MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association) are two commonly used citation styles in academic writing. While both styles are used to cite sources and give credit to the original authors of the work being referred to, there are some key differences between the two.
One of the main differences between MLA and APA is the way in which they format in-text citations. In MLA style, in-text citations usually consist of the author's last name and the page number, while in APA style, they consist of the author's last name and the year of publication. Additionally, in APA style, the page number is only included in in-text citations if the information being cited is directly quoted.
Another difference between MLA and APA is the way they format the reference list or bibliography at the end of a document. In MLA style, the reference list is arranged alphabetically by the author's last name, and the entries are formatted with the author's last name, first name, and the title of the work being cited. In APA style, the reference list is also arranged alphabetically, but the entries are formatted with the author's last name and initials, followed by the year of publication, the title of the work, and the publisher.
There are also differences in the way that MLA and APA handle punctuation and capitalization in the reference list. In MLA style, titles of books and articles are placed in quotation marks, while in APA style, they are italicized. Additionally, in MLA style, only the first word of the title and proper nouns are capitalized, while in APA style, all major words are capitalized.
Overall, while both MLA and APA styles are used to properly cite sources and give credit to the original authors of the work being referred to, they have their own unique formatting guidelines that should be followed when using them. It is important to be aware of these differences and use the appropriate citation style for your academic writing.
