Mla vs Apa Essay Example
There many differences and similarities between the APA and MLA. The writers would use to create papers, guidelines to writing, punctuation, quotation and sources. MLA stands for Modern Language Association, and would typically be used by a Biology student; while, APA stands for American Psychological Association and would be used by a Psychology student (Boricua, 2007).
Both styles provide a guideline for the format and layout of a paper. All of the margins with both styles are 1 inch. The differences include parenthetical citation that is the quotation or paraphrasing of the ideas coming from different sources. The MLA style requires that the author’s last name and page number is be used in the citation while the APA Style requires that the author’s last name, date of publication and the page number be used (Boricua, 2007).
Another difference is found on the World Wide Web citing style. The MLA style the writer needs to include the author's last name, first name, and title of the document, the title of the complete work, version or file number, document date or date of last revision, protocol and address, and access path or directions. The APA style requires the writer to include the author's last name, initial(s), date of document, title of document, title of complete work, version or file number, edition or revision number, protocol, address, and access path or directories (Boricua, 2007).
Each style has a different format for the title page of the paper. The MLA style does not require a separate title page. The student’s name, instructor’s name, the course name and number is place at the top of the first page, at the left-hand margin. The paper is double-spaced and the title is centered above the text of the paper. The APA style does require a separate title page. It should have the title of the paper, writer’s name and writer’s affiliation centered on the page; also, the running head and page number on every page (Raimes, 2005) (Boricua, 2007).
Both styles provide a guideline for the format and layout of a paper. All of the margins with both styles are 1 inch. The differences include parenthetical citation that is the quotation or paraphrasing of the ideas coming from different sources. The MLA style requires that the author’s last name and page number is be used in the citation while the APA Style requires that the author’s last name, date of publication and the page number be used (Boricua, 2007).
Another difference is found on the World Wide Web citing style. The MLA style the writer needs to include the author's last name, first name, and title of the document, the title of the complete work, version or file number, document date or date of last revision, protocol and address, and access path or directions. The APA style requires the writer to include the author's last name, initial(s), date of document, title of document, title of complete work, version or file number, edition or revision number, protocol, address, and access path or directories (Boricua, 2007).
Each style has a different format for the title page of the paper. The MLA style does not require a separate title page. The student’s name, instructor’s name, the course name and number is place at the top of the first page, at the left-hand margin. The paper is double-spaced and the title is centered above the text of the paper. The APA style does require a separate title page. It should have the title of the paper, writer’s name and writer’s affiliation centered on the page; also, the running head and page number on every page (Raimes, 2005) (Boricua, 2007).