What is the difference between APA and MLA formatting
Our Stats
Customers
Writers Active
Av. Quality Score
4.5/5.0
Writers Online
Why Choose StudyGroom?
We not only promise a 24/7 support availability and timely delivery of all your papers. You also get a ton of other asuarances that our service comes with.
Satisfaction
Satisfaction guarantee.
Authenticity
100% original papers.
Money Back
The grade or money back.
Confidentiality
We protect your privacy.
What is the difference between APA and MLA formatting
In academic writing, proper formatting and citation are crucial in conveying information accurately and credibly. APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association) are two widely used formatting styles. While both styles aim to ensure consistency and clarity in scholarly work, they have distinct differences that distinguish them from each other.
Understanding these differences is essential for writers to meet the specific requirements of their disciplines and effectively communicate their ideas. APA and MLA are widely used citation styles, but what sets them apart? This article will explore the distinctions between APA and MLA formats. We will address when to employ each style and offer appropriate APA and MLA citation examples.
What is APA?
APA style is a popular citation format primarily utilized in the social sciences and education, business, and certain scientific disciplines. The acronym APA stands for the American Psychological Association. Essentially, the APA style encompasses a set of guidelines governing the formatting of citations, title pages, headers, and various other elements of research papers.
What is MLA?
MLA style is the preferred citation format for fields in the humanities, such as literature. It was established by the Modern Language Association of America, an organization composed of scholars and educators in language and literature. Like the APA style, MLA provides guidelines for formatting citations and structuring research papers.
There is a strong preference for uniformity in the academic realm as it enables efficient communication. As a result, various writing styles have been established that must be adhered to to achieve high scores. This article will delve into the distinct differences between the APA and MLA writing styles and provide insights on effectively utilising them. The goal is to ensure that your research papers meet the specific requirements of each style.
Which style should I use?
Typically, your department or supervisor will inform you of the citation style to use in your writing. If you’re unsure, it’s advisable to consult your institution’s guidelines or directly inquire for clarification. In some cases, you may have the freedom to select the citation style yourself. In such instances, it is recommended to choose a style that aligns with your area of study. APA style is commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences, as well as in education-related fields. On the other hand, MLA style is predominantly utilized in humanities subjects, including languages, literary studies, and media studies.
The difference between APA and MLA
MLA format, preferred by the Modern Language Association (MLA), is often used for humanities subjects such as history and literature. On the other hand, the APA format, preferred by the American Psychological Association (APA), is commonly used for social science-oriented subjects like psychology and criminology. It’s important to adhere to these citation styles to avoid plagiarism and maintain the professionalism of your paper. Below, you’ll find a comparison of the rules and examples for citing sources in MLA and APA formats. Following these guidelines diligently will ensure that you don’t lose marks and present your work polished.
The bibliography
In MLA format, the bibliography at the end of the paper is referred to as “Works Cited.” It contains complete bibliographic information for all the texts that have been cited. On the other hand, APA format uses the label “References” for this list, which includes both cited and consulted works. In both styles, the entries in the bibliography are arranged alphabetically based on the last name of the first author.
In addition, there are variations in the way individual entries are organized in APA and MLA bibliographies. These differences mainly pertain to:
- How author names are presented differs in APA and MLA styles. APA format abbreviates the author’s first name by using only the initial letter followed by a period (Smith, J.). On the other hand, MLA format includes both the author’s last name and first name (Smith, Jane).
- Regarding capitalization, there are differences between APA and MLA styles. In APA style, only the first word of a title, the first word after a colon, and any proper nouns are capitalized. On the other hand, in MLA style, all of the words in a title are capitalized, except articles.
- In terms of date placement, APA and MLA styles have different requirements. In APA style, the publication date is placed in parentheses after the author’s name, like Smith, J. (2020). On the other hand, in MLA style, for books, the publication date is placed at the very end, while for journals, it is placed after the volume and issue numbers.
- In both APA and MLA styles, journal articles’ volume and issue numbers are placed after the journal-title. However, there are differences in how they are formatted. In APA style, the volume number is italicized and placed directly next to the issue number within parentheses, like 6(3). On the other hand, MLA style uses the abbreviations “vol.” (volume) and “no.” (number) and places a comma between them, like this: Journal of Pedagogy, vol. 6, no. 3.
When creating your bibliography, organize the authors and editors you referenced in your paper. In MLA style, this list is referred to as “Works Cited,” while in APA style, it is called “References.” To link these citations to the corresponding statements in your paper, include a brief citation within parentheses next to the information you sourced.
Organizing entries in your bibliography
When organizing your references, APA and MLA styles have different requirements. In MLA style, you should arrange your entries alphabetically by the authors’ last names, followed by the titles. On the other hand, in APA style, the entries should be arranged alphabetically by the authors’ last names. Still, if multiple works by the same author are cited, they should be listed chronologically according to publication dates.
