Citation Generator
Free citation generator for MLA, APA, Chicago, and Harvard styles! Create perfect citations for websites, books, journals, newspapers, and videos. Instant formatting, copy to clipboard, download bibliography. Non-AI, accurate citation tool for students and researchers.
Enter Source Information
Format: Last, First or Last, First and Last, First
💡 Citation Tips:
- Author names: Use "Last, First M." format (e.g., "Smith, John A.")
- Multiple authors: Separate with "and" (e.g., "Smith, John and Doe, Jane")
- For websites: Always include access date (when you viewed the page)
- Italicize titles in your final paper according to style guide rules
- Citations are saved in your browser - clear browser data will delete them
- Always double-check citations against official style guides
Features
📚 4 Major Citation Styles
Generate citations in MLA (9th edition), APA (7th edition), Chicago, and Harvard referencing styles. Switch between styles instantly without re-entering data.
🌐 Multiple Source Types
Support for websites, books, journal articles, newspapers, and videos. Customized fields for each source type ensure accurate citations.
⚡ Instant Formatting
Pure JavaScript implementation - no AI, no waiting. Enter your source information and get perfectly formatted citations immediately.
📋 Copy to Clipboard
One-click copy for individual citations or entire bibliography. Paste directly into your research paper or document.
💾 Save & Manage
Automatically saves your citations in browser storage. Build your bibliography over multiple sessions without losing work.
📥 Download Bibliography
Export your complete bibliography as a text file. Download in any citation style for easy integration into papers.
🔢 Numbered References
Each citation is automatically numbered for easy reference tracking. See source type and style at a glance.
🎯 Format Guidance
Built-in tips and placeholder examples show correct formatting for author names, dates, and other citation elements.
How to Use the Citation Generator
Select your preferred citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard)
Choose the type of source (website, book, journal, newspaper, or video)
Fill in the source information (author, title, URL, year, etc.)
Click "Add Citation" to generate and save the formatted citation
Copy individual citations or download your complete bibliography
📖 Understanding Citation Styles
MLA Style (Modern Language Association)
Most commonly used in humanities, literature, and language studies.
Example - Website:
Smith, John. "How to Write Better Essays." Academic Writing Tips, 2024, www.example.com/essay-tips. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
- Author-page in-text citations (Smith 23)
- Titled "Works Cited" page at end
- Alphabetical order by author's last name
- Hanging indent for each entry
APA Style (American Psychological Association)
Standard for social sciences, psychology, education, and business.
Example - Journal:
Johnson, M. A. (2024). The impact of social media on learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 45(2), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1234/example
- Author-date in-text citations (Johnson, 2024)
- Titled "References" page at end
- Alphabetical order by author's last name
- Hanging indent for each entry
- DOI links preferred for online sources
Chicago Style (Turabian)
Used in history, arts, and some humanities. Offers two systems: notes-bibliography and author-date.
Example - Book:
Brown, Sarah. The History of Modern Art. Chicago: University Press, 2024.
- Footnotes or endnotes for citations
- Titled "Bibliography" page at end
- More flexible formatting options
- Can use either notes or author-date system
Harvard Style
Popular in UK universities and internationally, especially in sciences and social sciences.
Example - Website:
Williams, P. (2024) Understanding Climate Change. Available at: https://example.com (Accessed: 27 October 2025).
- Author-date in-text citations (Williams 2024)
- Titled "Reference List" at end
- Alphabetical order by author surname
- Widely used in UK and Australian universities
🔍 Citation Guidelines by Source Type
📱 Websites
Required information:
- Author: Individual or organization responsible for content
- Title: Title of the specific page or article
- Website Name: Overall site name (publisher)
- Publication Date: When content was published or last updated
- URL: Direct link to the page
- Access Date: When you viewed the page (especially important for changing content)
Tip: If no author is listed, start with the title. If no date, use "n.d." (no date).
📚 Books
Required information:
- Author(s): Full name(s) of author(s) or editor(s)
- Title: Complete book title (and subtitle if present)
- Publisher: Publishing company name
- Year: Year of publication
- Edition: If not first edition, note edition number
Tip: For multiple authors, list all in order shown. For edited books, note "ed." or "eds."
📰 Journal Articles
Required information:
- Author(s): Article author name(s)
- Article Title: Title of the specific article
- Journal Name: Name of the journal publication
- Volume: Volume number
- Issue: Issue number (often in parentheses)
- Year: Publication year
- Pages: Page range of article
- DOI: Digital Object Identifier (if available - preferred for online articles)
Tip: DOI is preferable to URL for journal articles. Find it on the article's first page or database record.
📰 Newspapers
Required information:
- Author: Article author (if byline present)
- Title: Headline/article title
- Newspaper Name: Full name of newspaper
- Date: Full publication date (day, month, year)
- Page(s): Page number(s) where article appears
- URL: If accessed online, include direct link
Tip: Online newspapers may not have page numbers. That's okay - just omit that field.
🎥 Videos
Required information:
- Creator: Person or channel who created/uploaded video
- Title: Video title exactly as shown
- Platform: YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
- Date: Upload date or publication date
- URL: Direct link to video
Tip: For YouTube, the uploader name is the "author." Include timestamp if citing specific moment.
✅ Citation Best Practices
1. Cite as You Write
Don't wait until the end! Create citations as you research. This prevents lost sources and reduces stress during final paper preparation.
2. Double-Check Information
Verify author names, publication dates, and URLs before finalizing citations. Incorrect information can lead to lost credibility.
