Ever feel like different citation styles were designed to trip you up? Say no more. APA style challenges many first-time learners – you’re not alone if you find it difficult. Writing a research paper requires correct citations, and this task can feel daunting, whether it’s your first or hundredth paper.
As Professor Graham Kendall (2024), Deputy Vice Chancellor at MILA University, emphasizes, citations aren’t just formatting requirements—they help position your work within existing research, demonstrate your knowledge of the field, and ensure you don’t need to repeat what has already been done. When used properly, citations enhance credibility and show how your research fits into a larger academic conversation.
The details can pile up quickly. Both APA and MLA styles have specific requirements about author formatting, hanging indents, DOIs, and container citations that matter. To cite an instance, APA requires including up to 19 authors before using an ellipsis. MLA style encourages writers to cite containers like JSTOR or Netflix so readers can locate sources easily.
Becoming skilled at these citation styles can be straightforward. In this piece, we’ll explain exactly how to cite an article in both APA and MLA formats. Our simple, step-by-step instructions work every time. That said, citation can be stress-free!
Understand the Basics of APA and MLA
Before choosing a citation style, you must understand the key differences between APA and MLA. These two citation formats serve different academic fields and come with their own formatting rules.
What is APA, and when to use it
APA format stands for American Psychological Association style. This citation method uses an author-date system that guides readers to a complete reference list at the end of your paper.
| Source Type | In-text Citation | Bibliography |
| A book | (Greenfield, 2022) | Greenfield, A. (2022). Radical technologies: The design of everyday life. Verso Books. |
| Chapter in an edited book | (Taylor, 2021) | Taylor, M. (2021). The digital body: Social media and self-perception. In L. Zhang & H. Brown (Eds.), Bodies and Screens: Identity in the Digital Age (pp. 55–72). Routledge. |
| An article in a print journal | (Khan, 2023) | Khan, R. (2023). Post-pandemic pedagogy and the role of empathy in education. Journal of Educational Thought, 57(2), 134–149. |
| An article in an electronic journal | (Costin et al., 2023) | Costin, A., Roman, A. F., & Balica, R.-S. (2023). Remote work burnout, professional job stress, and employee emotional exhaustion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 14(1193854). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1193854 |
| A website | (Gorenberg, 2025) | Gorenberg. G. (2025, May 9). Israel Plunges Into Darkness. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/05/israel-netanyahu-gaza-war-victory/682744/ |
APA finds its home in:
- Social sciences (psychology, sociology, linguistics)
- Education and related fields
- Health sciences research
- Business topics and engineering
APA style puts emphasis on publication dates next to author names in citations. To cite an instance, you’ll write in-text citations as (Smith & Johnson, 2009). This system helps readers compare research and check its relevance.
Your document must include a reference page at the end in APA style. Each in-text citation needs a matching reference entry. The style also has specific rules about capitalization – only the first words in titles and proper nouns get capital letters.
What is MLA, and when to use it
The Modern Language Association created MLA format, which follows an author-page citation method. This style stands out by highlighting authorship more than publication dates.
| Source Type | In-text Citation | Bibliography |
| A book | (Mukherjee 142) | Mukherjee, Siddhartha. The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human. Scribner, 2022. |
| Chapter in an edited book | (Brooks 98) | Brooks, David. “The Power of Connection.” The Power of Ideas: Insights to Transform the World, edited by Jane Thompson, Beacon Press, 2021, pp. 90–105. |
| An article in a print journal | (Jensen 45) | Jensen, Emily. “Eco-Anxiety and Modern Fiction.” Modern Language Studies, vol. 51, no. 1, 2023, pp. 40–55. |
| An article in an electronic journal | (Costin et al.) | Costin, Alina, et al. “Remote Work Burnout, Professional Job Stress, and Employee Emotional Exhaustion during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 14, no. 1193854, 1 June 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1193854 |
| A website | (Gorenberg) | Gorenberg, Gershom. “Israel Plunges Into Darkness.” The Atlantic, 9 May 2025, www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/05/israel-netanyahu-gaza-war-victory/682744/. |
MLA shows up most often in:
- Humanities disciplines (English, literature, philosophy)
- Language studies and linguistics
- Cultural and media studies
- Art-related fields
MLA in-text citations include the author’s last name and page number in parentheses, like (Smith and Johnson 96). Many students find this format easier to grasp when they first learn about citation styles.
MLA asks for a Works Cited page instead of a reference page. The style has its own rules too – all major words in titles get capital letters (except articles and prepositions), and you must mention the medium of publication (print, web).
Both styles give you standard ways to credit sources and avoid plagiarism. Your teacher might tell you which style to use, but knowing both styles helps you adapt to different academic requirements throughout your college years.
How to Cite an Article in APA Style
Image Source: Apastyle.apa.org
APA citations need careful attention to formatting details. The right knowledge of source requirements will help you create accurate citations.
