The American Psychological Association (APA) and Modern Language Association (MLA) are two of the most commonly used styles for formatting research papers and citing sources. While both aim to provide guidelines for writing academic papers, there are some key differences between formatting and citation rules when writing a paper in APA style versus MLA style.
Formatting
APA and MLA style share some basic formatting rules but differ in certain areas. Both styles require double-spaced paragraphs with 1-inch margins and a readable font like Times New Roman size 12. APA style requires a running head on each page and a title page with a running head, the paper title, author name, and institution. MLA style does not use a running head or separate title page and instead simply lists the author’s name, class information, and date in the top right header of the first page only.
In-Text Citations
The most noticeable difference is how sources are cited within the text of the paper. APA style uses the author’s last name and publication year while MLA style uses the author’s last name only. For example, an in-text citation of a source by Smith would be (Smith, 2020) in APA but (Smith) in MLA. APA style also requires the page or paragraph number for direct quotes. Additionally, APA places citations before ending punctuation while MLA places citations after.
Reference Page
The reference page is styled very differently in APA versus MLA. APA requires a References page titled centered at the top with sources double-spaced and arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name. MLA style uses a Works Cited page instead, with sources also double-spaced but listed numerically in order of appearance.
APA reference listings provide specific elements like the author, year of publication, title, source, and publisher location in a precise order. MLA listings contain the author, title, publication title, volume/issue, publication date, and publisher location in a slightly different order. One key difference is MLA requires the medium of publication (e.g. Print, Web) and APA does not. Also MLA prefers issue numbers instead of volume for journals.
Headings
Another formatting distinction is the use of headings. APA guidelines include five heading levels formatted with specific styles like bold, italics, centering, and indentation using uppercase and lowercase letters. MLA does not provide guidance on headings, instead recommending a consistent style throughout the paper.
Some additional formatting rules are unique to each style. In APA, page numbers should be flush right on the title page and all subsequent pages should have just the running head flush left. MLA style specifies the last name and page number should appear in the top right header. APA requires a separate abstract page for scholarly papers, while MLA does not.
Citing Non-Text Sources
MLA and APA style have detailed guidelines for citing sources beyond traditional written texts like artwork, audiovisual materials, social media, and datasets. The level of detail and styling expected varies substantially. APA citations include elements like medium, creator roles, and date accessed for websites and DOIs for research data. MLA places less emphasis on technical details and prefers short citations styles for media and data.
While APA and MLA styles follow basic formatting conventions, they differ in key areas like in-text citations, reference page styling, use of headings, and guidance for citing non-traditional sources. Learning the precise formatting rules for each citation style is important for academicians and researchers to properly attribute sources and present papers in the expected format for various disciplines. Choosing between the APA or MLA citation style also depends on assignments, publication guidelines, and the predominant referencing practices in a given subject area. Mastering both is valuable for writing across different academic domains.