MLA and APA are two of the most popular formatting styles used in academic writing. They are both used by scholars from all over the world who want their papers to be accepted within the scientific community. Academic paper writing has rigid rules, hence, the same applies to formatting. MLA and APA both follow a set of strict rules to ensure all papers look uniform.
Most students have to use both MLA and APA during their years at college; that's why it's so important that you master them. There are many differences between MLA and APA, so in this post, we will highlight those differences in references, citations, and paper format.
MLA vs. APA: Main Similarities
The latest 9th edition of MLA and 7th edition of APA share lots of differences. But first, we want to cover the similarities. Both MLA and APA recommend using 12-point Times New Roman, with one inch margins, the text should be double-spaced, and aligned to the left. MLA format and APA format both use in-text citations rather than footnotes. Each citation must have a corresponding entry in the reference list.
Both styles are very widely used across academia, hence, are frequently updated. Professors, though, might have a different idea and require you to use an older version of the guide to format your paper. Students find it hard to keep track of all the tiny changes, that's why guides like this one can be of great help.
MLA vs. APA: Time-Saving Hacks
Although the overlap in MLA and APA is small, there are still some rules that match. Generally, these match all styles. Learning these key rules will help you save some time on each paper. It might not seem like much, but the time saved really does add up.
To deal with papers in both MLA and APA formats quicker, remember the following rules by heart:
- Font is 12-pt, Times New Roman.
- 1-inch margins are used all over, with the text aligned left.
- The first line of each paragraph is indented 1/2 inch.
- Block quotes call for the same formatting, with line breaks and indentation.
Difference between MLA and APA
With the basics covered, it's time to move on to the good stuff. The first difference between MLA and APA is when each is used. APA is most commonly used with the Social Sciences, while MLA is often applied to papers on the Humanities. References, citations, and the title page also differ. These differences range from tiny to huge ones, so keep reading to find out about each.
In-Text Citations in MLA vs. APA
An in-text citation is a succinct pointer that is used to save space by guiding the reader to the full reference in the end. They are used in both styles. In embedded citations, which are the ones that are placed at the end of a sentence, MLA and APA use a different system, author-page and author-date respectively.
MLA citations contain the author's last name followed by a page number without a comma in between. The page number may be omitted for sources where it's not available, like web pages.
Social media has reshaped interactions between American teenagers and their peers in ways that are unlikely to be reversed (Smith 12).
In APA, embedded in-text citations require the writer to mention the name of the author, followed by the publication date. Unlike MLA, APA citations also contain a comma between the name and the year.
Researchers agree that humanity is unlikely to relinquish the convenience of smartphones, despite their use being connected to declining public mental health (Smith, 2019).
In APA, unlike MLA, page numbers are only used for direct quotes. They are abbreviated as p. or pp. for quoting one or multiple pages respectively.
For both MLA and APA, page numbers can sometimes be omitted if they are not available. For example, if you're using a documentary film or a website as a source. However, your professor may require you to use a different location marker, like a time stamp, to ensure accuracy.
Referencing is a tedious process that requires lots of focus, attention and time. If you can tell you don't have either of those, you can always place a proofreading order at MyPaperHelp. A professional writer can take your draft and format it in any style, quickly and without errors.
Reference Lists in MLA vs. APA
MLA and APA follow a pretty different set of rules when it comes to formatting the reference page. The first distinction is the name of the page itself. In MLA it's titled Works Cited, while in APA the heading is References.
In any formatting style, there will be different rules for referencing each type of source. A bibliography entry for a book will look very different from a reference to a journal article or a website.
The same applies to different sources in APA and MLA. Books, journal articles and other sources will not look the same in these two formats. The publication year is located in a different place depending on the format; some sources require a publisher to be stated, while others don't. Remember to always check back with the formatting guide when writing up the reference list.
Below, you can find sample reference list entries we've prepared for the book The Elements of Style. This way, you can see the difference between APA and MLA with your own eyes.
MLA:
White, Elwyn B., and William Strunk. The Elements of Style. Open Road Media, 2023.
APA:
White, E. B., & Strunk, W. (2023). The elements of style. Open Road Media.
