Conquer the Citation Jungle: How to MLA a New York Times Article (Without Tears, We Promise)
Ah, research papers. The bane of many a student's existence. But fear not, intrepid scholar! We're here to tackle one tiny, yet crucial, aspect of this academic beast: citing a New York Times article in MLA format.
Facing the Fearsome Front Page: Author or No Author?
First things first, check the article itself. Does it have a byline, a glorious little credit line with the author's name? If so, you're in luck! Skip ahead to The Citation Samba for a victory dance (metaphorically speaking, unless you're feeling particularly jazzed).
But what if the article is authorless, a faceless entity in the vast ocean of journalism? Don't panic! The Headline Hero is here to save the day.
The Headline Hero: When Anonymity Reigns
For authorless articles, the title of the article becomes the first element of your in-text citation. Just put it in quotation marks and treat it like a champion (because it totally is).
Here's an example:
"Scientists Discover Laughter May Actually Be Contagious" (The New York Times).
See? Easy as pie, or maybe easy as a chuckle shared with a friend (because, hey, science!).
The Citation Samba: The Fun Part (Finally!)
Now, for the glorious Citation Samba. Here's how it goes:
- Author's Last Name, First Name. (Yes, in that order.)
- "Title of the Article: Subtitle (if any)." (Titles get fancy quotation marks, subtitles get a colon.)
- The New York Times (Italicize the whole newspaper name, because respect.)
- Date of Publication. (Find it near the article's title or online publication date.)
- URL (if you found the article online).
Here's the whole dance put together:
Lee, Jessica. "Microwaving Leftovers May Not Be So Bad After All." The New York Times, 12 February 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/dining/microwave-oven.html
Bonus Tip: If you're citing a print copy, you can add the page number after the date (e.g., 12 Feb. 2024, A10).
Frequently Asked Citation Questions (FAQ):
How to cite a New York Times article with multiple authors?
Just list the authors' last names in the order they appear, separated by commas (e.g., Smith, Jane, and John Doe).
How to cite a New York Times editorial?
Instead of an author's name, use "Editorial Board."
How to cite a specific section of a New York Times article?
Include the section name and paragraph number after the page number (e.g., A10, para. 3).
How to cite a New York Times article translated from another language?
Mention the original language in brackets after the title (e.g., "Why Cats Rule the Internet [Originally published in French]").
💡 This page may contain affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
