APA and MLA are the two most widely required citation styles in academic writing, and students confuse them constantly. This guide gives you a clear, direct comparison of APA vs MLA — what each style looks like, where they differ, and which one your class most likely requires.
APA vs MLA: Quick Reference
| Feature | APA 7th Edition | MLA 9th Edition |
|---|---|---|
| In-text citation format | (Author, Year, p. #) | (Author Page#) |
| No comma between author and page | N/A — uses year, not page | Correct: (Smith 45) |
| Title page | Required (student format) | No — four-line header instead |
| Abstract | Usually required | Not required |
| Running head | Not required for student papers | Last name + page number |
| Bibliography section | References | Works Cited |
| DOI format | https://doi.org/xxxxx | Optional hyperlink |
| Author format in bibliography | Last, F. F. (Year). | Last, First. Title. |
| Primary disciplines | Psychology, education, social sciences, nursing | English, literature, languages, humanities |
Which Disciplines Use APA?
APA (American Psychological Association) is the standard citation style in psychology, education, social work, nursing, sociology, criminal justice, business, economics, and most other social science disciplines. If your course is in any of these fields, you almost certainly need APA format unless your professor specifies otherwise.
Which Disciplines Use MLA?
MLA (Modern Language Association) is the standard in English literature, literary criticism, comparative literature, language studies, cultural studies, and most other humanities disciplines. If your course is an English, literature, language, film, or art history course, you most likely need MLA unless your professor specifies otherwise.
APA vs MLA: In-Text Citations
This is the most visible difference between the two styles. APA uses author-date format; MLA uses author-page format.
Paraphrase
APA: (Smith, 2024)
MLA: (Smith 45)
Direct Quote
APA: (Smith, 2024, p. 45)
MLA: (Smith 45)
Author Named in Sentence
APA: Smith (2024) found that…
MLA: Smith argues that… (45).
Two Authors
APA: (Smith & Jones, 2024) — always ampersand inside parentheses
MLA: (Smith and Jones 78) — always «and»
Three or More Authors
APA: (Brown et al., 2023) — et al. from the first citation
MLA: (Brown et al. 112) — et al. from the first citation
No Page Number (Website)
APA: (Smith, 2024) — page number not needed for paraphrases
MLA: (Smith) — omit page reference entirely
APA vs MLA: Bibliography / Works Cited
The bibliography section has different names, different author formats, and different punctuation between the two styles.
Journal Article
APA: Brown, T. (2023). Cognitive flexibility and academic resilience. Journal of Educational Psychology, 115(4), 812–829. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000000
MLA: Brown, Tom. «Cognitive Flexibility and Academic Resilience.» Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 115, no. 4, 2023, pp. 812–829.
Key differences: APA uses initials only (Brown, T.), year immediately after author, sentence case for article title, volume and issue formatted differently. MLA uses full first name, title in quotation marks (title case), year at the end.
Book
APA: Smith, K. (2024). Introduction to research design (3rd ed.). American Psychological Association.
MLA: Smith, Karen. Introduction to Research Design. 3rd ed., American Psychological Association, 2024.
Key differences: APA uses initials, year in parentheses after author, sentence case for book title, no city. MLA uses full first name, title in title case, edition before publisher, year at the end.
Website
APA: Smith, J. (2024, October 15). Understanding cognitive biases. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/example
MLA: Smith, John. «Understanding Cognitive Biases.» Psychology Today, 15 Oct. 2024, www.psychologytoday.com/example.
APA vs MLA: Document Format
Title Page
APA requires a title page with the paper title (bold, centered), your name, institutional affiliation, course name and number, instructor name, and due date. MLA does not use a title page — instead, a four-line header (your name, professor’s name, course, date) appears at the top left of the first page, followed by the centered title.
Abstract
APA papers typically include an abstract (150–250 words, on its own page, with a keywords line). MLA papers do not include abstracts.
Page Header
APA student papers: page number only in top right corner (no running head). MLA: last name and page number in top right corner (Smith 1, Smith 2, etc.).
Headings
APA has a formal five-level heading hierarchy. The introduction is not labeled «Introduction» — the paper title serves as the Level 1 heading. MLA does not require headings, though section headings (bold, flush left) are acceptable in longer papers.
Margins, Font, and Spacing
Both APA and MLA use: 1-inch margins, Times New Roman 12pt (or comparable serif font), and double spacing throughout. The only spacing difference is that APA does not add extra space between paragraphs (already double-spaced), while MLA follows the same rule. Both use a 0.5-inch first-line paragraph indent.
The Biggest APA vs MLA Mistakes
- Putting a comma before the page number in MLA — MLA is (Smith 45), not (Smith, 45). Only APA uses a comma, and in APA you’re separating the author from the year, not the author from the page.
- Using the year in MLA citations — MLA in-text citations use the page number, not the year. The year appears only in the Works Cited entry.
- Omitting the year from APA in-text citations — APA requires the year every time: (Smith, 2024). Omitting it is one of the most common APA errors.
- Creating a title page for an MLA paper — MLA uses a header, not a title page.
- Calling the bibliography «Works Cited» in an APA paper — APA calls it «References.» MLA calls it «Works Cited.»
- Using «&» in the narrative text for APA — In APA, use «and» in sentences but «&» inside parentheses. In MLA, always use «and.»
When Would You Use Both?
Interdisciplinary courses sometimes require one style for citing social science sources and another for humanities sources — but this is rare, and your professor would specify it clearly. In practice, you will use one style per paper. When your paper draws on sources from multiple disciplines (common in interdisciplinary studies, cultural studies, or communication), use the style your department or your professor specifies, not the style of the source you’re citing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is APA or MLA easier?
Most students find MLA slightly easier to learn because the in-text citation format is simpler — just author and page number, no year, no comma. APA has more components to remember (year in every in-text citation, different title formatting, title page, abstract) but is still straightforward once learned. The templates on this site give you a pre-formatted starting point for both.
Does APA or MLA use footnotes?
Neither APA nor MLA uses footnotes for citations — that is Chicago style. APA and MLA both use in-text parenthetical citations. APA and MLA may use footnotes (or endnotes) for supplementary commentary — additional information that would interrupt the flow of the text but is still worth including. These are not citation footnotes; they are content notes.
Can I switch between APA and MLA in the same paper?
No. Use one citation style consistently throughout the entire paper, including all in-text citations and the bibliography. Mixing styles within a single paper is a formatting error.
Related Resources
- APA Format Template for Word — Free Download
- MLA Format Template for Word — Free Download
- How to Cite in APA: Complete Guide with Examples
- How to Cite in MLA: Complete Guide with Examples