Writing Tool

Citation Generator

Generate accurate citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago formats. Perfect for academic papers and research.

Source Information

Fill in as much information as you have about your source.

American Psychological Association (7th Edition) - Common in social sciences, education, and psychology

How to Generate Citations

1

Select Citation Format

Choose your required citation style: APA (7th Edition) for social sciences, MLA (9th Edition) for humanities, or Chicago (17th Edition) for history and publishing.

2

Enter Source Information

Fill in available source details: title, author, publication date, publisher, URL, journal name, DOI, etc. Enter as much information as you have - the tool will format it correctly.

3

Get Formatted Citation

Receive both full citation and in-text citation in the correct format. Copy and paste directly into your document. The tool highlights any missing recommended fields.

Use Cases for Citation Generator

Students

Generate accurate citations for essays, research papers, and thesis documents. Save hours of manual formatting and ensure academic compliance.

Researchers

Create properly formatted citations for academic publications, journal articles, and research papers. Support for multiple citation styles and source types.

Content Writers

Generate citations for blog posts, articles, and online content. Properly attribute sources and improve content credibility with accurate references.

Librarians

Help patrons format citations correctly. Provide quick citation assistance for various source types and citation styles commonly used in academic and research contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which citation formats are supported?

We support APA (7th Edition), MLA (9th Edition), and Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition). These cover the most common citation requirements for academic and professional writing.

What if I don't have all the source information?

Enter as much information as you have. The citation generator will format what you provide correctly according to the chosen style guide. Missing fields will be indicated, and the citation will follow the style guide's rules for incomplete citations.

What types of sources can I cite?

You can generate citations for books, journal articles, websites, online articles, reports, and other source types. The tool automatically formats citations based on the information provided and the citation style selected.

Do I get both full and in-text citations?

Yes! For each source, you'll receive both the full reference citation (for your bibliography/reference list) and the in-text citation format (for citations within your document).

How accurate are the citations?

Our citations follow the latest edition guidelines for each style. However, always double-check complex citations against official style guides, especially for unusual source types or special cases.

Can I generate citations for multiple sources at once?

Currently, generate one citation at a time for accuracy. Each citation is carefully formatted according to style guide rules. For multiple sources, generate them individually and compile your reference list.

Usage Examples

Example 1: Book Citation (APA Format)

Input:

Title: "The Art of Writing", Author: "John Smith", Publisher: "Academic Press", Date: "2023"

Generated Citation (APA):

Smith, J. (2023). The Art of Writing. Academic Press.

Example 2: Website Citation (MLA Format)

Input:

Title: "Climate Change Facts", URL: "https://example.com/climate", Date: "2024-01-15"

Generated Citation (MLA):

"Climate Change Facts." Example.com, 15 Jan. 2024, example.com/climate.

Example 3: Journal Article (Chicago Format)

Input:

Title: "AI in Education", Author: "Jane Doe", Journal: "Educational Technology", Date: "2023"

Generated Citation (Chicago):

Doe, Jane. "AI in Education." Educational Technology (2023).

Best Practices for Citation Generation

Use the Correct Format

Always select the format required by your institution or publication: APA for psychology and social sciences, MLA for humanities, Chicago for history and publishing. Each format has specific rules for punctuation, capitalization, and ordering.

Provide Complete Information

Fill in as much source information as possible. More complete information results in more accurate citations. Include author names, publication dates, page numbers, DOIs, and URLs when available.

Verify Against Style Guides

Always double-check generated citations against official style guides, especially for complex sources like edited books, conference papers, or online sources. Style guides are updated periodically, and special cases may require manual adjustment.

Format Author Names Correctly

Enter author names as they appear in the source. For multiple authors, separate with commas. The tool will format them according to the selected citation style (e.g., "Last, First" for APA, "First Last" for MLA).

Include URLs and Access Dates

For online sources, include the full URL and access date. Some citation styles require access dates for web sources. Always use stable URLs (DOIs when available) rather than temporary links.

Maintain Consistency

Ensure all citations in your document follow the same format consistently. Use the same citation style throughout your paper or project. Inconsistent formatting can result in point deductions or rejection.