MLA style — from the Modern Language Association — is the format most used in literature, languages, and the humanities. Its in-text citation names the author and page, like (Achebe 23), because humanities scholars often quote and analyse exact passages in a text.

Where APA cares most about when, MLA cares most about where in the text. That single difference tells you something true about the humanities: a literature scholar returns again and again to specific lines on specific pages, so the citation style is built to point straight there.

How MLA works

  • In-text citation — author and page, no comma: “the tragedy turns on a single choice (Achebe 176).”
  • Works Cited — the full list at the end, alphabetical by author.
  • Author and page lead — perfect for guiding a reader to the exact passage you’re analysing.
APA vs MLA, side by side
Quoting the same novel:
MLA: “…a single choice (Achebe 176).” — find it on page 176.
APA: “…a single choice (Achebe, 1958).” — note how old it is.
Neither is “better”. Each foregrounds what its discipline values most: the page, or the year.

Let the discipline guide you

You don’t choose a style by taste — your field (or your tutor) usually decides. The useful insight is why each exists: once you see that MLA serves close textual analysis and APA serves time-sensitive evidence, switching between them feels logical rather than bewildering.

Try this
Take one quotation from a book and cite it both ways: MLA (Author Page) and APA (Author, Year). Seeing the same source in two styles makes the purpose of each click into place.

🔗 A friendly free guide: Purdue OWL — MLA Style

A third major style offers flexibility many other fields prefer, including footnotes. On to Chicago Citation Style.

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Última modificación: viernes, 5 de junio de 2026, 08:16