College Composition / Unit 26 CMP 0643 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
MLA and APA Side by Side
The idea
MLA and APA share the same purpose but differ in what they emphasize and in many details of format.
In practice
Compare them in order. First, emphasis: MLA puts the author and page in the text; APA puts the author and year, adding the page when available. Second, the list: MLA's is titled Works Cited; APA's is titled References. Third, names: MLA gives full first names; APA gives initials. Fourth, dates: MLA places the date near the end of the entry; APA places it in parentheses right after the author. Fifth, titles: MLA capitalizes all major words and puts article titles in quotation marks; APA uses sentence case and no quotation marks for article titles. Sixth, two authors in parentheses: MLA joins them with and; APA uses an ampersand. Seventh, page ranges: MLA adds p p in the works-cited entry; APA's reference gives pages alone.
Where people slip
Recognizing the style from a single citation is a useful skill: a year right after the author signals APA, and a page number alone after the name signals MLA.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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