What does Formatly actually do?

Formatly formats your document — margins, spacing, fonts, headings, page layout, and structure — all matched to your chosen style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). We don't edit your writing, check grammar, or validate citations. You write it; we make it look right.

Which citation styles are supported?

Formatly supports APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago Manual of Style, Harvard, and Turabian. We continuously evaluate new styles based on user requests.

How long does formatting take?

Most documents are formatted in about 30 seconds. The time depends on document size and length, but our engine is optimised for speed without sacrificing accuracy.

Yes. Your documents are processed in real-time and only you can access them. We never see, store, or share your content — your work stays yours.

How to Format In-Text Citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago: A Side-by-Side Comparison

You’ve spent hours writing, but now the real nightmare begins: formatting in-text citations.

You stare at your reference list, then back at your sentence. Is it (Author, Year) or (Author Year)? Does Chicago use parentheses or footnotes? And what about MLA—do you really need a page number every single time?

If you’ve ever felt your brain short-circuit trying to remember which style wants what, you’re not alone. In-text citation rules are the single most frustrating part of academic formatting—because one wrong comma can cost you points, or worse, a rejection.

But here’s the good news: once you see them side by side, the differences become crystal clear. In this comparison, we’ll break down exactly how to format in-text citations in APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago 17th edition—with real examples, common pitfalls, and a tool that does it all for you.

APA 7th Edition vs. MLA 9th Edition vs. Chicago 17th Edition: The Core Differences

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s get the big picture. Each style has a fundamentally different philosophy for in-text citations:

APA uses the author-date system. You cite the author’s last name and the year of publication, usually in parentheses.
MLA uses the author-page system. You cite the author’s last name and the page number, with no comma between them.
Chicago offers two systems: author-date (similar to APA but with a comma) or notes-bibliography (using footnotes or endnotes).

Here’s a quick cheat sheet table to see them all at once:

Style	System	Parenthetical Example	Narrative Example
APA 7th	Author-Date	(Smith, 2020)	Smith (2020) argued...
MLA 9th	Author-Page	(Smith 45)	Smith argues that... (45)
Chicago Author-Date	Author-Date	(Smith 2020, 45)	Smith (2020, 45) argued...
Chicago Notes-Bib	Footnote/Endnote	N/A (uses superscript number)	Smith argues that...¹

Notice the subtle but critical differences: APA uses a comma between author and year. MLA uses no comma and a page number. Chicago author-date uses a comma between year and page. One wrong punctuation mark and your citation is technically incorrect.

APA 7th Edition: Pros and Cons for In-Text Citations

Pros: APA’s author-date system is incredibly efficient for modern research. Readers can immediately see the recency of your source without flipping to the reference list. The rules are consistent and well-documented in our The Ultimate APA 7th Edition Formatting Guide.

Cons: If you cite multiple sources by the same author in the same year, you need to add letters (e.g., Smith, 2020a; Smith, 2020b). Also, page numbers are required only for direct quotes, which can be confusing for beginners.

MLA 9th Edition: Pros and Cons for In-Text Citations

Pros: MLA’s author-page system is simple and clean—no year to worry about. The page number is always included, making it easy for readers to locate the exact source material. For more details, see our MLA 9th Edition Formatting Guide.

Cons: Without a year, readers can’t immediately assess the timeliness of your source. Also, if you cite multiple works by the same author, you must add a shortened title, which can get messy.

Chicago 17th Edition: Pros and Cons for In-Text Citations

Pros: Chicago’s notes-bibliography system is the gold standard for history and humanities. Footnotes allow you to include commentary or additional sources without disrupting the text. The author-date system is also robust and widely used in the sciences.

Cons: Footnotes can clutter the page if overused. The dual-system nature of Chicago can be confusing—you must choose one system and stick with it. For a full breakdown, check out the Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition: The Ultimate Formatting Guide.

Our Recommendation: Stop Memorizing, Start Automating

Here’s the honest truth: even professional editors occasionally glance at style guides. The rules change, the exceptions multiply, and your brain has better things to do than remember whether Chicago uses a comma before the page number.

That’s why we built Formatly. Instead of flipping between three different style guides and praying you got the comma right, you can paste your citation into Formatly and let the rules handle the rest. It’s not just a citation generator—it’s a rule-based automation engine that ensures every in-text citation, from APA to MLA to Chicago, is perfectly formatted every time.

Whether you’re writing a psychology paper in APA, a literature review in MLA, or a history thesis in Chicago, Formatly eliminates the guesswork. No more late-night Google searches. No more “Is this right?” anxiety.

Stop Wrestling with Citation Rules—Let Formatly Handle the Heavy Lifting

You didn’t spend years in school to become a formatting expert. You became an expert in your field. Let Formatly handle the punctuation, the parentheses, the footnotes, and the page numbers so you can focus on what actually matters: your research.

Try Formatly today and see how fast you can format in-text citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago—without the headache. Your future self (and your grade) will thank you.