Comparing Citation Styles: APA and MLA
- 1. COTR Library Information Literacy Skills Development COMPARING APA WITH MLA In-text or parenthetical citations Updated February 2017| Librarian | 1 References (APA) OR Works Cited (MLA): separate page at end of assignment or paper. GENERAL RULES FOR APA APA EXAMPLE MLA EXAMPLE GENERAL RULES FOR MLA In-text citations include the date. (Smith, 2009) (Smith 50) In-text citation includes the author’s name and page number Page numbers are necessary for direct quotes and paraphrase. Smith (2009) argues that . . . (p. 50). Smith argues that . . . (50). Page numbers are required for direct quotations AND paraphrase. Page numbers are separated from the date by a comma and “p”. (Smith, 2009, p. 50) (Smith 50) Page numbers represented by numerals only. There is no comma between the author’s name and the page number REFERENCES APA EXAMPLE MLA EXAMPLE WORKS CITED The list of full citations at the end of the paper is called “References.” References Works Cited The list of citations at the end of the paper is called “Works Cited” First and middle names are given only as initials. Smith, J. . . . Smith, James. . . . First and last names are given. When faced with multiple authors, format the names as in the column to the right. Smith, J., Jones, B., & Miller, F. Smith, James, Bob Jones, and Frank Miller. When faced with multiple authors, format the names as in the column to the left. You may use et al. after the first author’s name when dealing with three or more authors. The date goes directly after the author’s name and is enclosed in parentheses. Smith, J. (2000). . . . . . . 2000. Print. Date of publication appears at the end of the citation before medium of publication. Titles of articles and books are in “sentence” case, with only the first words capitalized. The wind in the willows. The Wind in the Willows. Capitalize all major words in the titles of articles and books. (Hint: major word generally means 4 or more letters) Titles of books are italicized and titles of articles/chapters are not. Titles of books are italicized and titles of articles/chapters are not. Titles of articles and chapters are not enclosed in quotation marks. Title of article/chapter. “Title of Article/Chapter.” Titles of articles and chapters are enclosed in quotation marks For a journal article, the issue number is enclosed in parentheses and is immediately followed by the page numbers. The volume number is italicized. 5(10):35-40 5.10 (2000): 35-40 For each journal article, the issue number is separated from the volume number by a period and is followed by the year of publication in brackets. The page range of the article then appears after a colon. Medium of publication is not specified - Web. 2 May 2011. Medium of publication specified along with date of access if the medium is Web or PDF. For articles access online from a subscription database, the name of the database is not given. - Academic Search Complete. For articles accessed online from a subscription database, the name of the database must be included before medium of publication.
- 2. COTR Library Information Literacy Skills Development COMPARING APA WITH MLA In-text or parenthetical citations Updated February 2017 |Librarian | 2 References APA Example MLA Example Works Cited For articles, the DOI (Digital Object Identifies) is given if there is one. doi: 10.23255/6455-3785-896.2.834 - For articles, the DOI is not required. If an article is access online and does not have a DOI, then state, “Retrieved from” followed by the URL of the journal or newspaper’s website. Retrieved from http://www. . . . - MLA no longer requires authors to state the URL of an electronic document or website. For a chapter in a book, the name of the editor comes before the title of the book and the page numbers of the chapter follow directly after it. In Joel Levy (Ed.), Title of book (pp.20- 40). . . . Title of Book. Ed. Jo Levy. . . . 2009. 20- 40. Print. For a chapter in a book, the name of the editor comes after the book title and the page numbers of the chapter follow the year of publication. For an edition other than the first, the edition is enclosed in parentheses and is not separated from the title with a period. The “nd” is not superscript. Title of book (2nd ed.) Title of Book. 2nd ed. For an edition other than the first, the edition appears after title of the book and is separated by a period. The “nd” is not superscript. For edited books, “ed” is capitalized and enclosed in parentheses. Smith, J. (Ed.). . . . Smith, James, ed. . . . For edited books, the “ed” is not capitalized. For e-books, do not include information about the print publication. Instead, give the URL of the provider’s website. . . . Title of book. Retrieved from http://www . . . Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date. EPUB. For e-books, “begin the entry in the works- cited list like the entry for a comparable printed work and end it with a designation of the medium of publication. The medium is the type of electronic file, such as Kindle file, Nook file, EPUB file, or PDF file. If you cannot identify the file type, use Digital file.” If the book has both print and electronic publication information, you only need to include information about electronic publication. From MLA Handbook FAQ
- 3. COTR Library Information Literacy Skills Development COMPARING APA WITH MLA In-text or parenthetical citations Updated February 2017 | Librarian | 3 RESOURCE TYPE APA MLA Journal Article Accessed Online Library Database Simons, M., Bernaards, C., & Slinger, J. (2012). Active gaming in Dutch adolescents: A descriptive study. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9(1), 118-128, doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-118 Simons, Monique, Claire Bernaards, and Jantine Slinger. “Active Gaming in Dutch Adolescents: A Descriptive Study.” The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9.1 (2012): 118-128. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 June 2013. Newspaper Accessed Online Khan, S. (2013, February 28). Beyond tolerance lies true respect. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.globeandmail.com Khan, Sean. “Beyond Tolerance Lies True Respect”. The Globe and Mail. 28 Feb 2013: A15. Canadian Newsstand Complete. Web. 28. June 2013. Government Report Accessed Online Nagorsen, D. W. (1995, March). Status of the western harvest mouse in British Columbia (Wildlife Working Report No. WR-71). Retrieved from British Columbia Ministry of the Environment website: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/status rpts/wr71.pdf Nagorsen, Denise. W. Status of the Western Harvest Mouse in British Columbia (Wildlife Working Report No. WR-71). British Columbia Ministry of the Environment, 1995. Web. 30 June 2013. Webpage BC Hydro. (2013). Fish & wildlife compensation program. Retrieved from http://www.bchydro.com/about/sustainability/en vironmental_responsibility/compensation_progra ms.html BC Hydro. Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program. BC Hydro, 2013. Web. 29 June 2013. Book Kaplan, J. S., & Hayn, J. (2012). Teaching young adult literature today: Insights, considerations, and perspectives for the classroom teacher. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Kaplan, Jeffrey, S. and Judith Hayn. Teaching Young Adult Literature Today: Insights, Considerations, and Perspectives for the Classroom Teacher. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc., 2012. Print. Chapter in Book Sweller, J. (2005). Implications of cognitive load theory for multimedia learning. In R. E. Mayer (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of multimedia learning. (pp. 19-30). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Sweller, John. "Implications of Cognitive Load Theory for Multimedia Learning." The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning. Ed. Richard E. Mayer. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005. 19-30. Print. E-Book Library Database Richardson,D. (2000). Rethinking sexuality. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com Richardson, Diane. Rethinking Sexuality. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2000. Ebrary. Web. 2 Nov 2013.