APA Style:
* Purpose: Primarily used in the social sciences, psychology, education, and business.
* Key Features:
* Title Page: Includes the title of the paper, author's name, affiliation, and running head.
* Abstract: A brief summary of the paper, typically 150-250 words.
* Body: Organized into sections with headings and subheadings.
* References: A list of all sources cited in the paper, formatted in a specific way.
* In-text Citations: Parenthetical citations within the body of the paper that include the author's last name and year of publication.
* Double-spaced: With one-inch margins and a specific font (usually Times New Roman, 12pt).
* Level of formality: Formal and objective.
MLA Style:
* Purpose: Primarily used in the humanities, such as literature, language, and cultural studies.
* Key Features:
* Title Page: Usually only includes the title of the paper, author's name, and course information.
* Works Cited Page: A list of all sources cited in the paper, formatted in a specific way.
* In-text Citations: Parenthetical citations within the body of the paper that include the author's last name and page number.
* Double-spaced: With one-inch margins and a specific font (usually Times New Roman, 12pt).
* Level of formality: Formal but with more emphasis on style and language.
Key Differences:
* In-text Citations: APA uses author-date citations, while MLA uses author-page number citations.
* References/Works Cited: APA uses a hanging indent format, while MLA uses a standard indent format.
* Title Page: APA requires a separate title page, while MLA only requires a title page in some cases.
* Headings: APA uses a hierarchical system of headings, while MLA uses a simpler system.
Which Style to Use:
The specific formatting style you should use will depend on the requirements of your professor, publisher, or organization.
Resources:
* APA Style Guide: https://apastyle.apa.org/
* MLA Handbook: https://www.mla.org/