APA vs MLA vs Chicago: Which Citation Style to Use
A comprehensive comparison of major citation styles. When to use each one and how to format citations correctly.
Citation styles can feel like an arbitrary set of rules, but they exist for good reasons — consistency, clarity, and credit. Different academic disciplines have settled on different styles, so understanding which to use is essential for any student or researcher.
APA (American Psychological Association)
APA is the standard in social sciences, education, psychology, and many health sciences. It emphasizes the date of publication, reflecting the importance of recency in these rapidly evolving fields.
APA In-Text Citation Format:
(Author, Year)
(Smith, 2023)
(Smith & Jones, 2023)APA Reference List Format (Book):
Smith, J. A. (2023). Title of book. Publisher.MLA (Modern Language Association)
MLA is the standard in humanities — literature, language studies, cultural studies, and the arts. It emphasizes the author's name in citations, reflecting the humanities' focus on authorship and individual voice.
MLA In-Text Citation Format:
(Author Page)
(Smith 45)
(Smith and Jones 102)MLA Works Cited Format (Book):
Smith, John A. Title of Book. Publisher, 2023.Chicago Style
Chicago style has two systems: Notes-Bibliography (used in humanities like history) and Author-Date (used in sciences and social sciences). The Notes-Bibliography system uses footnotes and a bibliography page.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography (Footnote):
1. John A. Smith, Title of Book (Publisher, 2023), 45.Quick Reference: Which Style to Use
- Psychology, Education, Social Work — APA
- Literature, Languages, Film Studies — MLA
- History, Religious Studies, Fine Arts — Chicago Notes-Bibliography
- Sciences, Economics, Linguistics — Chicago Author-Date or APA
- Law — Bluebook (a separate system entirely)
- Medicine — AMA or Vancouver style
Tip
When in doubt, ask your professor. Many instructors have a preferred style, and when none is specified, APA is generally a safe default for academic papers.
Common Citation Mistakes
- Mixing citation styles within a single paper
- Forgetting to include a works cited / reference list page
- Citing a secondary source as if you read the original
- Forgetting page numbers for direct quotes
- Not updating citations when you revise the paper