Your teacher says “reference properly”, but which style? APA, MLA and Harvard are the three styles students meet most often. They share the same purpose, giving credit and helping readers find sources, but differ in details. This guide compares APA vs MLA vs Harvard with examples, and our Citation Generator creates all three.
Where each style is used
| Style | Common in |
|---|---|
| APA | Psychology, education, business, social sciences |
| MLA | English literature, languages, humanities |
| Harvard | Many UK and Pakistani universities across subjects |
Always follow your department’s or teacher’s instruction; some universities have their own variant of Harvard.
In-text citations
| Style | Example |
|---|---|
| APA | (Khan, 2026, p. 12) |
| MLA | (Khan 12) |
| Harvard | (Khan, 2026, p. 12) or (Khan 2026, p. 12) |
APA and Harvard emphasise the year; MLA emphasises the page.
Book reference example
- APA: Ahmed, S. (2021). *Research methods for social sciences* (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
- MLA: Ahmed, Sara. *Research Methods for Social Sciences*. 2nd ed., Oxford UP, 2021.
- Harvard: Ahmed, S. (2021) *Research methods for social sciences*. 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Reference list title
- APA: “References”
- MLA: “Works Cited”
- Harvard: “References” or “Reference list”
Key differences at a glance
- Author names: MLA writes the first name in full; APA and Harvard use initials.
- Date position: after the author in APA and Harvard; near the end in MLA.
- Titles: APA uses sentence case for titles; MLA uses title case.
Tips for any style
- Choose one style and use it consistently
- Record full details (author, date, title, URL, page) when you first read a source
- Use the citation generator to format, then double-check against your guide
Avoid plagiarism
Even paraphrased ideas need a citation. If you are unsure, cite. Keep your essay within its limit with the Word Counter, fix headings with the Case Converter, and see the APA 7 citation guide for more APA examples.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between APA and Harvard?
Both are author-date styles; they differ in punctuation, italics and some details, and Harvard varies by university.
When should I use MLA?
Mainly for literature, languages and humanities subjects.
Can I mix referencing styles?
No. Use one style consistently throughout a document.