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
here. 1,3,4 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).