When it comes to academic writing, citing sources is an essential part of the process. It allows readers to trace the origin of the information and helps to avoid plagiarism. There are several citation styles available, but two of the most popular ones are the American Psychological Association (APA) style and the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. In this article, we will compare these two citation styles and highlight the key differences between them.

Formatting

One of the most noticeable differences between APA and MLA citation styles is the formatting. APA style is often used in social sciences, whereas MLA style is commonly used in humanities. APA style requires the use of double-spacing, 12-point font, and one-inch margins on all sides. In contrast, MLA style requires the use of double-spacing, 11-point font, and one-inch margins on all sides.

In-text citations

Another significant difference between APA and MLA citation styles is the way in which in-text citations are formatted. In APA style, the author’s last name and the year of publication are included in the in-text citation. For example: (Smith, 2020). In contrast, in MLA style, the author’s last name and the page number of the source are included in the in-text citation. For example: (Smith 42).

Reference list/bibliography

The reference list or bibliography is another area where the two citation styles differ. In APA style, the reference list is located at the end of the document and includes all the sources cited in the text.  You can use apa referencing generator free from the BookMyEssay platform. The reference list is organized alphabetically by the author’s last name. In contrast, in MLA style, the bibliography is located at the end of the document and includes all the sources cited in the text, as well as any additional sources that may have been consulted. The bibliography for Students is also organized alphabetically by the author’s last name.

Citations for different types of sources

APA and MLA citation styles also have different rules for citing different types of sources. In APA style, for example, the citation for a book includes the author’s last name, the year of publication, the title of the book, and the publisher. In contrast, in MLA style, the citation for a book includes the author’s last name, the title of the book, the publisher, and the year of publication.

Electronic sources

Both APA and MLA citation styles have specific rules for citing electronic sources, such as websites and online articles. In APA style, the citation for a website includes the author’s last name, the date of publication, the title of the webpage, the name of the website, and the URL. In MLA style, the citation for a website includes the author’s last name, the title of the webpage, the name of the website, the date of publication or access, and the URL.

IEEE citation generator

Apart from these two popular citation styles, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) also has its own citation style, which is commonly used in engineering, computer science, and other technical fields. IEEE citation style requires the use of numerical citations in the text, which are then listed in numerical order in the reference list at the end of the document.

Assignment help for MLA referencing style

Students who are new to academic writing or unfamiliar with MLA citation style may find it helpful to seek Assignment Help for MLA Referencing Style from their professors or academic advisors. Additionally, there are several resources available online, such as online guides and citation generators, that can assist students in correctly formatting their citations in MLA style. One such tool is the free MLA citation website generator tool, which allows users to generate accurate citations for books, journal articles, websites, and other sources.

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