American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style:
Is used mainly in social science.
Harvard referencing style:
it
is also mainly used in social science.
Modern Language Association
(MLA) referencing style:
It
is mainly used in humanities.
Intext-Citations
APA: Author, Date (Tamara,
2021)
Harvard: Author,
Date (Tamara, 2021)
MLA: Author,
Page (Tamara, 95)
Reference List layout
APA: All the lines that
come after the first line in a particular reference should be indented by 5-7
spaces from the left margin. The entries in the reference list should be in
alphabetical order.
Harvard: The entries
in the reference list should be in alphabetical order
MLA: All the
lines that come after the first line in a particular reference should be
indented by 5-7 spaces from the left margin. The entries in the reference list called
the
Works Cited
should be in alphabetical order.
Book
Pay attention to the full stops.
Worsley, G. (1995). Classical Architecture in Britain:
The Heroic Age. United States: Yale
University Press.
Harvard:
Worsley, G. (1995) Classical
Architecture in Britain: The Heroic Age. United States: Yale University
Press.
MLA:
Worsley, Giles. Classical Architecture
in Britain: The Heroic Age. Yale University Press, 1995.
Chapters
or Sections in edited books
APA:
Buchanan, A. (2002).
Interpretations of Medieval Architecture. in Hall, M. (Ed.) Gothic
Architecture and Its Meanings 1550–1830. London: Spire, pp. 27–52.
Harvard:
Buchanan, A. (2002) ‘Interpretations of
Medieval Architecture’, in Hall, M. (Ed.) Gothic Architecture and Its
Meanings 1550–1830. London: Spire, pp. 27–52.
MLA:
Buchanan, Alexandrina. “Interpretations of Medieval
Architecture.” Gothic Architecture and Its Meanings 1550–1830, edited by
Michael Hall, Spire, 2002, pp. 27–52.
Printed Journals Article
APA:
Leach, P. (1997).
James Paine’s Design for the South Front of Kedleston Hall: Dating and Sources.
Architectural History, 40, 1997, 159–170.
Harvard:
Leach, P. (1997) ‘James Paine’s Design
for the South Front of Kedleston Hall: Dating and Sources’, Architectural
History, 40, 1997, 159–170.
MLA:
Leach, Peter. “James Paine’s Design for the South Front of
Kedleston Hall: Dating and Sources.” Architectural
History, vol. 40, 1997, pp. 159–170.
Online Journals Article
APA:
Harvard:
Lang, S. (1966) ‘The Principles of the
Gothic Revival in England’, Journal of the Society of Architectural
Historians, 25(4), 240–267. Available on: www.jstor.org.stable/988353
[Accessed 08 Dec. 21]
MLA:
Lang, Serge. “The Principles of the
Gothic Revival in England.” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians,
vol. 25, no. 4, 1966, pp. 240–267. JSTOR, www.jstor.org.stable/988353.
Film
APA:
Jackson, P.
(Director), & Cunningham, C., Weiner, Z., Walsh, F., & Jackson, P.
(Producers). (2014). The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [DVD]. London:
Warner Bros.
Harvard:
The Hobbit: The Desolation
of Smaug (2014) Directed by Jackson, P. [DVD].
London: Warner Bros.
MLA:
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Directed by Jackson, Peter, performances by Ian Mckellen, Martin
Freeman, and Richard Armitage, Warner Bros, 2014.
Television Documentary
APA:
Roberts, G., &
Moffat, S. (Writers), & Murphy, P. (Director). (2014, September 27). The
caretaker [Television series episode]. In N. Wilson (Producer). Doctor Who.
London: BBC.
Harvard:
Doctor Who (2014) BBC One Television, 27 September, 21:00.
MLA:
“The caretaker.” Doctor Who, created by Steven Moffat and
Roberts, Gareth, performance by Matt Smith, series 8, episode 6, BBC One
Television, 27 Sept. 2014.
Radio Program
APA:
Brown, E. (Ed.).
(2018, September 27). Today [Radio programme]. London: BBC Radio 4.
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/b0bkpjnq
Harvard:
Today (2018) BBC Radio 4. 27 September 2018, 10.00
MLA:
“Today”. Created by Brown, E .BBC
Radio 4, 27 September 2018.
Government publication
APA:
Ministry of Justice
(2007) Sentencing statistics (annual), Retrieved at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
Harvard:
Ministry of Justice (2007) Sentencing
statistics (annual). Available at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
(Accessed: 3 June 2018).
MLA:
Ministry of Justice. Sentencing statistics (annual). Web.
2007. 3 June 2018.http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
Lecture Notes
APA:
Smith, l. (2017). PSY
1001: Psychological Development of Children [Lecture week 1: Assignment prep].
Retrieved from: https//www.fg.org/dd.
Harvard:
Smith, l. (2017) ‘Lecture week 1:
Assignment prep’, PSY 1001: Psychological Development of Children. Available
at: https//www.fg.org/dd.[Accesed 8 December 2021]
MLA:
Smith, lan. “PSY 1001: Psychological Development of Children”.
Lecture week 1: Assignment prep. 10 February 2021. https//www.fg.org/dd
Conference Proceedings
APA:
Hewlett, P., &
Carson, L. (Eds.). (2015). Preparing nurses for the next decade: Proceedings of
the National Conference on Education in Nursing, University of Cumbria,
Lancaster: Greendale Press
Harvard:
Hewlett, P., & Carson, L. (Eds.)
(2015) Preparing nurses for the next decade: Proceedings of the National
Conference on Education in Nursing, University of Cumbria. Lancaster:
Greendale Press
MLA:
Hewlett, P., & Carson, L. Preparing nurses for the next
decade: Proceedings of the National Conference on Education in Nursing.
Greendale Press. 2015.
Advertisement
APA:
The Guardian (2007). WOMAD
Festival. [Advertisement]. 14 April, p. 9
Harvard:
The Guardian (2007) ‘WOMAD Festival’ [Advertisement]. 14 April, p. 9
MLA:
“WOMAD Festival”. The Guardian. 14
April, p. 9
This article can be cited as
In-text citation: (Nyambe, 2021)
Reference: Nyambe, E.N. (2021) The Difference Between APA, Harvard and
MLA Reference Styles, Amulufeblog. Retrieved
from: https://www.amulufeblog.com/2021/12/the-difference-between-apa-harvard-and.html.
Adapted from:
Pears, R. & Shields, G. (2019). Cite them right: the essential referencing
guide, (11th ed.) London: Red Globe Press.