- Home
- All tools
- Research tools
- Citation generator
Citation generator
Build a reference in APA, MLA or Chicago from the details you already have. Covers websites, books, journal articles and newspaper articles, formatted to the current edition of each style.
- Runs on your device
- Three citation styles
- Four source types
Build a citation
Nothing is uploaded — formatting happens in this tab
APA 7th, MLA 9th and Chicago 17th
Three steps, under a minute
Pick the source type
Website, book, journal article or newspaper article. The fields change to match what that source needs.
Fill in the details
Author, title, year, publisher or URL. Leave out only what genuinely does not apply to your source.
Copy the reference
Paste it into your bibliography, and keep every entry in the same style throughout.
References that match the style guide
- Three styles, current editions. APA 7th, MLA 9th and Chicago 17th, the ones most departments ask for.
- Fields that follow the source. A journal article asks for volume and issue; a website asks for a URL and access date.
- Punctuation handled. The commas, italics and full stops that quietly cost marks when they drift.
- Nothing leaves the tab. Source details are formatted in your browser and never uploaded.
About this tool
Which editions are used?
APA 7th, MLA 9th and Chicago 17th. Departments sometimes vary the details, so check your handbook if a marker has been strict about it before.
Do you support Harvard?
Not yet. APA, MLA and Chicago cover most coursework. If you need Harvard, tell us through the contact form — requests decide what gets built next.
What if my source has no author?
Leave the author field empty. Each style has its own fallback, normally moving the title to the front, and the generated reference reflects that.
Can I cite a website?
Yes. Add the page title, site name, URL and the date you accessed it. Web sources are where the three styles differ most, so the access date matters.
Should I check the output?
Yes. Treat it as a well-formatted draft. Edited collections, translated works and unusual author names still need a human eye.
Related research tools
Your sources, your device
This tool is client-side. Source details are never uploaded, stored, or logged.
Read next
Missing a setting?
Tell us what this tool should also do. Suggestions decide most of what we build next.
124 more tools where this came from
PDF, writing, image, SEO, research, and calculators, all free and all without an account.