APA vs MLA: The Key Differences
APA and MLA are the two citation styles students meet most often. Both are clear once you see them side by side. Here is exactly how they differ, with the same source cited both ways.
Updated 21 October 2026 · EssayWriting.com editorial team
- APA (author-date) suits sciences and social sciences; MLA (author-page) suits humanities.
- APA puts the year up front because recency matters; MLA puts page numbers up front because exact wording matters.
- Never mix styles in one paper unless your instructor allows it.
APA vs MLA comparison table
| APA (7th edition) | MLA (9th edition) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical subjects | Psychology, education, nursing, social sciences, business | English, literature, languages, arts, humanities |
| Citation system | Author-date: (Nguyen, 2023, p. 14) | Author-page: (Nguyen 14) |
| Source list title | References | Works Cited |
| Author names in list | Surname and initials: Nguyen, T. H. | Full names as given: Nguyen, Thu Ha. |
| Date position | Right after the author | Near the end of the entry |
| Article title case | Sentence case, no quotation marks | Title case, in quotation marks |
| Title page | Yes, for student papers | No; four-line heading on page 1 |
| Headings | Five defined levels | No required system |
| Three or more authors in text | (Okafor et al., 2020) | (Okafor et al. 23) |
The same source in APA and MLA
APA
Nguyen, T. H., & Clark, R. (2023). Sleep and memory in first-year students. Journal of Student Health, 18(2), 101-118. https://doi.org/xxxx
MLA
Nguyen, Thu Ha, and Ruth Clark. "Sleep and Memory in First-Year Students." Journal of Student Health, vol. 18, no. 2, 2023, pp. 101-18, https://doi.org/xxxx.
Example source is illustrative, not a real article.
Why the styles differ
APA puts the year up front because research in the sciences dates quickly: readers want to know how recent a study is. MLA puts the page number in the citation because humanities writing quotes and analyses texts closely, so readers need to find the exact passage.
Which one should you use?
Use whatever your instructor or assignment brief names. If none is named, follow the convention of the subject: APA for social science and health, MLA for literature and the humanities. Never mix styles in one paper. Other subjects have their own styles, for example IEEE for engineering, ACS for chemistry, AMA for medicine and Harvard in many UK and Australian universities.
Go deeper
APA vs MLA: in-text citation examples side by side
| Situation | APA 7 | MLA 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Paraphrase, one author | (Lopez, 2021) | (Lopez 34) |
| Direct quote | (Lopez, 2021, p. 34) | (Lopez 34) |
| Author named in sentence | Lopez (2021) argues... | Lopez argues... (34). |
| Two authors | (Shah & Kim, 2023) | (Shah and Kim 105) |
| Three or more authors | (Rivera et al., 2022) | (Rivera et al. 58) |
| Organisation as author | (National Education Agency, 2023) | (National Education Agency 12) |
| No author | ("Healthy Sleep Habits," 2023) | ("Healthy Sleep Habits") |
| No date | (Lopez, n.d.) | (Lopez 34); date simply omitted from Works Cited |
| Long quotation | 40 words or more: block quote | More than four lines of prose: block quote |
Sources are fictional examples.
More reference list comparisons
Book
APA: Lopez, M. (2021). The quiet coast (2nd ed.). Harbor Press.
MLA: Lopez, Maria. The Quiet Coast. 2nd ed., Harbor Press, 2021.
Web page
APA: Sleep Facts Network. (2023, June 10). Healthy sleep habits. https://www.sleepfacts.example/habits
MLA: "Healthy Sleep Habits." Sleep Facts Network, 10 June 2023, www.sleepfacts.example/habits.
Online video
APA: Study Lab. (2022, January 12). How to read a scientific paper [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxx
MLA: Study Lab. "How to Read a Scientific Paper." YouTube, 12 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxx.
Formatting differences beyond citations
Title page. APA student papers start with a title page that includes the title, your name, institution, course, instructor and due date. MLA papers skip the title page and place a four-line heading at the top left of page one.
Page header. MLA puts your surname and page number at the top right of every page. APA student papers need only a page number at the top right.
Headings. APA defines five heading levels and many APA papers are organised into sections (for example Method, Results and Discussion in lab reports). MLA does not prescribe a heading system; essays usually flow without headings unless they are long.
Abstract. APA professional papers include an abstract; student papers only need one if the instructor asks. MLA papers do not use abstracts.
Numbers and dates. MLA writes dates day-month-year in Works Cited (4 Mar. 2024) and abbreviates most months. APA writes year first in references, (2024, March 4), and does not abbreviate months.
Switching a paper from MLA to APA (or back)
- Rewrite each in-text citation: add years for APA, or replace years with page numbers for MLA.
- Rebuild each list entry; the order of elements changes, not just punctuation.
- Change capitalisation of titles: sentence case for APA, title case for MLA.
- Rename the list (References or Works Cited) and fix the heading formatting.
- Add or remove the title page and adjust the header.
- Check every entry against the APA guide or MLA guide.
Quick decision guide
| If your assignment is... | Likely style |
|---|---|
| A literary analysis essay | MLA |
| A psychology lab report | APA |
| A nursing evidence-based practice paper | APA |
| A history research paper | Often Chicago or Turabian |
| A film or art analysis | Often MLA |
| A business report | APA or Harvard, depending on institution |
When the brief is silent, ask your instructor. A one-line email saves hours of reformatting.
Quick answers to common questions
Do APA and MLA both use hanging indents?
Yes. Both reference lists use a half-inch hanging indent and double spacing.
Frequently asked questions
Is APA or MLA easier?
Neither is harder; they just prioritise different information. MLA has fewer layout rules, while APA has a title page and defined heading levels.
Can I use MLA for a psychology paper?
Only if your instructor allows it. Psychology and most social sciences expect APA.
Does APA use page numbers in citations?
Only for direct quotations, or when you want to point to a specific passage: (Nguyen, 2023, p. 14).
What is the biggest difference between APA and MLA?
APA uses author-date citations and a References list; MLA uses author-page citations and a Works Cited list.
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