APA vs. Chicago/Turabian

Attribute	APA	Chicago/Turabian
Citation Style	American Psychological Association	Chicago/Turabian
In-text Citations	Author-date format	Footnotes or endnotes with bibliography
Reference List	Alphabetical list at the end of the paper	Separate bibliography at the end of the paper
Formatting	Double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font	Single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font
Author Names	Last name, first initial	Full name

Introduction

When it comes to academic writing, proper citation is essential to give credit to the original sources of information and to avoid plagiarism. Two of the most commonly used citation styles are APA (American Psychological Association) and Chicago/Turabian. While both styles have their own unique attributes, they also share some similarities in terms of formatting and citation rules.

APA Style

APA style is widely used in the social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, and education. One of the key features of APA style is the use of in-text citations, which include the author's last name and the year of publication. For example, (Smith, 2019). In addition to in-text citations, APA style also requires a reference list at the end of the paper, which provides detailed information about each source cited in the paper.

• Uses in-text citations
• Requires a reference list
• Commonly used in social sciences

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chicago/Turabian style is often used in history, literature, and the arts. Unlike APA style, Chicago/Turabian uses footnotes or endnotes for citations, which provide additional information about the source. The format of footnotes/endnotes in Chicago/Turabian style includes the author's name, title of the work, publication information, and page number. In addition to footnotes/endnotes, Chicago/Turabian style also requires a bibliography at the end of the paper, which lists all the sources cited in the paper.

• Uses footnotes or endnotes
• Requires a bibliography
• Commonly used in history and literature

Formatting

One of the main differences between APA and Chicago/Turabian styles is the formatting of the paper. APA style uses a running head at the top of each page, which includes the title of the paper and the page number. In addition, APA style requires a title page with the title of the paper, author's name, and institutional affiliation. On the other hand, Chicago/Turabian style does not use a running head and typically includes the title of the paper on the first page only.

Citation Rules

Both APA and Chicago/Turabian styles have specific rules for citing different types of sources, such as books, journal articles, websites, and more. In APA style, the format for citing a book includes the author's name, publication year, title of the book, and publisher. In Chicago/Turabian style, the format for citing a book includes the author's name, title of the book, publication information, and page number. While the basic elements of citation are similar in both styles, the formatting and punctuation may vary.

References vs. Bibliography

Another key difference between APA and Chicago/Turabian styles is the terminology used for the list of sources cited in the paper. In APA style, this list is called a reference list and includes only the sources cited in the paper. In Chicago/Turabian style, this list is called a bibliography and includes all the sources consulted during the research process, whether they were cited in the paper or not. This distinction is important to keep in mind when formatting the final document.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both APA and Chicago/Turabian styles have their own unique attributes and are commonly used in different academic disciplines. While APA style is preferred in the social sciences for its in-text citations and reference list, Chicago/Turabian style is popular in history and literature for its use of footnotes/endnotes and bibliography. Understanding the key differences between these two citation styles is essential for academic writers to ensure proper citation and avoid plagiarism.