What format is commonly used for citing sources in academic writing?

The APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association) formats are two of the most widely used styles for citing sources in academic writing, particularly in the fields of social sciences and humanities, respectively.

The APA format focuses on the author-date citation method and is commonly required for research papers in psychology, education, and other social sciences. It emphasizes the date of publication, which is critical in these fields where more recent research may carry more weight.

On the other hand, MLA format is often utilized in literature, art, and humanities. It emphasizes the author's name and the page number of the citation, which is valuable in disciplines where direct quotations and detailed textual analysis are prevalent.

Both of these styles provide clear guidelines on how to format in-text citations, bibliographies, and reference pages, ensuring that writers appropriately attribute credit to original sources while maintaining academic integrity. Their popularity in educational institutions makes them a foundational aspect of academic writing instruction.