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How to Read a Citation

A guide to help you figure out how to decipher a citation, in any style!

Citation for a journal article

Here's an example of a journal article found through searching OneSearch:

Here's how that citation would look when it is formatted (CBE style):


 

The main way to tell that this is an journal article citation is the fact that there are two titles - the title of the article, and the title of the journal or periodical. An journal citation will also always list the volume and/or issue numbers of the journal where the article is found.  Many styles will often ask for a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) which is a persistent link that to the article.

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