Back to Blog

Citing Journal Articles in ACS Style: Expert Guidelines

By ACS Citation Team
journals
research papers
academic writing
advanced guide

Journal articles are the cornerstone of scientific literature, and citing them correctly is crucial for academic writing. This comprehensive guide will help you master ACS-style citations for journal articles.

Understanding ACS Journal Citation Format

The basic format for journal articles in ACS style is:

Author 1; Author 2; Author 3; etc. Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume, Pages.

Example Citations

  1. Standard Journal Article:
Smith, J. B.; Johnson, M. R.; Williams, A. K. New Developments in Organic Synthesis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 1234-1245.
  1. Article with DOI:
Zhang, L.; Liu, R. Metal-Catalyzed Reactions. Organometallics 2024, 43, 78-89. https://doi.org/10.1021/example

Essential Elements of Journal Citations

1. Author Names

  • List all authors (no "et al.")
  • Last name, followed by initials
  • Separate authors with semicolons
  • No spaces between initials

2. Article Title

  • Capitalize first word only
  • Include subtitles after colon
  • Preserve special characters

3. Journal Information

  • Use standard abbreviations
  • Include year, volume, pages
  • DOI when available

Journal Name Abbreviations

ACS style requires specific journal abbreviations. Common examples:

  • Journal of the American Chemical Society → J. Am. Chem. Soc.
  • The Journal of Organic Chemistry → J. Org. Chem.
  • Chemical Reviews → Chem. Rev.
  • Organic Letters → Org. Lett.

Special Cases in Journal Citations

1. Articles in Press

Author(s). Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation ASAP.

2. Online Early Access

Author(s). Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation [Online early access]. DOI: [number].

3. Supplemental Information

Author(s). Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume, Pages; Supporting Information.

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)

Why Include DOIs?

  • Permanent identification
  • Easy access to articles
  • Required by many journals

DOI Format

  • Include at end of citation
  • Use https://doi.org/ prefix
  • Maintain exact formatting

Common Citation Mistakes

  1. Author-Related Errors

    • Wrong name order
    • Missing authors
    • Incorrect punctuation

  2. Journal Information

    • Wrong abbreviations
    • Missing volume numbers
    • Incorrect page ranges

  3. Formatting Issues

    • Inconsistent style
    • Wrong capitalization
    • Missing punctuation

Best Practices for Journal Citations

  1. Verification

    • Check author names
    • Verify journal details
    • Confirm page numbers

  2. Organization

    • Keep citation records
    • Use citation managers
    • Document DOIs

  3. Formatting

    • Follow style guide
    • Be consistent
    • Double-check abbreviations

Tools for Journal Citations

  1. Citation Management Software

    • EndNote
    • Zotero
    • Mendeley

  2. Online Resources

Advanced Tips

1. Handling Multiple References

  • Use superscript numbers
  • Order by appearance
  • Group related citations

2. In-Text Citations

  • Place after punctuation
  • Use consecutive numbers
  • Avoid repetition

3. Reference Lists

  • Number sequentially
  • Match text citations
  • Include all cited works

Citation Examples by Journal Type

1. Print Journals

Author(s). Title. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume, Pages.

2. Online-Only Journals

Author(s). Title. Journal Abbreviation Year, Volume, Article Number or Pages. DOI.

3. Translated Journals

Author(s). Title. Journal Abbreviation (English Translation) Year, Volume, Pages.

Conclusion

Mastering ACS journal citations takes practice, but attention to detail pays off. Remember:

  • Follow format exactly
  • Include all components
  • Be consistent
  • Verify information

Need help formatting your journal citations? Try our ACS Citation Generator, which handles all these details automatically.