The formatting of source entries is different in each style. In APA this is usually called the reference list in MLA it’s called the Works Cited. In both APA and MLA style, you list full details of all cited sources on a separate page at the end of your paper. When there are two authors, APA Style separates their names with an ampersand (&), while MLA uses “and.” For three or more authors, both styles list the first author followed by “ et al.”ĪPA reference list vs.

If you’re quoting or paraphrasing a specific passage, you also add a page number.Īn MLA in-text citation includes the author’s last name and a page number-no year. However, they include slightly different information.Īn APA in-text citation includes the author’s last name and the publication year. Download the Word templates for a correctly formatted paper in either style.ĭiscover proofreading & editing In-text citations in APA and MLAīoth MLA and APA use parenthetical citations to cite sources in the text. There are also some differences in layout and formatting. However, citations look slightly different in each style, with different rules for things like title capitalization, author names, and placement of the date. A full reference at the end of the paper.A brief parenthetical citation in the text.In both styles, a source citation consists of: The rules of MLA style are found in the MLA Handbook, currently in its 9th edition (published by the Modern Language Association).

The APA 6th edition rules can be found here.ĪPA and MLA are two of the most commonly used citation styles.ĪPA Style Is defined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, currently in its 7th edition. Note: This article describes the 9th edition of MLA style and the 7th edition of APA Style. Try for free APA vs MLA | The Key Differences in Format & Citation Eliminate grammar errors and improve your writing with our free AI-powered grammar checker.

Apa paper format example header