APA in-text citation format
APA in-text citations use the author-date method that matches a full reference in your reference list. You should include the author’s last name, publication year, and page number to reference specific parts of a source: (Parker, 2020, p. 67). Sources without page numbers need paragraph numbers: (Field, 2005, para. 1). However, in APA style, page numbers in in-text citations are only included when directly quoting a source. If paraphrasing, you do not need to include page numbers, but you can if it helps readers locate the specific passage.
APA offers two citation styles:
- Parenthetical citation: The research shows the most important results (Smith, 2020).
- Narrative citation: Smith (2020) found the most important results.
Citations with multiple authors include up to two names. Three or more authors require the first author’s name with “et al.”.
APA reference list format
- Start your reference list on a fresh page after your text.
- Add a centered, bold “References” label.
- Each reference needs a single paragraph with a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. The first word, usually the author’s last name, determines the alphabetical order.
- The entire list should be double-spaced without extra spaces between entries.
Citing articles with and without a DOI
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) creates a lasting link to online content through a unique alphanumeric string. Journal articles follow this APA format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Print sources need DOIs too, if available. Articles from websites without DOIs should include URLs. Academic database articles without DOIs don’t need URLs.
How to cite a PDF in APA
PDFs need citation formats matching their source type – journal, book, or report – plus the URL. Journal articles in PDF use this format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), page range. URL
PDFs without authors use the title instead. Sources without dates use “n.d.” to replace the year.
How to Cite an Article in MLA Style
MLA style uses an author-page approach to cite sources, which differs from APA’s author-date method. Students in the humanities and liberal arts need to become skilled at using this citation style.
MLA in-text citation format
MLA in-text citations use parentheses that contain the author’s last name and page number without a comma between them: (Smith 163). The page number goes in parentheses when you mention the author’s name in your text: Smith argues that “quotation” (163). Sources with three or more authors need the first author’s name with “et al.” (Case et al. 57). A shortened version of the title goes in the citation if there’s no author: (“Nursing” 12).
MLA works cited entry format
The works cited page starts on a new page with “Works Cited” centered at the top. Each entry should include:
- Author name (last name first)
- Title of article (in quotation marks)
- Title of container (journal/magazine in italics)
- Version or edition
- Number (volume and issue)
- Publisher
- Publication date
- Location (pages or URL/DOI)
Journal articles follow this format: Author. “Article Title.” Journal Title, vol. #, no. #, date, pages. Example:
Works Cited
Dean, Cornelia. “Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet.” The New York Times, 22 May 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/science/earth/22ander.html?_r=0. Accessed 29 May 2019.
Ebert, Roger. Review of An Inconvenient Truth, directed by Davis Guggenheim. Ebert Digital LLC, 1 June 2006, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/an-inconvenient-truth-2006. Accessed 15 June 2019.
Gowdy, John. “Avoiding Self-Organized Extinction: Toward a Co-Evolutionary Economics of Sustainability.” International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, vol. 14, no. 1, 2007, pp. 27-36.
Harris, Rob, and Andrew C. Revkin. “Clinton on Climate Change.” The New York Times, 17 May 2007, www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/1194817109438/clinton-on-climate-change.html. Accessed 29 July 2016.
An Inconvenient Truth. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, Paramount, 2006.
Leroux, Marcel. Global Warming: Myth or Reality?: The Erring Ways of Climatology. Springer, 2005.
Milken, Michael, et al. “On Global Warming and Financial Imbalances.” New Perspectives Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 4, 2006, p. 63.
Nordhaus, William D. “After Kyoto: Alternative Mechanisms to Control Global Warming.” American Economic Review, vol. 96, no. 2, 2006, pp. 31-34.
Regas, Diane. “Three Key Energy Policies That Can Help Us Turn the Corner on Climate.” Environmental Defense Fund, 1 June 2016, www.edf.org/blog/2016/06/01/3-key-energy-policies-can-help-us-turn-corner-climate. Accessed 19 July 2016.
Revkin, Andrew C. “Clinton on Climate Change.” The New York Times, 17 May 2007, www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/1194817109438/clinton-on-climate-change.html. Accessed 29 July 2016.
Shulte, Bret. “Putting a Price on Pollution.” US News & World Report, vol. 142, no. 17, 14 May 2007, p. 37. Ebsco, Access no: 24984616.
Uzawa, Hirofumi. Economic Theory and Global Warming. Cambridge UP, 2003.
Source: Purdue Owl
Citing articles from databases or websites
Online article citations in MLA need two containers. The original publication details are the foundations of the first container, while the database or website information forms the second:
Goldman, Anne. “Questions of Transport.” The Georgia Review, vol. 64, no. 1, spring 2010, pp. 69-88. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41403188.
DOIs are the preferred choice for online sources, followed by permalinks or URLs. The database name should appear in italics after the article information. Articles without dates need an accessed date at the end: “Accessed 10 Aug. 2017.” Website citations that lack page numbers only use the author’s name in the in-text citation.
