plain or in quotes per the system.
Sources And Further Reading
For line-by-line rules, rely on the official manuals and teaching hubs. The APA site covers italics, and Purdue OWL explains MLA and Chicago patterns. The two links above land mid-page to match linking best practice.