The main parts of a periodical source are author, title of article, and publication information which can include the title of the periodical, the volume year, the year of publication, and inclusive page numbers.
Article in a monthly magazine
In addition to the author, the title of the article, and the title of the magazine, list the month and year and the page numbers on which the article appears. Abbreviate the names of months except May, June, and July.
- Lukacs, John. “The End of the Twentieth Century.” Harper's Jan. 1993: 39-58. Print.
Article in a weekly magazine
Handle articles in weekly (or biweekly) magazines as you do those for monthly magazines, but give the exact date of the issue, not just the month and year.
- Pierpont, Claudia Roth. “A Society of One: Zora Neale Hurston, American Contrarian.” New Yorker 17 Feb. 1997: 80-86. Print.
Unsigned article in a newspaper or magazine
Use the same form you would use for an article in a newspaper or a weekly or monthly magazine, but begin with the title of the article.
- “Marines Charged in Assault Case.” Houston Chronicle 14 Feb. 1998: B6. Print.
Letter to the editor
Cite the writer's name, followed by the word “Letter” and the publication information for the newspaper or magazine in which the letter appears.
- Peters, Tom. Letter. New Yorker 16 Feb. 1998: 13. Print.
Article in a journal paginated by volume
Many professional journals continue page numbers throughout the year instead of beginning each issue with page 1. At the end of the year, all of the issues are collected in a volume. Interested readers need only the volume number, the year, and the page numbers to find a particular article.
- Segal, Gabriel. “Seeing What is Not There.” Philosophical Review 98 (1989): 189-214. Print.
Article in a journal paginated by issue
If each issue of the journal begins with page 1, you need to indicate the number of the issue. Simply place a period after the number of the volume, followed by the number of the issue
- Johnson, G. J. “A Distinctiveness Model of Serial Learning.” Psychological Review 98.2 (1991): 204-17. Print.
Article in a daily newspaper
Begin with the author, if there is one, followed by the title of the article. Next give the name of the newspaper, the date, the section letter or number, and the page number.
- Sun, Lena H. “Chinese Feel the Strain of a New Society.” Washington Post 13 June 1993: A1+. Print.