APA vs MLA: Which Citation Style Should You Use?

APA (American Psychological Association) style is used mainly in the social sciences, education, nursing, and business. It puts the date front and center because research in those fields ages quickly. MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used in English, literature, languages, and the humanities. It focuses on the author and the page, because readers often need to find the exact passage being discussed.

If your instructor, journal, or department names a style, use that one — their preference beats any general advice. If they don't, use the table in the next section to pick the style that matches your subject.

In-text citations

APA uses author and year: (Nguyen, 2024). When you quote directly, add the page: (Nguyen, 2024, p. 37). MLA uses author and page, with no comma and no year: (Nguyen 37).

A book

• APA 7: Nguyen, L. (2024). Quiet cities: Urban noise and public health. Harbour Press.
• MLA 9: Nguyen, Linh. Quiet Cities: Urban Noise and Public Health. Harbour Press, 2024.

A journal article

• APA 7: Patel, R., & Okafor, D. (2023). Sleep and screen use in teenagers. Journal of Adolescent Health, 72(4), 512–519. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/example
• MLA 9: Patel, Ravi, and Daniel Okafor. "Sleep and Screen Use in Teenagers." Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 72, no. 4, 2023, pp. 512–19.

A web page

• APA 7: Brooks, H. (2025, March 3). How councils plan cycle lanes. City Transport Review. https://example.com/cycle-lanes
• MLA 9: Brooks, Hannah. "How Councils Plan Cycle Lanes." City Transport Review, 3 Mar. 2025, example.com/cycle-lanes.

The key differences at a glance

• Reference page title: APA calls it "References"; MLA calls it "Works Cited".
• Author names: APA uses initials (Nguyen, L.); MLA uses full first names (Nguyen, Linh).
• Date position: APA puts the year right after the author; MLA puts it near the end.
• Title capitalization: APA uses sentence case for article and book titles; MLA uses title case.
• Article titles: APA leaves them plain; MLA puts them in quotation marks.
• Multiple authors: APA uses an ampersand (&); MLA writes "and".
• Title page: APA student papers usually have a separate title page; MLA puts your name, instructor, course, and date at the top left of page one.

These are general patterns across universities in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Individual departments vary, so always check your course guide.

Usually APA

• Psychology and counseling
• Education and teaching
• Nursing, health sciences, and social work
• Sociology and criminology
• Business, management, and marketing
• Many communications and media courses

Usually MLA

• English literature and creative writing
• Modern languages
• Comparative literature and cultural studies
• Film and theater studies
• Many high school English classes in the US

Neither — something else

History often uses Chicago notes and bibliography. Law uses OSCOLA in the UK and the Bluebook in the US. Many UK and Australian universities use Harvard referencing, which looks similar to APA. Engineering and computer science often use IEEE numbered citations. If your brief names one of these, follow it.

APA 7 essentials

1. Double-space everything, including the reference list.
2. Use a clear font such as 12-point Times New Roman or 11-point Calibri.
3. Number every page in the top right corner.
4. List references alphabetically by the first author's surname, with a hanging indent of 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).
5. Include a DOI as a full https:// link whenever the source has one.
6. For three or more authors, cite only the first author plus "et al." in the text from the first mention.

MLA 9 essentials

1. Double-space everything, with 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins.
2. Put your surname and the page number in the top right header.
3. Arrange the Works Cited list alphabetically with a hanging indent.
4. Follow the "core elements" order: author, title, container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, date, location.
5. Use abbreviations for months (Jan., Feb.) and page ranges (pp. 45–52).
6. For three or more authors, list the first author followed by "et al."

Rather than memorizing every rule, you can build each entry with our Citation Generator. Fill in the source details and it formats APA 7, MLA 9, or Chicago correctly, all in your browser, so your research notes stay on your device.

1. Mixing styles. Using APA in-text citations with an MLA Works Cited list is one of the quickest ways to lose marks. Pick one and use it everywhere.
2. Forgetting page numbers for quotes. Both styles require a page (or paragraph number) for direct quotations.
3. Citing in the text but not the reference list — or the other way round. Every in-text citation needs a matching entry, and every entry should be cited somewhere.
4. Wrong capitalization. APA titles use sentence case; MLA uses title case. Copying the title exactly as it appears on a website usually gets this wrong.
5. Citing a search engine or database instead of the source. You cite the article, not Google Scholar.
6. Dropping the hanging indent. It looks minor, but markers notice.
7. Paraphrasing without citing. Putting an idea in your own words still requires a citation. If you're reworking a source, our Paraphraser can help you write clearly — but always cite the original idea.
8. Using an outdated edition. APA 7 and MLA 9 are current. Older guides online still show APA 6 rules like including the publisher location.

Before you submit, check the length of your final draft with our Word Counter. Most courses don't count the reference list toward the word limit, but check your brief.

Is APA or MLA easier?

Neither is harder overall. MLA in-text citations are shorter, while APA reference entries follow a more fixed pattern. The easiest style is the one your instructor asks for, applied consistently.

Is Harvard the same as APA?

They're similar — both use author-date citations — but punctuation and formatting differ, and every university publishes its own Harvard variant. Follow your institution's guide.

Do I need a title page?

APA student papers normally use one. MLA usually doesn't, unless your instructor asks for it.

Can I use a citation generator?

Yes, and it saves time. Always glance over the result, because the output is only as good as the details you enter, especially author names and dates.

Which style do I use for a source with no author?

Both styles move the title into the author position. In APA, the in-text citation becomes a shortened title plus year; in MLA, a shortened title plus page.