APA vs. MLA – Main Distinctions of Both Styles

22.11.22 Citing sources overview Time to read: 5min

How do you like this article?

0 Reviews


APA-vs.-MLA-Definition

As educators present new tasks, a prevalent enquiry from students often echoes, “Should we use APA or MLA?” Despite these citation formats being widely used, students may encounter challenges distinguishing the nuances of each. This article aims to offer in-depth guidance on both APA and MLA citation styles, aiding in the comprehension of these complex frameworks. By thoroughly understanding these guidelines, students will enhance their skills in citing sources accurately, thus maintaining the integrity of their academic work.

APA vs. MLA – In a Nutshell

  • In both styles, the source citation includes a brief parenthetical inside the text.
  • Both styles require a complete page of reference at the end.
  • However, there are slight differences in the order of the content in the references.
  • An instructor usually determines which style you should use.

Definition of APA vs. MLA

APA style and MLA are the most commonly used formatting and citation styles. The American Psychological Association introduced APA, while MLA is a product of The Modern Languages Association. The APA style is now in its 7th edition, while the MLA style is in its 9th edition, which we will discuss in this post.

Many students confuse APA vs. MLA formatting and reference styles because they have the following similarities:

Despite these similarities, the styles have varying rules, e.g. they have formats for title capitalization, date placement, and author names. Furthermore, there are layout and formatting differences between them.

Prevent Plagiarism
in Your Thesis
Make sure that your thesis is free from possible plagiarism!
To obtain a comprehensive plagiarism report in no more than 10 minutes, use the BachelorPrint Plagiarism Checker now. The plagiarism software will then detect and outline all citation errors in your thesis.

Which styles should be used? – APA vs. MLA

More often than not, your supervisor or institution will provide guidelines on using APA vs. MLA. However, different fields favour specific formats.

Example

  • APA is commonly used in social and behavioural sciences. Additionally, this style is favoured in education-related fields.
  • MLA is commonly applied in humanities fields, like languages, litreary research, and media.

Different in-text citations – APA vs. MLA

APA vs. MLA in-text citations, both contain the author’s name, year of publication, and page number. This type of in-text citation is called a parenthetical. However, they still have the following differences when choosing between APA vs. MLA style:

  • APA
    • Include the author’s last name and publication year. You must include the page number if you paraphrase a specific page.
  • MLA
    • Feature the author’s sir name and the page number. You do not need to add the publication year.

Multiple authors

Two authors: APA: In-text sources citation consists of two surnames, publication year, and the page number, e.g., Montgomery & Riley, 2020, p.16.
MLA: You can indicate their last names and page numbers, e.g., Montgomery and Riley 16.
Three or more authors:
APA: You can follow this example, Montgomery et al., 2020, p.16
MLA: You need not list all their names in in-text citations. For example, Montgomery et al. 16.

References vs. Works Cited – APA vs. MLA

In both APA vs. MLA reference and citation styles, you need a complete breakdown of all cited sources within the paper on a separate page at the end. In APA, the source’s page is called the “Reference List,” while in MLA, it is called the “Works Cited.” Below are the formats for APA vs. MLA style:

  • APA: Author’s surname, First name initial. (Year of publication). Publication Title (edition). Location. Publisher.
  • MLA: Author’s last name, First name. Publication Title. Edition, Publisher, Year of publication. (Punctuations as included)
Format Example
Name of the author- APA vs. MLA APA: last name, first name initial - for example. Montgomery, K
MLA: last name, first name. – for example, Montgomery, Ken.
Source title- APA vs. MLA APA: sentence case (capitalize after a colon) – E.G., Democracy: A brief explanation of its role in society
MLA: title case – E.G., Democracy: A Brief Explanation of its Role in Society
Title formatting- APA vs. MLA APA: Italics for books or journals
o Democracy: Its role in society. Relevant data: A Journal of History
MLA: Quotation marks for chapters or articles, italics for books or journals
o “Democracy: Its role in society.” Relevant data: A Journal of History
Date of publication- APA vs. MLA APA: after the author’s name, inside brackets – e.g., Montgomery, K. (2020)
MLA: later, in reference, not in the brackets – e.g., ….no. 4, 2020
Location of publication- APA vs. MLA APA: not necessary
MLA: not necessary
Internet sources- APA vs. MLA APA: URLs and DOIs, no periods- for example, https://www.MLAvsAPA.com/differences
MLA: URLs and DOIs with periods in the end – for example, https://www.MLAvsAPA.com/differences.

