APA vs MLA vs Chicago: Which One Do I Use?
The quickest answer: check your assignment, then your subject. If the prompt doesn't say, your field usually does. Here's how the three big styles line up.
The 10-second version
- APA — psychology, education, nursing, business, and most social sciences.
- MLA — English, literature, languages, and the humanities.
- Chicago / Turabian — history, art, and some humanities; common when you need footnotes.
When in doubt, ask your instructor — but the table below covers the differences you'll actually be graded on.
Side by side
| APA 7 | MLA 9 | Chicago / Turabian | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used for | Social sciences, business, nursing | English, humanities | History, the arts |
| Title page | Separate title page | No title page — heading block on page 1 | Separate title page |
| Page header | Page number only (student papers) | Last name + page number, top-right | Page number |
| Source list name | References | Works Cited | Bibliography |
| In-text style | (Author, Year) | (Author Page) | Footnotes / endnotes |
| Spacing | Double | Double | Double in text (entries often single) |
What about IEEE and Harvard?
- IEEE — engineering and computer science. References are numbered [1], [2] in the order you cite them, not alphabetized. See the IEEE checker or IEEE examples.
- Harvard — common at UK universities and across the social sciences; an author-date style much like APA. See the Harvard checker or Harvard examples.
Check yours free, whichever it is
Pick your style and drop your paper in — Chuck checks the page formatting and your source list for free:
- APA 7 format checker
- MLA 9 format checker
- Chicago / Turabian format checker
- IEEE format checker
- Harvard referencing checker
Know your style? Get a free report in seconds.
Check my paper — free →FAQ
What if my professor didn't say which style to use?
Default to the one your subject uses (see the list above), then confirm with your instructor. It's worth a quick email — the wrong style is an easy way to lose points.
Can one class use more than one style?
Rarely, but it happens in interdisciplinary courses. Always follow the specific assignment's instructions over the general rule.
Is there an 8th edition of APA or a 10th of MLA?
No. As of 2026, APA 7 (2020) and MLA 9 (2021) are current. Chicago's latest is the 17th edition, with Turabian 9 for students.