Do you put a scholarly article in quotes?

Answered by Robert Flynn

When it comes to citing sources and formatting titles, it is important to follow certain conventions to ensure clarity and consistency. In general, longer works such as books, journals, and plays are italicized, while shorter works such as poems, articles, and short stories are placed in quotation marks.

Therefore, when referring to a scholarly article, it should be placed in quotation marks. This convention helps distinguish shorter works from longer ones and aids in the proper identification of the source being referenced. By using quotation marks, you signal to readers that you are referring to a specific article within a larger body of scholarly work.

For example, if you were discussing an article titled “The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity” published in the journal Environmental Science, you would write: “In the article ‘The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity’ published in the journal Environmental Science, the authors explore the various ways in which climate change affects ecosystems.”

On the other hand, if you were discussing a book titled *The Theory of Relativity*, you would write: “Einstein’s groundbreaking ideas are encapsulated in his book *The Theory of Relativity*, which revolutionized our understanding of physics.”

It is worth noting that different style guides may have their own specific rules regarding the formatting of titles. For instance, the Modern Language Association (MLA) style typically uses italics for longer works, while the American Psychological Association (APA) style uses italics for book titles but puts article titles in sentence case without any special formatting.

When it comes to citing scholarly articles, it is best to place them in quotation marks to distinguish them from longer works. By adhering to these formatting conventions, you ensure that your writing is clear, consistent, and properly references the sources you are drawing from.