The two most common citation styles, reduced to the patterns you’ll use most: in-text citations and full entries for a book, a web page, and a journal article. This is a guide to the format, not a generator, so you’ll fill in your own source’s details.
MLA 9th Edition
In-text citation: the author’s last name and the page number, with no comma.
(Smith 42)
If you name the author in your sentence, add only the page:
Smith argues this directly (42).
Two authors: (Smith and Lee 42). Three or more: (Smith et al. 42).
Works Cited: a book
Smith, Jane. The Long Winter. Harper Press, 2021.
Works Cited: a web page
Smith, Jane. “How Glaciers Form.” Science Today, 12 Mar. 2023, www.example.org/glaciers.
Works Cited: a journal article
Lee, Ana. “Sleep and Memory in College Students.” Journal of Student Health, vol. 12, no. 3, 2022, pp. 45–60.
APA 7th Edition
In-text citation: the author’s last name and the year, with a comma.
(Smith, 2021)
If you name the author in your sentence, put the year right after the name:
Smith (2021) argues this directly.
Two authors: (Smith & Lee, 2021). Three or more: (Smith et al., 2021). For a direct quote, add the page: (Smith, 2021, p. 42).
References: a book
Smith, J. (2021). The long winter. Harper Press.
References: a web page
Smith, J. (2023, March 12). How glaciers form. Science Today. https://www.example.org/glaciers
References: a journal article
Lee, A. (2022). Sleep and memory in college students. Journal of Student Health, 12(3), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.0000/example
MLA vs. APA at a Glance
| MLA 9 | APA 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| List at the end | Works Cited | References |
| In-text shows | Author and page | Author and year |
| Author names | Full first name | First initials |
| Titles | Title Case | Sentence case |
| Common in | English and humanities | Sciences and social sciences |
Which One Should I Use?
Whatever your instructor or assignment asks for; check the syllabus first. If nothing is specified, MLA is the usual choice for English and the humanities, and APA for psychology, education, and the sciences.
Common Mistakes
- A comma in an MLA in-text citation. MLA is (Smith 42); APA is (Smith, 2021).
- Forgetting the hanging indent. In both styles, every line of an entry after the first is indented half an inch.
- Not alphabetizing. Sort the list by the first author’s last name.
- Mixing styles in one paper, like APA dates in an MLA Works Cited.