EP 54: The Difference between MLA and APA Format
When we write academic papers, it is important that we follow standards. APA and MLA formats are two distinct citation styles we can use in our papers. Yes, learning a style is a complicated and confusing process. Even within a given style, as times change, styles also shift and we must change with them. If you want to be recognised professionally in the academic field you must use formatting guidelines. Join Cath Anne as she discusses the similarities and differences between MLA and APA formatting styles.
Looking for study tips, help with essay writing, or advice on how to be a better student? Welcome to The Homework Help Show, a weekly show where we teach, assist, and offer valuable insights for student life. From study hacks to writing tips, discussions about student mental health to step-by-step guides on academic writing and how to write a resume, we’ve got you covered. Want your questions answered? Write them below or join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #askHHG
TRANSCRIPT:
Cath Anne: [00:00:00] Hi guys and welcome back to our channel. My name is Cath Anne and this is The Homework Help Show hosted by Homework Help Global. This is Episode 54 of the show here on the show. We provide you with valuable content for your academic and student life. Let’s jump in.
Cath Anne: [00:00:24] Today let’s talk about APA and MLA for writing when we are writing essays. It is important that we follow guidelines MLA and AOA formatting the style guides are two distinct styles that we can use when we are writing our papers. Yes learning a new style can be difficult and confusing process. As times change styles also changed and we must learn to adapt and be flexible with them. However if you want to be taken professionally in the academic field you must learn to use different style guides which are appropriate to the academic field in which you are working. This is why we’ve decided to give you an overview of both APA and MLA formatted guides. Today we will begin with a discussion of the similarities between the two formats and then we will move on to some of the distinct differences that differentiate MLA from APA format.
Cath Anne: [00:01:25] MLA stands for Modern Literature Association. The style was developed in 1883 by teachers and scholars and the academy seeks to promote literature and English. The English language throughout the academic profession.
Cath Anne: [00:01:44] APA stands for American Psychological Association. The first time that this style was seen was in a Psychological Bulletin which was written in 1929. In this edition of The Bulletin the guidelines for APA style were laid out.
Cath Anne: [00:02:00] Now let’s discuss the similarities between MLA and APA format. First in each style the layout of the page is the same. You are going to want to use one inch margins set your font to twelve point font and use. Times New Roman you’re also going to want to have a reverences or a workcit. page. At the end of the essay is just pages will also be numbered at the top. Text should also be double spaced. I recommend setting all your font margins and your text spacing at the beginning of the essay so that you don’t have to go back and read format. At the end of the essay. That way you can make sure that everything is streamlined and ready to go when you’re ready to pass in your essay. As mentioned the final page of your essay will include a reverences or a Works Cited page. Each of the citations on this page will be also double spaced and they will go in alphabetical order as well. Each citation should have a hanging indent which means that the citation is indented on the second line and the third line. Remember that reference pages and work cited pages are included on the last page of the paper. However they never count towards your word count. Another similarity is that all information that you use in your paper must be properly saved through the paper as well as recognized in your citation page. At the end of your essay as noted both of the citations styles use in text citations. These appear as parenthetical citations within the body of your text. For example if we are citing something from Big Bird written in 2010 in MLA formatting you are going to use the last name, Bird, and the page number on which you found the information. APA style, on the other hand, uses the citation format in parenthetical brackets the last name of the person – so in this case we would use Bird – comma, the year that the publication was issued, comma the page number on which you found the information if you have taken a direct quote from some information.
Cath Anne: [00:04:18] If you are looking to quote something within the body of your text make sure that all of the quotations transitions smoothly and integrate well into your text. Try not to go too heavy on quotations directly from the text. Professors tend to prefer paraphrasing as opposed to direct quotations unless it is something they request specifically blocked quotations can also be used throughout the text. However use these intentionally and sparingly.
Cath Anne: [00:04:51] Now let’s move on to some differences between APA and MLA format and. Only format is generally used in the arts. So for for example English, art, theatre. On the other hand APA format is generally used in the sociological disciplines like social work, sociology, and psychology as the name alludes. In MLA format you will see Works Cited page on the final page of your essay. In APA format it is a bit different and the references page will be called just that, the References page. In MLA format when you are going to cite some information you will want to use this citation style Bird comma Big. On the other hand in APA format the references are cited with the last name comma and then the first initial. So for example. Bird comma B. In MLA format when information is cited within the text make sure that you place the page number within the parentheses. So for example according to Big Bird writing is a good way to practice the English language and that at the end of the sentence you bracket the number the page number on which you found that information on the other hand. In APA format when you are citing information in a sentence make sure to put the year during which the information was published. So for example Big Bird believes that writing centres are awesome and then in brackets you will put the year right after the name that you have cited. So for example it would be Big Bird (2010) believes that writing centers are awesome. In MLA format quotes for lines or longer are called blocked quotation and they are indented to tabs or. In APA format, quotes forty words or longer are also forming block quotations. They are adjusted 5 spaces over in the context of the paper. In MLA format when titles of works are cited within the references page they are italicized and APA format, the first word of the title is capitalized and the rest are lowercase. They’re not italicized.
Cath Anne: [00:07:38] If you are struggling with APA or MLA format consider using a citation tools such BibMe we will link it in the description box below. This can help you to organize your citations and create a bibliography for you that you can include at the end of your paper. However don’t become reliant on these tools. Think of them as just that tools.
Cath Anne: [00:08:05] Getting a copy of the actual APA or MLA manuals can also be very helpful in learning these formatting styles as well.
Cath Anne: [00:08:15] Check out Owl Perdue that website has a great breakdown of both MLA and APA style guides wherein you can learn the thoroughbred of both of these styles.
Cath Anne: [00:08:26] Also consider visiting your campus’s writing center for more support on MLA or APA for math.
Cath Anne: [00:08:33] If you’re looking for more support on either of these styles try to check out Episode 35 of the show that in that show we provide you a an in-depth overview of the APA format.
[00:08:47] Okay so that’s it for me this week guys. I hope this video was a benefit for you. If you have any questions jump into the comment box below. We’ve linked and listed all the information I’ve discussed in this video. In the description box if you want to go on any of our social media platforms. All information is listed below. Take care. Make sure to get a leg and the thumbs up and make sure you Subscribe for more.
Share:
