What Are the Differences Between MLA, APA, and Chicago Style? 

MLA, APA, and Chicago are some of the most well-known style guides used for formatting references in academic or professional papers. While they do have some things in common, they are all actually very different styles. Here is a quick look at how they came to be and how to tell them apart. 

MLA Style

What most university and high school students know as “MLA Style” began with a publication called the MLA Style Sheet in 1951. This slim brochure described the official standard for writing and formatting references according to the Modern Language Association (MLA). In 1977, the title was changed to MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Most students are more familiar with the abridged MLA Style Manual, however, as this is the one most used in schools. MLA is used to cite sources for papers written in the fields of arts and humanities. It can be used to cite books, paintings, journals, artwork, or other similar works. 

At-a-Glance Characteristics:

• Recommends serial comma 
• Titles: prepositions written in lowercase 
• In-text citations: author-page or author-date (Smith 15) 
• Works Cited page at end of document 
• Citation format: Last name, First name. Book Title. Publisher, Year. Website/Database Name. URL. 

APA Style

APA style or APA format dates back even further than MLA. Created by the American Psychological Association (APA), the first edition of the APA Publication Manual was published in 1952 after having been printed as a 32-page style guide in the Psychological Bulletin in 1929. The main goal of the APA format is to use wording that “best reduces bias in language.” It is the method most often used by writers of pieces published in scholarly journals. APA is used for more technical works than MLA, and is often the citation method of choice for works in the field of social sciences. It is most often used to cite scholarly journals and books. 

At-a-Glance Characteristics

• Recommends serial comma 
• Titles: All words over four letters are capitalized 
• In-text citations: author-date (Smith, 2021, p. 15) 
• References page at end of document 
• Citation format: Last name, Initials. (Year). Book title. Publisher. URL  

Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style (or CMS or CMOS, as it is sometimes known) has been in print since 1906. It was first published by the University of Chicago Press and soon became “one of the most widely used and respected style guides in the United States.” Although it is concerned exclusively with American English, it is used by writers all over the world. 

One may also have heard this style referred to as Turabian, which was named after Kate L. Turabian, the first author of A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. This manual is based on Chicago style citations, but is written specifically for students in the humanities and social sciences with advice for writing, researching, and selecting topics as well. 

Chicago style may be the most diverse style guide on this list, as it is used in the fields of art, humanities, history, and social sciences. It is also used as a guide for book publishers, writers, and editors outside of the classroom. 

At-a-Glance Characteristics

• Recommends serial comma 
• Titles: prepositions written in lowercase 
• In-text citations: notes and bibliography or author-date (Smith 2021, 15) 
• Bibliography page at end of document 
• Citation format (notes and bibliography): Author last name, first name. Title of Book. Place of publication: publisher, year. 

Other sources worth reading:

• PDF File Management Tips provided by ShareDF.com
• The MLA Formatting and Style guide provided by Owl.Purdue.Edu