Citing multiple works by the same author
In MLA style, when citing multiple works by the same author, the works are listed alphabetically, and the author’s name is only stated once. Each listing of the author’s other works begins with three hyphens, a period, the title of the work, and another period. In APA style, the works are simply listed chronologically, and the author’s name is included in all listings of their work.
The titles of articles
- In MLA style, article titles should be enclosed in quotation marks, and all major words should be capitalized.
- In APA style, only the first word of the title should be capitalized, and there is no need to use quotation marks.
In-text parenthesis
- In MLA style, use the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses when citing in your text.
- In APA style, when citing in your text, use the author’s last name, the publishing year, and the page number preceded by “p.” in parentheses.
Running head
- In APA Style, it is required to include a right-aligned page number at the top of each page.
- For manuscripts that will be submitted for publication, it is also necessary to include an APA running head, which is a shortened version of your paper’s title (up to 50 characters long). The running head should be in all capitals and left-aligned.
- However, the running head is not required in student papers unless you are specifically instructed to include it.
Block quote formatting
- Block quotes are lengthy quotations that are presented as a separate block of text, with no quotation marks, and are indented from the left margin.
- In APA style, block quote formatting is applied to quotes that are 40 words or longer. In MLA style, block quote formatting is used for quotes that exceed four lines of prose or three lines of verse.
- In both styles, the in-text citation is placed after the period at the end of the block quote.
Sample citations
When citing a book
In MLA book citation
- The author’s last name, followed by their first name.
- The title of the book, which should be italicized.
- The city where the book was published, the name of the publisher, and the year of publication.
- The medium of publication (e.g., print, ebook).
- If you are citing multiple books, provide separate citations for each book.
- Include any additional information that may be relevant or required for the citation.
In APA book citation
- The author’s last name, followed by the initials of their first and middle names.
- The publishing year in parentheses.
- The title of the book in italics.
- The city and state where it was published, followed by a colon and the name of the publisher.
When citing an article
According to MLA format
- Start with the author’s last name, followed by their first name.
- Place the article title in quotation marks.
- Italicize the journal title.
- Include the volume and release number of the journal.
- Provide the date of publication.
- Mention the page numbers of the article.
- Specify the name of the database where the article is found.
- Include the DOI number if available, or use a URL/permalink.
- Lastly, include the date when the article was accessed, in the format Day Month Year.
According to APA format
- Start with the author’s last name, followed by their first initial.
- Place the publication year in parentheses.
- Include both the article title and subtitle.
- Italicize the journal title.
- Provide the volume number.
- Place the release number in parentheses.
- Mention the page numbers of the article.
- Include the DOI number if available.
Spacing
Both MLA and APA styles have their own guidelines for spacing text in a paper. Here are the rules:
- MLA style requires double-spacing in the header and body text.
- APA style requires double-spacing on the title page and in the body text.
Font and margins
Both MLA and APA writing styles have consistent guidelines regarding the choice of font and margin size. Here are the specifications for each style:
- In MLA style, a 12-point font is used with 1-inch margins.
- Similarly, APA style also requires a 12-point font and 1-inch margins.
Short quotations
When including short quotations from an author in your paper, both MLA and APA styles have specific guidelines. Here’s how to format them:
- In MLA style, use the following formula: “Author Name states that Topic can ‘quotation’ (page number).”
- In APA style, use the following formula: “According to Author Name (Year), Topic can ‘quotation’ (p. #).”
Having difficulty with using quotations in your writing? No worries! You can conveniently order an essay online from Studygroom. Simply send us a message saying “write papers for me”, and we will promptly get in touch with you.
Title page / first page header
The two styles have different preferences regarding the introduction of a paper. MLA does not require a separate title page but instead requires a header on the first page that includes the following information: name, lecturer/professor, subject, and date. The title of the essay is centered and placed at the beginning of the paper. On the other hand, APA style mandates a separate title page that includes the title, author’s name, and university affiliation.
MLA vs APA – which to choose?
Teachers in elementary and high school tend to favor the MLA style as it is easier to teach and is more suitable for basic subjects that do not involve extensive scientific research. On the other hand, APA style is considered advanced and scholarly, and students usually encounter it when they enter college or university. APA style is commonly used for subjects that involve hypothesis formulation, experiment testing, and report writing. In university and other academic settings where referencing is important, professionals who check sources prefer MLA or APA styles as it helps expedite the grading or research process.
Conclusion
Effective communication is a cornerstone of the academic community, where scholars are often judged by their adherence to rules such as accurate citation. Therefore, it is vital to familiarize oneself with the various formats and styles used for referencing sources in order to support one’s claims. A comprehensive understanding of these styles enhances the quality and credibility of one’s academic papers, opening doors to pursue ambitious academic and professional aspirations.