MLA, APA, and Chicago are the three citation systems most students encounter during their academic careers. Each serves a different discipline and follows different logic. This guide gives you a direct, no-filler comparison across every dimension that matters — so you can identify which style you need and apply it correctly.
Which Field Uses Which Style
Style
Primary disciplines
Governing body
Current edition
MLA
Literature, languages, humanities, cultural studies, film
Modern Language Association
9th edition (2021)
APA
Psychology, social sciences, education, nursing, business
American Psychological Association
7th edition (2020)
Chicago NB
History, art history, philosophy, religious studies
University of Chicago Press
17th edition (2017)
Chicago AD
Some social sciences, economics
University of Chicago Press
17th edition (2017)
In-Text Citation Format
Situation
MLA
APA
Chicago NB
One author
(Smith 45)
(Smith, 2022, p. 45)
¹ Smith, Title, 45.
Two authors
(Smith and Jones 45)
(Smith & Jones, 2022, p. 45)
¹ Smith and Jones, Title, 45.
Three or more
(Smith et al. 45)
(Smith et al., 2022, p. 45)
¹ Smith et al., Title, 45.
No author
(«Article Title» 45)
(Title of Article, 2022, p. 45)
¹ «Article Title,» 45.
No page number
(Smith, par. 3) or (Smith)
(Smith, 2022)
¹ Smith, Title.
End-of-Paper Citation Format
Feature
MLA
APA
Chicago NB
Section title
«Works Cited»
«References»
«Bibliography»
Includes uncited sources?
No
No
Sometimes yes
Order
Alphabetical by author
Alphabetical by author
Alphabetical by author
Indentation
Hanging indent
Hanging indent
Hanging indent
Journal Article: Format Comparison
MLA
Smith, John A. "Memory Consolidation During Sleep in Young Adults." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, vol. 34, no. 5, 2022, pp. 912–928.
APA
Smith, J. A. (2022). Memory consolidation during sleep in young adults. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 34(5), 912–928. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01830
Chicago NB (bibliography entry)
Smith, John A. "Memory Consolidation During Sleep in Young Adults." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 34, no. 5 (2022): 912–928. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01830
Book: Format Comparison
Feature
MLA
APA
Chicago NB
Author format
Last, First (first author only)
Last, F. M. (all authors)
Last, First (bibliography); First Last (footnote)
Title case
Title Case, italicized
Sentence case, italicized
Title Case, italicized
Publisher location
Not required (removed in MLA 9)
Not required (removed in APA 7)
Required: City: Publisher
Year position
At end
After author, in parentheses
At end (NB) or after author (AD)
Paper Formatting Rules
Feature
MLA
APA
Chicago/Turabian
Title page
No separate page (info on p. 1)
Yes — required
Yes — required
Abstract
Not standard
Required for most papers
Not standard
Running head
Last name + page (top right)
Only for submitted manuscripts
Not required
Margins
1 inch all sides
1 inch all sides (2.54 cm)
1 inch all sides (Turabian)
Line spacing
Double throughout
Double throughout
Double throughout
Font
12 pt readable font
Times New Roman 12 pt or Calibri 11 pt
Times New Roman 12 pt
How to Identify Which Style You Need
Your situation
Most likely style
English literature, film studies, linguistics course
When your professor specifies a style, follow that. When the assignment doesn’t specify, look at what the leading journals in the field use — or ask before submitting.