Paper formatting in APA vs. MLA

The overall paper formatting rules for APA and MLA are alike. For instance, they both require:

  • Times New Roman font (12pt)
  • 1-inch margins
  • Double-spacing

Despite the similarities, there are also different guidelines for areas like the title page and header, running head, and block quoting.

APA title page vs. MLA header

Another difference in APA vs. MLA is in this area. For example, In APA style, a title page is required. In addition, the text in an APA title page or cover page should be centred and double-spaced.

In MLA, a title page is not necessary. Instead, you need a four-line header.

Note that the list should be aligned to the left and double-spaced. Additionally, the title of the paper should be centred under the four-line header.

APA MLA
• Title of your page
• Your full name
• Institution
• Department
• Course
• Supervisor
• Submission
• Your full name
• Supervisor
• Course title or number
• Submission
• Title of your page

APA title Page

APA-vs.-MLA-Title-Page

MLA running head

APA-vs.-MLA-Running-Head
Give your thesis a final format revision prior to printing
Have a last check of your formatting with our 3D preview feature before sending your thesis to print. The accurate virtual representation of what the physical print will look like, affords you to ensure the printed version aligns with your expectations.

Running head differences

  • APA: The RH is unnecessary in student papers. However, if instructed otherwise, it should consist of a page number atop each page (right-aligned). On the other hand, for a manual script to be published, the RH should include a shortened, 50-character-long version of the title.
  • MLA: It should feature your sir name and the page number (both right-aligned) atop every page.

Block quotes

A block quote is a lengthy quotation usually formatted as a separate text block on a new line, without quotation marks and an in-text citation at the end quote after the period. In both APA vs. MLA, the block quote needs an introductory statement, which ends with a colon before the block quote.

In APA, any quote featuring more than forty words should be configured as a block quote. For example, an in-text citation.

Readers quickly familiarise themselves with Carrey’s relationship with Aristotle at the mention of the illustrations:

Example

Only Aristotle, the brains behind this book, was excused from my response- Aristotle embodied many things that I have genuine disdain for. If indeed a person’s upbringing influences his personality, then Aristotle may have been born to perfect parents, with keen parenting. (Montgomery, 2020, p. 4)

In MLA, any quote featuring more than four prose lines or more than three verse lines should be structured as a block quote. For instance, in in-text citation:

Readers quickly familiarise themselves with Carrey’s relationship with Aristotle at the mention of the illustrations:

Example

Only Aristotle, the brains behind this book, was excused from my response-Aristotle embodied all the things I have genuine disdain for. If indeed a person’s upbringing influences his personality, then Aristotle may have been born to perfect parents, with keen parenting. (Montgomery 4)

FAQs

Yes, APA, is commonly used in social and behavioural sciences, while MLA is common in humanities and litreary research studies.

Normally, your instructor will advise you on which style to use. Some institutions have guidelines on reference and citation styles.

It is hard to specify which style is more popular because both are widely used among college students. However, MLA is a preferred option among high-school students.

Both APA vs. MLA styles can be slightly confusing. However, they have straightforward rules.


From

Salome Stolle

How do you like this article?

0 Reviews
 
About the author

Salome Stolle works as the brand manager for the English market at BachelorPrint. Throughout her 12-year residency in Denmark, she completed her International baccalaureate and Master’s in Culture, Communication, and Globalization with a specialization in media and market consumption. Through this experience, she has gained advanced competencies in academic writing and a high proficiency level in the English language. With her passion for writing, she does not only deliver well-written content but also strives to adjust to the students’ demands.

Show all articles from this author
About
BachelorPrint | #1 Online Printing Service
For Australian Students

BachelorPrint is an online printing service specialised in printing and binding academic papers, theses, and dissertations. Offering a wide arrange of bindings and configurations, BachelorPrint aims to enable every Australian student to receive its desired binding. Additionally, BachelorPrint offers hundreds of educational articles on various topics regarding academic writing in its Study Guide, supporting students with writing their thesis or dissertation.


Our posts on other topics