If your assignment doesn't explicitly name a citation style, the safest first move is to ask your instructor — but understanding what each style looks like helps you recognize it instantly once you do know.
APA (American Psychological Association)
The most common style for essays in psychology, education, nursing, business, and the social sciences generally. In-text citations use an author-date parenthetical: (Lopez, 2023). The reference list is titled "References," alphabetized by author surname, with sentence-case article titles.
MLA (Modern Language Association)
The standard for English literature, composition, and most humanities essays. In-text citations use author-page: (Lopez 45). The reference list is titled "Works Cited," alphabetized by author surname, with Title Case for all titles.
Chicago
Common in history essays and some humanities courses. Chicago offers two systems: Notes-Bibliography (footnotes with a closing bibliography) and Author-Date (a parenthetical system similar to APA). Your instructor will specify which one your essay should use.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | APA | MLA | Chicago (Notes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-text | (Lopez, 2023) | (Lopez 45) | Footnote number |
| List name | References | Works Cited | Bibliography |
| Title case | Sentence case (articles) | Title Case | Title Case |
| Common fields | Social sciences, nursing | English, humanities | History |
Not Sure Which Style Your Essay Needs?
Our writers and editors work fluently in APA, MLA, and Chicago — we'll match your assignment's exact requirements.
Get Writing Help View ServicesHow to Choose If You're Not Told
- Check the assignment sheet or rubric first — the style is often stated explicitly
- Check your course syllabus for a department-wide default
- If neither states it, ask your instructor directly rather than guessing
- If truly no guidance exists, default to APA for general coursework or MLA for English/humanities essays
Frequently Asked Questions
It's best to confirm with your instructor first — using an unexpected style, even if internally consistent, can read as not having followed assignment instructions.
Not meaningfully — each has its own learning curve. APA and MLA are generally considered the most beginner-friendly since they avoid footnotes entirely.
APA and MLA cover the large majority of undergraduate essay assignments outside history and certain humanities courses.