Citing and referencing: Journal articles

A guide to the styles recommended by Monash schools and departments for students and researchers
  • A reference for a journal article includes the author names, year of publication, article title, journal title, volume number and page range. It does not include the issue number, web address or the retrieval date.
  • Articles may have a DOI (Digital object identifier: a unique number which provides a persistent link to the item online).  If so, this can be included at the end of the reference.
  • If the article doesn’t have a volume or page range or has a future publication year, it is likely to be an online early or online only article:
    • Online early articles: (also referred to as in press, advance online, ahead of print, accepted manuscript) are made available online as soon as possible after being accepted by a journal, although they are not in their final format. In future the final version may be published in print and assigned a volume and page range.
    • Online only articles: Some journals are published online only (i.e. not in print as well) and articles published in these journals may never be assigned a volume or page range. They may have electronic page numbers or a document number. 
  • Include all author names in references in the reference list, in the order they appear on the article.
  • Give the journal title in full, in upper and lower case letters. The title should be italicised (e.g. Australian Journal of Botany).
  • Tools for finding the full journal title if you have an abbreviated title:

 

 

One author

Format

Author AA (Year of publication) Title of article. Journal Title volume number, page–page. doi:xxxx
Examples

Reis PJ (1999) Effectiveness of intravenous and abomasal doses of mimosine for defleecing sheep and effects on subsequent wool growth. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 29, 1043-1055. doi:10.1071/AR9781043

Smith JAM (2013) The role of Phragmites australis in mediating inland salt marsh migration in a mid-Atlantic estuary. PLoS One 8, e65091. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065091

 

Two or more authors

Format

Author AA, Author BB (Year of publication) Title of article. Journal Title volume number, page–page. doi:xxxx
Examples

Alvarez-Yepiz JC, Cueva A, Dovaciak M, Teece M, Yepez EA (2014) Ontogenetic resource-use strategies in a rare long-lived cycad along environmental gradients. Conservation Physiology 2. doi:10.1093/conphys/cou034

Mays PA, Edwards GS (2001) Comparison of heavy metal accumulation in a natural wetland and constructed wetlands receiving acid mine drainage. Ecological Engineering 16, 487-500. doi:10.1016/S0925-8574(00)00112-9

Vening GS, Guja LK, Spooner PG, Price JN (2017) Seed dormancy and germination of three grassy woodland forbs required for diverse restoration. Australian Journal of Botany. BT17036. doi:10.1071/BT17036

 

Two or more articles by same author(s) in same year

Format

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC (Year of publication a) Title of article. Journal Title volume number, page–page. doi:xxxx

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC (Year of publication b) Title of article. Journal Title volume number, page–page. doi:xxxx
Examples

Brask M, Lund P, Hellwing ALF, Poulsen M, Weisbjerg MR (2013a) Enteric methane production, digestibility and rumen fermentation in dairy cows fed different forages with and without rapeseed fat supplementation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 184, 67-79. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2013.06.006

Brask M, Lund P, Weisbjerg MR, Hellwing ALF, Poulsen M, Larsen MK, Hvelplund T (2013b) Methane production and digestion of different physical forms of rapeseed as fat supplements in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 2356-2365. doi:10.3168/jds.2011-5239