Writing Styles: MLA v. APA and CMS - Essay Example

MLA, foremost, is a style used by most students because the style is required for those who or not required to use a writing style. The style itself, incompletion, brings about a sort of elegance to an essay. Its basic concept is that it has one-inch margins, pages are numbered using a header in the right-hand corner, and its set-up includes, the first paragraph stating a clear and concise thesis, body, usually three paragraphs, in-depth analysis of the thesis, and a conclusion which reiterates the thesis. APA has few differences. It is used mainly for psychological papers or any paper regarding social sciences. Its major differences are its title page, which is kind of like a two-part process; running head: and a partial explanation of your title in the upper left-hand corner, and about five spaces down the actual title.

APA is similar to MLA in its set-up save for APA requires an abstract stating what the work will prove. CMS broaches the most basic differences, which are in the citation. The date, which is an MLA or APA format usually is placed last, in CMS is as thus: Wright, John, ed. 1997, followed by book information. CMS is the alternative to MLA.