As you can see, these entries have some significant distinctions. Firstly, notice how in MLA, authors' names are written in full, while in APA, there are only last names and initials. The name of the book in MLA is written in title case, while APA uses sentence case, meaning only the first letter is capitalized. Lastly, mind the date placement. In APA references, the date is placed in parentheses immediately following the authors. In MLA, on the other hand, the reference closes with the date.
When it comes to formatting the reference list itself, both MLA and APA styles follow the standard structure.
- The page is titled Works Cited in MLA and References in APA; the title is centered.
- Reference entries are listed in alphabetical order, according to the authors' last names.
- The page is double-spaced (provided the rest of the work is)
- References use a hanging indentation, where the first line is written with no indentation, but the rest of the lines in the same entry are indented 1/2 inch.
Yes, there are some similarities, but you shouldn't lose focus. Before submitting a paper, always check in with the style guide to make sure your references and citations are formatted correctly and consistently.
Pro tip: MyPaperHelp, a paper helper, can help you with formatting. They can fix your MLA and APA citations, references, or even write an entire paper according to your instructions.
MLA vs. APA: Writing Style and Format
The differences between MLA and APA span beyond citations and references. The writing style, use of language, and paper formatting might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Yet, all of those factors have to be in order for you to get a good grade for your paper. Let's move on to stylistic differences between MLA and APA.
Writing Style in MLA vs. APA
As is with many other academic paper formats, MLA and APA both require the author to use a formal tone. You need to avoid contractions and colloquialisms, use the Oxford comma, as well as spell out abbreviations on the first use. All headings are to be written in the title case.
There is one major difference in the way numbers are written in these two styles. When it comes to APA, the rules are pretty simple. You spell out every number from 0 to 9, and use numeral characters for 10 and above.
As for MLA, things are a bit more complicated here. You should only spell out numbers that take up two words or fewer, for example, one or one million. All the other numbers you present can be written with numerals.
There are small exceptions to each rule, especially the one with numbers. APA and MLA both agree that a number must be spelled out if it begins a sentence. To make sure you don't miss out on any important details, always check in with the guide. The rules can get a bit convoluted around measurements, and you don't want to make any mistakes.
Title Page and Formatting: MLA vs. APA
The first dissimilarity in these two styles is the title page. In MLA, it's optional, often reduced to the most essential information on top of the page. It is then followed by the title and the paper itself.
In APA, a title page adheres to a strict format. Your paper must begin with the title of the paper, followed by your name and the name of the school. Student papers also include the number and name of the course, the name of the instructor, as well as the date.
MLA and APA are citation-based styles. But that doesn't mean footnotes and endnotes are never used. On the contrary, both these styles allow the use of notes. However, they appear in different cases and follow varying rules. In APA papers, footnotes are acceptable for author's comments and any copyright mentions. As for MLA, here, footnotes are used when you need to refer to more than one source, as well as to add clarity in odd cases like multiple sets of page numbers.
The rules for using block quotes don't match in APA and MLA. In MLA, a block quote format is used if the passage takes up more than four lines. In APA, a block format is used for quotations of forty words or more.
Nevertheless, MLA and APA use the same instructions for formatting the quotations. They are to be set apart with line breaks and indented 1/2 inch.
MLA and APA share lots of similarities in terms of general formatting. They both require that page numbers be placed in the top right corner of a running head. The only difference is that in MLA papers, the author's last name is also placed in the running head. Both formats also call for standard margins all over.
MLA and APA: Sisters, not Twins
Remembering the multiple differences between MLA and APA might feel like an impossible task, but it is doable, especially with some help. Remember to always refer back to the guide when formatting. Use helpful tools like the citation machine and Google Scholar to save time.
Keep in mind, regardless of whether you're using MLA or APA, you should always be focused on the instructions. Your professor might instruct you to use an older edition of the guide or a mix of two styles; you never know.
Olivia Carter holds a master’s degree in education from Columbia University and has over eight years of experience writing and editing academic content. She specializes in crafting essays, research papers, and study guides across a broad range of subjects, from literature and history to social sciences and psychology. Olivia is passionate about helping students develop critical thinking skills and achieve academic success with engaging, well-researched articles.