Citation Generator
Create correctly formatted references in APA 7th, MLA 9th or Chicago style. Cite websites, books and journal articles, then add each one to a bibliography you can copy in a single click.
Separate multiple authors with a semicolon ( ; ) or the word 'and'.
Text wrapped in *asterisks* should be shown in italics in your document.
Tip: add the author(s), title, year/date for a complete citation. The result updates as you type.
Understanding the Citation Generator
The Citation Generator turns raw source details into correctly formatted references in three of the most-used academic styles: APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition and Chicago. Choose a style and a source type — website, book or journal article — then fill in the author, title, year and any style-specific fields. The formatted citation builds live as you type, with author names inverted, titles cased and italicised, and punctuation ordered to match the chosen style. Add each finished reference to a running bibliography that is sorted alphabetically and saved in your browser, then copy a single citation or your whole reference list with one click. Everything runs locally — nothing is uploaded.
How it works
You pick a citation style and source type, then enter the relevant fields. The tool parses your author string (split on semicolons or 'and'), then formats names per style — APA uses 'Last, Initials.', while MLA and Chicago invert only the first author and write the rest as 'First Last'. Titles are sentence-cased for APA and title-cased for MLA and Chicago, with article titles in quotes and book, journal and website names marked for italics using *asterisks*. Volume, issue and page numbers are slotted in with the right punctuation for journals. Empty fields are skipped so partial sources still produce a clean reference. Add references to build a copyable bibliography.
Worked example
Choose APA 7th and Website, then enter author 'Jane Smith', title 'How to cite sources', year '2024', site 'Example Blog' and a URL. The tool outputs: Smith, J. (2024). *How to cite sources*. Example Blog. https://example.com/article. Click 'Add to bibliography', repeat for a book and a journal article, then 'Copy all citations' to paste an alphabetised reference list straight into your paper.
Tips & common mistakes
- Separate multiple authors with a semicolon or the word 'and' — the tool inverts and orders names for you.
- Text wrapped in *asterisks* should be set in italics once pasted into your document.
- Switch the source type before filling fields: journal articles reveal volume, issue and page inputs, while books drop the URL.
- Use the accessed date for websites in MLA and Chicago; APA usually omits it for stable pages.
- Build the full reference list with 'Add to bibliography' — it is saved in your browser and sorted alphabetically.
- Always spot-check the result against your institution's style guide for unusual sources like edited chapters or multiple editions.
Related tools
How to Use This Tool
- 1Choose a citation style and the source type you are citing.
- 2Fill in the author, title, year and other fields — the formatted citation builds as you type.
- 3Click Add to bibliography for each source, then copy your whole reference list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which citation styles are supported?
Three of the most widely used styles: APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition and Chicago (bibliography style). Pick a style at the top and the formatting — author order, punctuation and what gets italicised — updates instantly.
What types of sources can I cite?
Websites, books and journal articles. Each source type shows the right fields, so journal articles add volume, issue and page numbers while websites add a URL and accessed date. Missing fields are simply left out.
Can I build a full bibliography?
Yes. Format one source, click “Add to bibliography”, then repeat for each reference. Your list is sorted alphabetically and saved in your browser, and one button copies every citation together as a reference list.