Scholarly vs. Popular Sources

What's the difference between a "scholarly article" and a "popular article"? Journal articles are typically referred to as "scholarly" and written with other researchers in mind. Magazine articles are usually considered "popular" and regardless of their popularity, are written for a general audience. A third category, "trade" magazines or journals, are written for professionals in the field but are not strictly research related.

Use the guide below to explore each of these source types and learn more about the differences between them.

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