Tools and Tips to Make Citations Easier
Modern tools make the tedious citation creation process much easier. Litero AI helps students generate accurate references and avoid mistakes that could lower their assignment scores. Additionally, it offers a user-friendly interface that streamlines the citation process, allowing for quick adjustments and updates as needed. With features like automatic formatting and integration with word processors, you can focus more on your content rather than the intricacies of citation styles.
Using Google Scholar citations
Google Scholar’s citation feature works with just a few clicks. Here’s how to cite an article:
- Search for your article in Google Scholar
- Click the quotation mark icon below the search result
- Select your preferred citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, or Vancouver)
- Copy the formatted citation and paste it into your document
Your citations need verification after pasting them into documents. Research shows that 86% of papers have running head formatting errors. Even machine-generated citations require a careful review.
How to cite fast with citation generators
When it comes to managing references, Litero AI takes the hassle out of citation. Its intelligent citation assistant instantly generates accurate references in APA, MLA, Harvard, and more—no manual formatting required. Simply paste a URL, enter a title, or upload a source, and Litero’s advanced AI pulls all the necessary details like authors, dates, and publishers with impressive precision.
Unlike other tools, Litero AI offers real-time suggestions, error checks, and formatting tips, making it a one-stop solution for students and researchers aiming for perfection in every paper.
Common mistakes to avoid
Students often make these citation errors in academic papers, even with citation tools:
- Missing corresponding references: Each in-text citation needs a matching reference list entry (and vice versa).
- Alphabetization errors: Your references should appear in alphabetical order by the first element.
- URL omissions: Website citations must include the complete URL in references.
- Incorrect quotations: Direct quotes need page numbers, while sources without pages require paragraph numbers.
- Spelling errors: Author names and source titles need careful spelling verification.
Citation tools help, but cannot replace careful review. A final check before submission remains essential.
Comparative Overview of APA and MLA Formatting
| Feature | APA Style (7th edition) | MLA Style (9th edition) |
| Used in | Social sciences (e.g., psychology, education) | Humanities (e.g., literature, philosophy) |
| Title Page | Required, includes title, author, institution, etc. | Not required (unless instructed), info on first page |
| In-text Citations | (Author, Year) – e.g., (Smith, 2020) | (Author Page) – e.g., (Smith 123) |
| Quotations | Page number included only for direct quotes | Always include the page number for any quotation |
| Reference List Title | References | Works Cited |
| Author Name Format | Last name, Initial(s) – e.g., Smith, J. A. | Full name – e.g., John Smith |
| Date Placement | Immediately after the author’s name | At the end of the citation |
| Source Titles | Italicized or not, based on type; sentence case | Italicized or in quotation marks; title case |
| Publisher Info | Includes publisher and sometimes DOI/URL | Includes the publisher but no DOI unless necessary |
| Multiple Authors (In-text) | 2 authors: (Smith & Lee, 2020); 3+: (Smith et al., 2020) | 2 authors: (Smith and Lee 123); 3+: (Smith et al. 123) |
| Digital Sources | Includes DOI or URL with “Retrieved from”, optional | URL included without “http://” or “Retrieved from” |
| Page Numbers in Reference List | Included for journal articles | Included for book chapters and journal articles |
| Capitalize Titles in Reference List | Sentence case – only the first word and proper nouns | Title case – capitalize all major words |
Conclusion
Learning citation styles might seem overwhelming initially, but you can handle the task by understanding their differences and requirements. APA’s author-date system works well for social sciences, and MLA’s author-page approach serves humanities scholars better.
You don’t need to memorize every rule. Instead, focus on learning the simple structure of each citation style. With this knowledge and good citation tools, you can create accurate references for any academic paper. Make sure to double-check your citations, even when using automated generators, because small errors can hurt your paper’s credibility.
Citations are more than just formatting requirements – they’re valuable academic tools. These standardized methods help readers locate your sources, verify your research, and build upon your work. That’s what makes scholarly communication possible.
FAQs
Q1. What are the main differences between APA and MLA citation styles?
APA is primarily used in social sciences and emphasizes publication dates, while MLA is common in humanities and focuses on authorship. APA uses an author-date system for in-text citations, whereas MLA uses an author-page number approach.
Q2. How do I create an in-text citation in APA format?
For APA in-text citations, include the author’s last name and the publication year in parentheses. For example: (Smith, 2023). If you’re quoting directly, add the page number: (Smith, 2023, p. 45).
Q3. What information is required for an MLA Works Cited entry?
An MLA Works Cited entry typically includes the author’s name, title of the work, container (such as a journal or website), other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location (such as page numbers or URL).
Q4. How can I easily generate citations for my research paper?
You can use citation generators like Litero AI. This tool allows you to input source information or search by title, URL, or ISBN to automatically create citations in various formats, including APA, MLA, and Harvard.
Q5. What are some common citation mistakes to avoid?
Common citation errors include missing corresponding references, alphabetization mistakes, URL omissions for online sources, incorrect quotation formatting, and spelling errors in author names or source titles. Always double-check your citations for accuracy and consistency.