What is the difference between APA Citation and MLA Citation when you write a bibliography and in paranthetical citations?
APA Citation and MLA Citation are two different citation styles commonly used in academic writing to give credit to sources and provide clear references to enable readers to find the original sources easily. The main difference between the two citation styles lies in their formatting and the way they present the bibliographic information.
In APA (American Psychological Association) Citation, the emphasis is on the author's name, the date of publication, and the page numbers if direct quotations are used. In-text citations in APA style typically include the author's last name and the year of publication, placed within parentheses. For example:
- In-text citation: (Smith, 2019)
- Bibliographic citation: Smith, J. (2019). Title of the work. Publisher.
In MLA (Modern Language Association) Citation, the focus is on the author's name and the page number. In-text citations in MLA style typically include the author's last name and the page number, without parentheses. For example:
- In-text citation: Smith 45
- Bibliographic citation: Smith, John. Title of the work. Publisher, year.
Regarding the bibliography or Works Cited page, both APA and MLA styles have specific guidelines for formatting the entries. In APA, the entries are listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name, followed by the publication year, title, and other relevant information. In MLA, the entries are also listed alphabetically by the author's last name, followed by the title, publisher, and year.
To determine the specific formatting of citations and bibliographies, it is recommended to consult the official APA Publication Manual (7th edition) for APA style, and the MLA Handbook (8th edition) for MLA style. These resources provide detailed instructions on how to format citations for various types of sources, such as books, articles, websites, and more.
In conclusion, while both APA and MLA citation styles serve the purpose of crediting sources and providing references, they differ in terms of their formatting conventions, in-text citation styles, and the order of bibliographic information. It is important to consult the specific style guide required by your institution or instructor to ensure accurate and consistent citation in your writing.