The MLA writing format uses an "author-page" system of citation. Because writers in the humanities cite literature, classical works or books that are not likely to change much over time, the format gives more focus to page numbers so that readers can quickly find the page in a book you drew your information from. The APA writing format uses an "author-date" system of citation. Writers in the sciences often cite current or past research from peer-reviewed articles. Because research changes rapidly and a particular author may write many research articles on the same topic over the years, this format focuses on citing the year for the research you are referencing in your work. This ensures that a reader can quickly find the exact reference you are mentioning in your paper.
The MLA writing format cites the author and the page number in the text. If you are naming the author by name in your sentence, place the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. If you are not naming the author in the text, place the author and the page number in parentheses at the end of your sentence. The APA writing format cites the author and date in the text. If you are naming the author by name in a sentence, place the date in parentheses at the end of the sentence. If you are not doing this, place the author followed by a comma and the year in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
If you are using the MLA style, create a "Works Cited" page at the end of your paper. If you are using the APA style, create a "References" page at the end of your paper. For both formats, list every work you cited in the text alphabetically in your reference list.
When citing each work in your "Works Cited" page, MLA style requires that you capitalize every major word in a title. In addition, titles are set inside quotation marks. When citing each work in your "Reference" list in APA style, do not capitalize the major words in a title; only capitalize the first word or any word that follows a colon. Titles are not set in quotation marks.