APA vs MLA: Key Differences Explained
Confused between APA and MLA? Our side-by-side comparison covers title pages, citations, references, and when to use each style.
APA and MLA: Understanding the Differences
You hand in your paper, confident it is perfectly formatted—then your professor marks you down for using APA when the assignment required MLA. Sound familiar? Mixing up APA and MLA is one of the most common academic mistakes, and it can cost you real points.
APA vs MLA: Quick Reference Table
Title Pages
APA requires a separate title page with the paper title, author name, institutional affiliation, course, instructor, and due date. MLA on the other hand does not require a separate title page — instead the author name, instructor name, course, and date go on the first page.
Headers
APA uses a running head (short title in all caps) in the header for professional papers, while MLA uses the author's last name followed by the page number.
In-Text Citations
APA uses author-date format: (Smith, 2020, p. 45). MLA uses author-page format: (Smith 45).
References vs Works Cited
APA's reference list is titled "References" and includes the author, date, title, and source information. MLA's list is titled "Works Cited" and includes the author, title, container, and publication details.
Abstract
APA requires an abstract for professional papers. MLA does not require an abstract.
When to Use APA vs MLA
The following are guidelines on when to use each style:
- APA is used in: Psychology, Education, Business, Sociology, Nursing, Criminal Justice
- MLA is used in: English, Literature, Languages, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, Philosophy
Always check your course syllabus or ask your instructor which style they prefer.
Formatly Supports Both Styles
Formatly handles both APA 7th and MLA 9th editions meticulously. You can format a document in either style, or even convert between them — a feature no other tool offers.
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Example Document
Want to see the format in action? Open the APA vs MLA Example to study the structure, then download the editable Word file when you are ready to reuse it.
The example is educational, and the Word file remains the source of truth for formatting details.
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