Full Answer Section

For instance, an APA title page might look like this:

The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

By:

Your Name

University Name

PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology

Professor Jane Doe

Due Date: April 15, 2024

In contrast, an MLA header would appear at the top of the first page:

Your Name

Professor Jane Doe

PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology

April 15, 2024

2. In-text Citations: This is where the styles diverge significantly. APA uses an author-date citation system within the body of your text. When referencing a source, you include the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses. If there are multiple authors, you separate their names with a comma and an ampersand (&) for the last one. For example: “Social media use has been linked to increased feelings of anxiety and depression (Ahn et al., 2014).”

MLA, however, utilizes an author-page number citation system. You include the author’s last name and the specific page number in parentheses within the text. Here’s an example: “One study suggests a correlation between social media use and mental health issues (Ahn et al. 23).”

3. Reference List: Both styles require a reference list at the end of your paper, but the formatting differs. APA uses a hanging indent, where the first line of each reference is flush left and subsequent lines are indented. The reference list is titled “References.” MLA utilizes a full hanging indent, where all lines of each reference are indented. The title for the MLA reference list is “Works Cited.”

Here’s an example of an APA reference list entry for a journal article:

Ahn, A., Kwon, Y., Park, J., & Kim, D. J. (2014). The relationship between social media addiction and depression in adolescents. Psychiatry Investigation, 11(3), 233-240.

Here’s an example of an MLA Works Cited entry for the same article:

Ahn, Ahreum, et al. “The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Depression in Adolescents.” Psychiatry Investigation, vol. 11, no. 3, 2014, pp. 233-240.

4. Formatting of Headings: Headings throughout your paper also have distinct formatting styles. APA uses a bold font with left alignment for headings. MLA employs a centered alignment with various heading levels differentiated by font size and boldness.