How to Tell the Difference Between AMA, APA, Chicago & MLA Citations

This is a breakdown of the differences between 4 citation styles used at Trine that is meant to be used for quick reference. For more detailed information, consult one of the official resources listed below. Always be sure to follow your professors’ instructions.

• AMA: The AMA Manual of Style (10th edition) • APA: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition) • Chicago: The Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition) • MLA: The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th edition)

AMA APA Chicago MLA

What is most Data Date Author Author important?

What do I References References Bibliography or Works Cited call my Works Cited Works Cited page?

Do I need a No No Notes page at the No notes page or end before the foot notes? bibliography

What order Order they Alphabetical by Alphabetical by Alphabetical by do sources go appear in the author’s last name author’s last name author’s last on my Works paper name Cited page?

How do I Capitalize first Capitalize first word of Capitalize all Capitalize all format book word of title title and subtitle ONLY major words major words and article and subtitle titles? ONLY

How do I Initials with no Initials and last names Full first and last Full first and last identify periods or names names authors? spaces

Do I use Do not list Use & with more than 1 Use “and” with Use “and” with “and” when author names author more than 1 author more than 1 there’s more in in-text author than one citations author? What should Superscript After the author’s name Superscript Authors last name my in-text numbers after in the sentence in number after the and page number citation look the sentence parentheses sentence in parentheses like and punctuation Author’s Last Name punctuation before the where should Sentence text (2015) sentence text Sentence text sentence I put it? here.1 here with ”quote” (p. here.1 punctuation 10). Sentence text For Multiple here (Author’s OR Sources, Last Name 10). references are included directly OR Author’s last name and after info from that date and page numbers source for quotes in Author’s Name in parentheses or before Source 1 info sentence followed the sentence here,1continues by text (10). punctuation. here with info from second Sentence text here source.2 (Author’s Last Name, 2015, p. 10).

Do I use Commas Commas between NO punctuation NO punctuation punctuation between information in in-text citations in my in-text numerals when Sentence text here (Last Sentence text Sentence Text citation? citing more Name, 2015). here.1 Here (Author’s than 1 source Last Name 10). Sentence text here with Sentence text “quote” (Author’s Last 1,3,4 here. Name, 2015, p. 10).

How do I Can include Use p. or pp. (for Use page numbers Use page include page page numbers multiple pages) in notes only numbers in numbers in in parentheses parentheses my in-text Author’s Last Name citation? Sentence text (2015) sentence text here. 1(35-42) here with “quote” (pp. Sentence text 10-11). here (Author’s Last Name 10).