APA vs MLA: the differences that matter
The same study cited both ways, difference by difference. Flip between the two to see exactly what changes, and why.
- In-text citation
- (Walker & Stickgold, 2004, p. 122)
- Source list title
- References
- Author names in list
- Walker, M. P., & Stickgold, R.
- Date position
- Right after the authors: (2004).
- Article title
- Sentence case, no quotation marks
- Volume and issue
- 44(1), 121–133
- Title page
- Separate title page (student and professional versions)
- Running header
- Page number only (student papers)
- Headings
- Five defined levels
- Numbers
- Words for 0–9, numerals from 10
- Abstract
- Required for professional papers
Why they differ
The two guides answer different readers’ questions. A psychologist reading a literature review wants to know how recent each finding is, because evidence gets revised, so APA puts the year into every citation and at the front of every reference. A literary scholar wants to find the exact passage being discussed, so MLA’s citation is a pointer to a page, and the publication date moves to the back of the entry.
That one difference explains most of the others: APA abbreviates given names to initials and uses sentence case to keep references compact and scannable by date; MLA writes names and titles in full because the Works Cited list is also a record of the editions consulted.
All differences in one table
| Element | APA 7 | MLA 9 |
|---|---|---|
| In-text citation | (Walker & Stickgold, 2004, p. 122) | (Walker and Stickgold 122) |
| Source list title | References | Works Cited |
| Author names in list | Walker, M. P., & Stickgold, R. | Walker, Matthew P., and Robert Stickgold. |
| Date position | Right after the authors: (2004). | Near the end, after the container: 2004, |
| Article title | Sentence case, no quotation marks | Title Case, in “quotation marks” |
| Volume and issue | 44(1), 121–133 | vol. 44, no. 1, 2004, pp. 121–33 |
| Title page | Separate title page (student and professional versions) | No title page; four-line heading on page 1 |
| Running header | Page number only (student papers) | Surname and page number |
| Headings | Five defined levels | Optional, no fixed format |
| Numbers | Words for 0–9, numerals from 10 | Words for anything written in one or two words |
| Abstract | Required for professional papers | Not used |
What they share
Both use double spacing, 1-inch margins, a legible 11–12 point font, hanging indents in the source list, alphabetical order by author, one space after a period, and the serial comma. Check a draft with the APA checker or the MLA checker.
Questions
What is the main difference between APA and MLA?
APA is an author–date system built for the sciences and social sciences, so the year appears in every citation. MLA is an author–page system built for the humanities, so the page appears and the year is left out of in-text citations.
Which is easier, APA or MLA?
MLA in-text citations are shorter, and MLA papers need no title page or abstract. APA has more rules to learn (headings, title page, numbers), but they are more precisely defined.
Which subjects use APA and which use MLA?
APA: psychology, education, nursing and health sciences, business, communication and most social sciences. MLA: English literature, modern languages, comparative literature, film and cultural studies.
Can I mix APA and MLA in one paper?
No. Pick the one your instructor or journal requires and use it consistently for citations, the source list and formatting.