Pick a style and a source type, fill in what you know, and the citation builds as you type. Copy it with the italics intact, add it to your list, and copy the whole reference list in alphabetical order. Nothing is uploaded.
- Three styles: APA 7, MLA 9 and Chicago 18 (notes and bibliography).
- Four source types: web page, book, journal article, and newspaper or magazine article.
- You get the reference entry and the in-text citation, or the footnote for Chicago.
- Your list sorts itself alphabetically, and you can switch style without retyping.
- Check the result against your instructor’s guidelines before you hand it in.
Your citation
About this tool
Your details are formatted in this browser and saved only on this device. Nothing is sent to us. Check each citation against your style guide or your instructor’s rules before you submit.
Leave blank if there is no author.
Type a title and your citation will appear here.
Reference list entry
In-text citation
Footnote (first time you cite it)
Later footnote (short form)
My references
0 sourcesAdd a source and it appears here, in alphabetical order.
What you get
- Three styles, one form
- Switch between APA, MLA and Chicago and the same details are formatted for each.
- In-text citation or footnote
- APA and MLA give the in-text form. Chicago gives the full footnote and the shorter one for later notes.
- Copy with italics
- Copy pastes into Word or Google Docs with the italics in place.
- A list that sorts itself
- Add each source to your list. It sorts alphabetically, and you can copy it whole or download it as a .txt file.
- Any number of authors
- Add people or organisations. The style rules for two, three and many authors are applied for you.
- Capitalisation help
- One button turns the title into sentence case for APA or title case for MLA and Chicago.
- Private
- Everything runs in your browser. Your sources are saved on your device only.
One source, three styles
The same journal article looks different in each style. This table is made by the generator, so it shows what you will get.
| Style | Reference list entry | In-text or footnote |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 | Smith, J., & Doe, J. R. (2020). Learning in teams. Journal of Teaching, 12(3), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123 | (Smith & Doe, 2020, p. 50) |
| MLA 9 | Smith, Jane, and John Ronald Doe. “Learning in Teams.” Journal of Teaching, vol. 12, no. 3, 2020, pp. 45-67. https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123. | (Smith and Doe 50) |
| Chicago 18 | Smith, Jane, and John Ronald Doe. “Learning in Teams.” Journal of Teaching 12, no. 3 (2020): 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123. | Jane Smith and John Ronald Doe, “Learning in Teams,” Journal of Teaching 12, no. 3 (2020): 50, https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123. |
Notice the details that change. APA writes the title in sentence case and puts the year in brackets after the authors. MLA gives full first names and no year in the in-text citation. Chicago puts the year in brackets after the volume and gives the page you cite inside the footnote.
Which style should you use?
Use the one your instructor, course or journal asks for. If nothing is specified, these are the usual homes of each style.
- APA is common in psychology, education, nursing and other social sciences. It puts the year early, so readers see how recent a source is.
- MLA is common in literature, languages and other humanities. It puts the author’s name and a page number in the text.
- Chicago is common in history and some humanities subjects. It uses footnotes, with a bibliography at the end.
How to fill in the form
- Names
- Type the first and last name in their own boxes. For an organisation, choose Organisation and type its full name.
- No author
- Leave the author blank. The title moves to the front of the entry.
- No date
- Leave the year blank. APA uses (n.d.). MLA and Chicago leave the date out.
- Web pages
- Use the website name, not the address. Add the link at the bottom. Only add an access date if the page has no date.
- Journal articles
- Add the DOI if there is one. It is the most reliable link.
- Page you are citing
- Fill this in to put a page number in the in-text citation or footnote. Leave it blank if you are citing the whole work.
Mistakes to avoid
- Wrong capitalisation
- APA titles use sentence case. MLA and Chicago use title case. Use the button, then fix any proper nouns.
- Pasting the web address as the website name
- The website name is a name like "BBC News", not "bbc.co.uk".
- Mixing styles
- Pick the one your instructor asked for and keep to it across the whole paper.
- Forgetting the in-text citation
- Every entry in the reference list needs a matching in-text citation or footnote in your text.
What this tool does not do
- You type the details yourself. The tool does not look up a link or DOI for you, because that would send your search to another site.
- It covers four source types. Book chapters, videos, social media posts, interviews, reports and other types are not included.
- Chicago is the notes and bibliography system. The author-date system is not included.
- It formats what you type. If a detail is missing or wrong, the citation will be too.
Questions students ask
Which citation style should I use?
Use the one your instructor or institution asks for. As a rough guide, APA is common in psychology, education and the social sciences, MLA in literature and the humanities, and Chicago in history and some humanities subjects.
Which edition of each style does this use?
APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and the Chicago Manual of Style 18th edition, notes and bibliography system.
Does it find the details from a link or DOI?
No. You type the details in. That keeps your work private, because nothing is sent to another site.
Are the citations always correct?
They follow the rules for the details you type, and they are tested against published examples. Style guides have many special cases, so check the result against the guide or your instructor’s rules before you submit.
How do I cite a source with no author?
Leave the author blank. In all three styles the title moves to the front of the entry.
What if there is no date?
Leave the year blank. APA writes (n.d.). MLA and Chicago leave the date out, and for a web page you can add an access date.
Why does the MLA entry leave off the start of the web address?
MLA 9 asks you to leave the http or https prefix off a web address. A DOI is given as a full link.
Where are my sources saved?
In your browser, on this device. They are not sent to us. If you clear your browser data, they are gone, so download your list when it matters.
