Articles usually report original scholarly research. Most illustrations are charts, figures, or graphs. Authors use the specialized language or jargon of the discipline. Authors are free lance writers or magazine staff members. Authors may mention sources, but rarely cite them in notes or bibliographies.
Individual issues contain many advertisements.
There is no peer review process. Articles are reviewed by editors or publishers. Illustrations are numerous and colorful. Articles are meant to inform and entertain an educated audience. The Modern Language Association International Bibliography indexes 3,000 English language and foreign periodicals as well as books, book chapters, and dissertations.