APA vs MLA Format: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Use?

You just got assigned an essay—and your professor wants it in “APA style.” Meanwhile, your last instructor insisted on “MLA only.” If your head is spinning with formatting rules, spacing, and citation styles, you’re not alone.

APA and MLA are two of the most common academic writing formats, and while they seem similar at first glance, they serve different purposes and follow different rules.

This guide will help you:

Understand what each style is used for
Learn the key differences in citations, structure, and tone
See real examples of both
Know when (and why) to use each one

Let’s clear it up once and for all.

📘 What Is APA Style?

APA (American Psychological Association) style is used mostly in the social sciences. Think psychology, education, nursing, sociology, business, and public health.

APA is known for:

Author-date citations (e.g., Smith, 2020)
Emphasis on dates and research credibility
Strict structure for referencing studies and scientific data

📙 What Is MLA Style?

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is commonly used in the humanities—subjects like literature, history, philosophy, languages, and art.

MLA is known for:

Author-page citations (e.g., Smith 23)
Focus on authorship and textual evidence
Simpler format for sources like books and essays

🔍 Key Differences Between APA and MLA (Side-by-Side Table)

Feature	APA Style (7th Edition)	MLA Style (9th Edition)
Used In	Psychology, Education, Social Sciences	Literature, Arts, Humanities
In-text Citations	(Smith, 2020)	(Smith 23)
Reference Page Title	References	Works Cited
Author Format	Last name, initials (Smith, J. M.)	Full name (Smith, John M.)
Date Emphasis	Always include the year	Only include if relevant
Website Citation	Include author, date, title, site, and URL	Often omit the date, focus on access date
Paper Format	Title page, abstract, running head optional	No title page, no abstract
URL format	Include full link (https://…)	Usually no “https://” in URLs

✍️ Example of In-Text Citations

APA:

Stress affects decision-making abilities (Johnson, 2021).

MLA:

Stress affects decision-making abilities (Johnson 45).

📋 Reference Page Examples

APA:

Book:
Anderson, M. T. (2020). Learning and development in youth. Harvard University Press.

Website:
World Health Organization. (2023, April 1). Nutrition facts for teens. https://www.who.int/nutritionfacts

MLA:

Book:
Anderson, M. T. Learning and Development in Youth. Harvard University Press, 2020.

Website:
World Health Organization. “Nutrition Facts for Teens.” WHO, 1 Apr. 2023, www.who.int/nutritionfacts.

🎯 When to Use APA vs MLA

If you’re writing about…	Use this style:
Mental health research	APA
A novel analysis	MLA
Education theory	APA
Shakespeare’s plays	MLA
Business case study	APA
Art history or critique	MLA

💡 Tip: If you’re unsure which format to use, ask your instructor—or check your syllabus. APA is common in science-related fields; MLA rules the humanities.

🧠 Student Tips for Switching Between Styles

✔ Don’t mix formats – Keep everything consistent
✔ Use citation generators carefully – They’re helpful but not always accurate
✔ Check the latest edition – APA is currently on the 7th edition; MLA is on the 9th
✔ Bookmark style guides – Having quick references helps
✔ Practice formatting early – Don’t wait until the night before!

🛠 Tools You Can Use

Purdue OWL – Excellent free resource for APA & MLA
Scribbr & MyBib – Simple citation generators
Google Docs templates – Built-in formatting tools for both APA & MLA
StudyDoll Writing Help – For custom-formatted papers (see below 👇)

📝 Still Confused? Let Us Help!

If citations are stressing you out, you’re not alone. At StudyDoll.com, our expert writers know APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard—you name it.

We’ll help you:

Format your citations correctly
Fix your reference page
Write fully polished essays in the style you need
Avoid plagiarism and mistakes

👉 Place your order here and get reliable, fast support with your next assignment.