3. Be Consistent
Stick to one citation style throughout your entire paper. Mixing styles is a common mistake that looks unprofessional.
4. Alphabetize Your Bibliography
All citation styles require alphabetical order by author's last name. If no author, alphabetize by title (ignoring "A," "An," "The").
5. Use Hanging Indents
Most styles require hanging indents (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented). Set this formatting in your word processor.
6. Verify With Official Style Guides
While this tool provides accurate formatting, always consult official style guides (Purdue OWL, MLA Handbook, APA Manual) for special cases.
❌ Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid
Missing Author or Date Information
If author is unavailable, start with title. If no date, use "n.d." (no date) rather than leaving blank.
Incorrect Author Name Format
Most styles require "Last, First M." format. Don't write "John Smith" - write "Smith, John" or "Smith, J."
Using Title Instead of Journal Name
For articles, distinguish between article title (in quotes) and journal/publication name (italicized).
Omitting Access Dates for Websites
Web content changes. Include access date so readers know which version you cited.
Broken or Shortened URLs
Use full, working URLs. Avoid URL shorteners unless specifically allowed by style guide.
Not Alphabetizing Bibliography
All citations must be in alphabetical order. Don't list them in order of appearance in your paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which citation style should I use?
It depends on your field and assignment requirements. MLA is standard for humanities, literature, and language courses. APA is used in psychology, education, social sciences, and business. Chicago/Turabian is common in history and some arts courses. Harvard is popular internationally, especially in UK universities. Always check your professor's requirements or your institution's style guide. When in doubt, ask your instructor - they may have a strong preference.
How do I cite a source with no author?
When no individual author is listed, look for an organizational author (e.g., "American Heart Association," "BBC News"). If no organization is evident, start your citation with the title of the work. In MLA, use a shortened version of the title for in-text citations. In APA, use the first few words of the title in quotes for in-text citations. Never use "Anonymous" unless the work is actually credited to "Anonymous" as the author.
What if the website doesn't have a publication date?
If no publication or update date is visible, use "n.d." (no date) in most citation styles. In MLA, this would appear as: Author. "Title." Website Name, n.d., URL. In APA: Author. (n.d.). Title. Website Name. URL. Check the page's copyright notice, footer, or metadata for dates. The "last updated" date can substitute for publication date if that's all that's available. Access date becomes especially important when publication date is missing.
Do I need to cite Wikipedia or other wikis?
You CAN cite Wikipedia using citation generators, but most professors discourage or prohibit it as a source in academic papers. Wikipedia is best used as a starting point for research - use the references at the bottom of Wikipedia articles to find original, citable sources. If you must cite Wikipedia, treat it as a website with no individual author (use "Wikipedia" as the organizational author). Always include the specific article title and access date, as Wikipedia content changes frequently.
How do I cite multiple authors?
For 2 authors: List both names in order shown (Smith, John and Jane Doe in MLA; Smith, J. & Doe, J. in APA). For 3+ authors in MLA 9: List all authors. In APA 7: List up to 20 authors; if more than 20, list first 19, insert ellipsis (...), then final author. For in-text citations: APA uses "Smith et al." for 3+ authors, MLA uses "et al." for 3+ authors. The order of authors matters - list exactly as shown on the source, as this indicates level of contribution.
What's the difference between a Works Cited and References page?
"Works Cited" is the MLA term for the list of sources you actually cited in your paper - it only includes works you referenced. "References" is the APA term, also listing only cited works. "Bibliography" (used in Chicago style) may include both works cited AND works consulted but not directly cited. Regardless of name, all require: (1) alphabetical order by author's last name, (2) hanging indent formatting, (3) double-spacing, (4) new page at end of paper. Never include sources you didn't actually use in your paper.
How do I cite a PDF document?
Don't cite it as "a PDF" - determine what type of source the PDF contains. Is it a journal article, book chapter, report, or government document? Cite the content type, not the file format. If it's a journal article PDF from a database, cite it as a journal article (include DOI if available). If it's a standalone report found online, cite as a report with the organization as author and URL where you found it. The PDF format itself is irrelevant to the citation - focus on the content and original publication information.
Are citation generators 100% accurate?
Citation generators are highly accurate for standard sources but may need verification for unusual cases. This tool uses officially published formatting rules from MLA 9th edition, APA 7th edition, and current Chicago/Harvard guidelines. However: (1) You must input correct information (garbage in, garbage out), (2) Unusual source types may need manual adjustment, (3) Style guides occasionally update rules, (4) Your professor may have specific preferences. Always proofread generated citations and compare against examples in official style guides. Use citation generators as helpful assistants, not replacements for learning citation basics.
Can I switch citation styles mid-paper?
Absolutely not. You must use one consistent citation style throughout your entire paper - in-text citations, bibliography, and formatting must all match. Mixing styles (like using APA in-text citations with an MLA Works Cited page) is a serious formatting error that suggests lack of attention to detail. If you realize you've used the wrong style, you must convert ALL citations before submitting. This tool makes switching easy - just change the style selector and re-generate your bibliography. But pick one style and stick with it!
⚠️ Important Disclaimers
Verify Against Official Style Guides
While this tool follows current citation formatting rules, always cross-reference with official style guides (Purdue OWL, MLA Handbook, APA Publication Manual) for complex or unusual sources.
Check Your Assignment Requirements
Some professors have specific formatting preferences beyond standard style guides. Always follow your instructor's requirements if they differ from standard guidelines.
Avoid Plagiarism
Creating a citation doesn't automatically make text properly attributed. You must use correct in-text citations AND include sources in your bibliography. When in doubt, cite!