This document compares the formatting styles of MLA and APA for undergraduate research papers. It outlines the key differences in paper format, in-text citations, and reference lists between the two styles. MLA uses a four-line header without a title page, while APA requires a title page with an abstract. In-text citations for MLA include the author's last name and page number in parentheses, while APA includes the author's last name, year, and page number. References are titled "Works Cited" in MLA and "References" in APA, with different formatting for titles, dates, and author names.

1. FORMATTING
UNDERGRADUATE MLA v. APA
RESEARCH PAPERS

2. OBJECTIVES
Determine which editorial
style guide is appropriate
Format of paper
In text citations
Construction of reference list

3. WHICH EDITORIAL ST YLE SHOULD I USE?
OR

4. FORMAT OF PAPER
MLA V. APA
MLA APA
 1” margins  1” margins
 Double-spaced  Double-spaced
 No title page, uses four  Title page with author
line header with title note plus abstract on
below second page
 Top right, last name  Running header top left
and page #  Top right, page #

5. MLA
Sample from:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

6. APA
Sample from:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

7. IN TEXT CITATIONS
MLA APA
Paraphrased text Paraphrased text
goes here(Name goes here
page#). (Name, year, p.#).
If A, then B If A, then B
(Smith, 34). (Smith, 2007, p. 34).

8. WORKS CITED/REFERENCES
 In MLA , a paper has a Works Cited where citations are given
of references used in the paper.
 Last name, First name. Title. Place of publication: Publisher, year of
publication.
 Spell out author’s whole name
 Capitalize all major words in title
 Date at end
 Use hanging indent
 In APA, this is titled References.
 Last name, First initial. (year). Title goes here. Place of publication:
Publisher.
 Author’s last name and first initial only
 Capitalize only first letter of first word of title
 Date at beginning
 Use hanging indent

9. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

10. THE PURDUE OWL