How to Choose a Documentation Style By Daniel Miller (© DBU University Writing Center)

The Basics O The three main formatting styles in academic papers are: O APA—American Psychological Association O MLA—Modern Language Association O Turabian O Each style is unique, so choosing a style can be difficult.

First Things First! O Check to see if the professor has specified a format he or she prefers. O This may be mentioned in several places: O an assignment sheet O the syllabus O the classroom O Contact the professor if he or she has not mentioned a formatting style.

Basic Features O The professor may not require a particular formatting style, but might request specific features, such as an abstract or a cover page: O APA: Cover page, abstract, subheadings, parenthetical citations, and a references page. O MLA: No cover page, no sub-headings, parenthetical citations, and a works cited page. O Turabian: Cover page; footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations; and a bibliography or reference list page

Basic Features – Introduction O The professor may not require a particular formatting style, but might request specific features, such as a cover page or an abstract. O Each formatting style has its own features O Take a look at the following slides to determine if any of the formatting styles has the required features.

Basic Features – APA O Cover page O Abstract O Running head O Sub-headings O Parenthetical citations O References page

Basic Features – MLA O No cover page O Page headers O No sub-headings O Parenthetical citations O Works cited page

Basic Features – Turabian O Cover page O Footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations O Bibliography (for footnotes or endnotes) O References page (for parenthetical citations)

Choosing a Style O Various fields of study often utilize specific formatting styles. This list is not comprehensive, nor is it set in stone, but it is a good place to start if the professor does not request a specific style: O APA: Psychology, education, social sciences, business, or natural sciences O MLA: Literature, art, humanities, or liberal arts O Turabian: Religion or history

Things to Keep in Mind O The professor may combine, create, or alter formatting styles; when in doubt, always follow the professor’s instructions. O If pressed for time, use a familiar formatting; if not, try learning a new style! O If no formatting is familiar, try MLA. It is the simplest of the three in many regards and is a great place to start.

Further information on each formatting style can be found at or at the Writing Center in Collins Call us at if you have any questions!