APA vs. MLA: Which Citation Style Should You Use?
Choosing between APA and MLA citation styles depends on your academic discipline, instructor requirements, and the type of paper you're writing. This guide breaks down the key differences.
When to Use APA
APA (American Psychological Association) is standard in social sciences, psychology, education, and business. It emphasizes the date of publication, reflecting the importance of recent research in these fields.
When to Use MLA
MLA (Modern Language Association) is used in humanities, literature, and liberal arts. It focuses on authorship and page numbers for precise text location.
Key Differences
| Feature | APA | MLA |
|---|---|---|
| In-text citation | (Author, Year) | (Author Page) |
| Page title | References | Works Cited |
| Title page | Required | Not required (header instead) |
| Date emphasis | After author name | End of entry |
| Heading levels | 5 levels defined | No strict system |
In-Text Citation Examples
APA: Research shows that writing skills improve with practice (Smith, 2024).
MLA: Research shows that writing skills improve with practice (Smith 42).
Use our citation generator to format citations in any style automatically.