Direct comparison
APA vs MLA: Key Differences & When to Use Each | CASRAI
APA (7th ed.) is used in the social sciences with author–date citations; MLA (9th ed.) is used in the humanities with author–page citations. Discipline determines the choice.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | APA 7th Edition | MLA 9th Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Primary disciplines | Social sciences, psychology, education, nursing, behavioural sciences | Humanities, literature, arts, languages, cultural studies |
| In-text citation format | Author–date: (Smith, 2020) or Smith (2020) | Author–page: (Smith 45) or Smith 45 |
| Reference page name | References | Works Cited |
| Title page | Yes — formatted title page with running head (professional) or course info (student) | No separate title page; course information in header on first page |
| Author format in list | Last name, First initial. (e.g. Smith, J.) | Last name, First name. (e.g. Smith, John) |
| Date position in reference | After author name in parentheses | Near end of citation, before URL/DOI |
| DOI format | https://doi.org/xxxxx | doi:xxxxx or URL |
| Governing body | American Psychological Association | Modern Language Association |
| Current edition | 7th edition (2020) | 9th edition (2021) |
Common questions
FAQ
How do I know whether to use APA or MLA?+
Your discipline or instructor determines the choice. APA is standard in psychology, social sciences, education, and nursing. MLA is standard in the humanities — literature, languages, arts, and cultural studies. When in doubt, ask your instructor which style is required.
What is the main difference between APA and MLA in-text citations?+
APA uses author–date citations — (Smith, 2020) — placing the publication year immediately after the author name. MLA uses author–page citations — (Smith 45) — citing the page number instead. This reflects APA's emphasis on the currency of research (when it was published) versus MLA's emphasis on the specific location of a passage.
Does APA or MLA use a title page?+
APA requires a formatted title page. Student papers include the title, name, institution, course, instructor, and date. MLA does not use a separate title page; instead, student information is placed in a header at the top left of the first page, with the title centred below.
Going deeper
