Style guides govern more than citations. They shape how writing is structured, how numbers are treated, how dates are expressed, and what tone is appropriate. Choosing the right guide for your survey ensures writing feels consistent, professional, and appropriate for your client's audience.
Chicago refers to the Chicago Manual of Style, used in history, arts, humanities publishing and general nonfiction.
APA stands for American Psychological Association, and is used in psychology, social sciences, business, education, and research.
MLA stands for Modern Language Association, and is used in literature, languages, film humanities and cultural studies.
The table below describes what the difference between styles is and when to use each.
| Chicago | APA | MLA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tone & Voice | Flexible and authoritative. Allows longer, flowing sentences. Preferred for narrative and interpretive writing. | Objective and precise. Values concise, active-voice writing. Avoids ornate language. | Clear and analytical. Slightly more interpretive than APA. Present tense preferred for discussing texts. |
| Numbers | Spell out one through one hundred. Use numerals for 101 and above | Spell out numbers below 10. Use numerals for 10 and above. | Spell out numbers that can be expressed in one or two words (e.g., forty-five). Use numerals for others. |
| Dates | Month Day, Year E.g., March 23, 2025. In notes, may use Day Month Year. | The Year is always prominently placed. In-text: (Smith, 2025). The reference list starts with year. | Day Month Year E.g., 23 March 2025. No comma between month and year. |
| Comma Usage | Uses the Oxford (serial) comma before the final item in a list. e.g., 'fast, accurate, and secure'. | Uses the Oxford (serial) comma. Consistency and clarity are the priority. | Uses the Oxford (serial) comma. Standard across all MLA-formatted writing. |
| Headings | Flexible hierarchy. No rigid numbering required. Typically headline-style capitalisation. | Five structured heading levels with precise formatting rules for each level. | Simple and minimal. Headings are not numbered. Title case for major headings. |
| Punctuation & Quotations | Footnotes and endnotes used heavily for citations. Quotation marks follow American convention. | In-text citations: (Author, Year). Quotation marks follow American convention. | In-text citations: (Author Page) - no comma. e.g., (Smith 45). Works Cited page at end. |
| Best Used for Mystery Shopping | Narrative-heavy shops where a more literary, flowing writing style enhances readability and depth. | Data-driven, research-orientated reports where objectivity, structure, and precision matter most. | Shops with rich descriptive writing and cultural or experiential depth; also strong for global programs. |