- APA: Psychology, education, social sciences, nursing, health sciences
- MLA: Literature, English, humanities, language arts, film studies
- Chicago Notes-Bibliography: History, art history, religious studies, philosophy
- Chicago Author-Date: Physical sciences, some social sciences, economics
If your assignment does not specify, ask your professor. Most accept APA or MLA depending on your department.
Every academic discipline has a preferred citation style, and mixing them up is one of the most common formatting errors in student papers. APA, MLA, and Chicago are the three major systems, each designed to serve the conventions and priorities of different academic communities. Understanding when and why each is used helps you apply the right one confidently.
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The APA Citation Generator supports APA, MLA, and Chicago. Paste a URL or enter source details and get a perfectly formatted citation in the style you need.
Add to Chrome — FreeOverview: The Three Major Citation Styles
| Style | Full Name | Primary Disciplines | Current Edition | In-Text Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APA | American Psychological Association | Social sciences, psychology, education, health | 7th edition (2020) | Author, year: (Smith, 2024) |
| MLA | Modern Language Association | Literature, humanities, language arts | 9th edition (2021) | Author, page: (Smith 45) |
| Chicago NB | Chicago Notes-Bibliography | History, arts, some humanities | 17th edition (2017) | Footnotes/endnotes |
| Chicago AD | Chicago Author-Date | Sciences, social sciences | 17th edition (2017) | Author, year: (Smith 2024) |
APA Format: Author-Date System
APA (American Psychological Association) — 7th Edition
APA was designed for the social and behavioral sciences, where establishing when research was conducted matters enormously. A psychology study from 1985 may have been contradicted by later research; the publication year in the in-text citation immediately signals to the reader how current the evidence is.
Core philosophy: Recency of research is paramount. The year appears prominently in every citation.
Reference list heading: References (centered, bold)
In-text citation format: (Author, year) or Author (year) found that...
Used in: Psychology, sociology, education, nursing, public health, communications, economics, criminology, political science (varies by department)
MLA Format: Author-Page System
MLA (Modern Language Association) — 9th Edition
MLA was designed for literary and language scholarship, where the page number of a specific quote or passage is more important than the publication year. In literary analysis, a reference to Shakespeare's Hamlet is the same play regardless of which edition you cite — the page number helps readers locate the exact passage.
Core philosophy: Locating the precise source text matters most. Page numbers appear in every in-text citation where available.
Reference list heading: Works Cited (centered, no bold)
In-text citation format: (Author page) — no comma, no year
Used in: English literature, comparative literature, linguistics, film studies, cultural studies, foreign language studies, some philosophy and art history courses
Chicago Format: Two Systems
Chicago Manual of Style — 17th Edition
Chicago is unique in offering two distinct citation systems within the same style guide, serving different scholarly traditions.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography (NB)
Used primarily in history and arts. In-text citations are numbered superscripts that correspond to footnotes or endnotes. A full bibliography appears at the end. This system allows for extensive commentary in notes without interrupting the main text — ideal for historical scholarship that requires nuanced source discussion.
Chicago Author-Date (AD)
Similar to APA in structure — uses (Author year) parenthetical citations and a References list. Used in natural sciences, social sciences, and some economics fields.
Notes-Bibliography used in: History, art history, religion, some philosophy, some English (where professors specify it)
Author-Date used in: Physical sciences, economics, some social sciences
Not Sure Which Format Your Paper Needs?
The Citation Generator handles APA, MLA, and Chicago. Generate citations in all three and use the one your professor specifies.
Install Free Citation GeneratorKey Formatting Differences Side by Side
| Element | APA 7th | MLA 9th | Chicago NB 17th |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-text format | (Author, year) | (Author page) | Footnote number¹ |
| Reference list name | References | Works Cited | Bibliography |
| Author format | Last, F. M. | Last, First Middle | First Last (notes); Last, First (bibliography) |
| Date position | After author (year) | At end (for most) | In notes (full date); varies in bibliography |
| Book title format | Italics, sentence case | Italics, title case | Italics, title case |
| Article title format | No quotes, sentence case | Quotation marks, title case | Quotation marks, title case |
| Publisher (books) | Publisher name only | Publisher name | City: Publisher |
Which Citation Style Is Used in Which Field?
| Field / Subject | Typical Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | APA | Required by APA itself for all psych journals |
| Education | APA | Standard across most education programs |
| Nursing / Health Sciences | APA | AMA also used in some clinical settings |
| English Literature | MLA | MLA is the discipline's own style guide |
| History | Chicago NB | Footnote tradition deeply embedded in history scholarship |
| Sociology | APA or ASA | American Sociological Association (ASA) style is similar to APA |
| Political Science | Chicago AD or APA | Varies by program and journal |
| Philosophy | Chicago NB or MLA | Varies widely by program |
| Art History | Chicago NB | Visual arts scholarship uses Chicago conventions |
| Business | APA | Most business programs have adopted APA |
| Law | Bluebook | Legal citation is a separate system entirely |
| Medicine | AMA | American Medical Association style is used in medical journals |
When the Assignment Doesn't Specify a Style
If your assignment does not specify a citation style, take these steps in order:
- Check the syllabus — many professors list a preferred style in their course policies
- Ask your professor directly — they will appreciate that you asked
- Match the department — use the style typical for your field (see table above)
- Choose APA as the default — it is the most broadly accepted academic style and rarely wrong
Generate Citations for Any Style
The Citation Generator Chrome extension supports APA, MLA, Chicago, and more. Generate your full bibliography automatically as you research.
Add to Chrome — FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles?
APA (author-date) emphasizes recency and is used in social sciences. MLA (author-page) emphasizes location in the source text and is used in humanities. Chicago offers two systems: Notes-Bibliography (footnotes, used in history and arts) and Author-Date (similar to APA, used in sciences). Each is designed to serve the citation conventions of its discipline.
Which citation style should I use for a college paper?
It depends on your subject: APA for psychology, education, nursing; MLA for literature and English; Chicago for history and art history. Always check your assignment instructions first — your professor specifies the required style.
Is APA or MLA more commonly used?
APA is more widely used across academia overall, as it covers all social sciences, health sciences, and many natural sciences. MLA is narrower in scope, primarily used for literature and language arts. By volume of academic papers, APA is the more prevalent style.
Do I put "Works Cited" or "References" at the end of my paper?
APA: References. MLA: Works Cited. Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Bibliography. Chicago Author-Date: References. Using the wrong heading is a formatting error — always use the correct label for your style.
What is the latest version of APA format?
APA 7th edition, published in October 2019. Key changes from 6th edition include up to 20 authors before ellipsis, removal of "Retrieved from" for most URLs, acceptance of singular "they," and updated DOI format.
Can I use the same citation generator for APA, MLA, and Chicago?
Yes. The APA Citation Generator supports multiple formats. Generate a citation once and switch between APA, MLA, and Chicago with a click.
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