Citation Generator
This free citation generator builds a reference entry and an in-text citation for a book, a journal article or a web page. Choose APA 7, MLA 9 or Chicago, fill in the details from your source and copy the result. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing you type is stored on our servers.
Your citation
Fill in the form and choose Build my citation. Your reference entry and in-text citation appear here.
My reference list
How to Use the Citation Generator
- Pick a style: APA 7, MLA 9 or Chicago (notes and bibliography).
- Choose the source type: book, journal article or website.
- Type the authors, title, publisher, date and other details you can see on the source.
- Select Build my citation and review the reference entry and the in-text citation or footnote.
- Select Copy reference, or Add to my list to collect several citations in alphabetical order.
What This Citation Generator Covers
| Style | Reference entry | In text |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 | Author, initials (Year). Title. Publisher. | (Author, Year) |
| MLA 9 | Author. Title. Publisher, Year. | (Author Page) |
| Chicago | Author. Title. City: Publisher, Year. | Footnote with full details |
For each style the tool follows the standard pattern for books, journal articles and web pages. It handles one to four authors, group authors, missing authors, missing dates and DOIs.
Check Every Citation Before You Submit
A citation generator is a fast first draft, not a final answer. Compare each entry with your source and with your instructor’s rules. Three details cause most errors:
- Capitalization. APA uses sentence case for titles, and MLA and Chicago use title case. The tool converts capitalization when the box is ticked, but it cannot know which words are proper nouns. Fix those by hand.
- Missing details. If a web page has no author or date, leave the box empty. The tool follows the style’s rule for missing information.
- Style editions. Some courses use an older edition or a house style. Ask which one applies.
Citation Styles at a Glance
| Feature | APA 7 | MLA 9 | Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common fields | Social sciences, education | Humanities, languages | History, arts |
| Author format | Last, F. M. | Last, First | Last, First |
| End list name | References | Works Cited | Bibliography |
| Date position | After the author | Near the end | Near the end |
| Title case | Sentence case | Title case | Title case |
Tips for Accurate Citations
- Take details from the title page or the article page, not from a search result.
- Use the publisher’s name, not the store you bought the book from.
- For web pages, use the date on the page, not today’s date.
- Keep one style in the whole paper.
- Match every in-text citation to one entry in your list.
Citation Examples in Three Styles
The examples below use invented sources. They show how one book and one journal article change from style to style.
| Style | Book | Journal article |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 | Baker, D. (2022). Sleep and the student mind. Midwest University Press. | Chen, A., & Baker, D. (2023). Start times and student sleep. Journal of Adolescent Studies, 14(2), 30–45. https://doi.org/10.1234/abcd |
| MLA 9 | Baker, Dana. Sleep and the Student Mind. Midwest University Press, 2022. | Chen, Alicia, and Dana Baker. “Start Times and Student Sleep.” Journal of Adolescent Studies, vol. 14, no. 2, 2023, pp. 30–45, https://doi.org/10.1234/abcd. |
| Chicago | Baker, Dana. Sleep and the Student Mind. Chicago: Midwest University Press, 2022. | Chen, Alicia, and Dana Baker. “Start Times and Student Sleep.” Journal of Adolescent Studies 14, no. 2 (2023): 30–45. https://doi.org/10.1234/abcd. |
When to Use Each Style
Use the style your instructor names. If none is named, APA is common in psychology, education and the social sciences, MLA in English and the humanities and Chicago in history and the arts. Never mix styles in one paper.
Related Tools and Guides
- Thesis Statement Generator
- Citation Generator
- Outline Generator
- Research Question Generator
- Word Counter
Browse the Citation Formatting category for style guides, or return to the Papers Open homepage.
Frequently asked questions
Is this citation generator free?
Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser.
Which citation styles does it support?
APA 7, MLA 9 and Chicago notes-bibliography for books, journal articles and web pages.
Are the citations always correct?
They follow the standard pattern, but you should check each one against your source and your instructor's rules, especially capitalization and missing details.
Does the tool store what I type?
No. It runs in your browser and sends nothing to a server. Your list is kept only for the current browser tab.
What if my source has no author?
Leave the author boxes empty. The tool moves the title to the author position and uses a short title in the in-text citation.
How do I cite a group author?
Type the organization's name in the last name box and leave the first name box empty.
What does Add to my list do?
It collects your citations in alphabetical order, so you can copy the full reference list in one step.
Can I use it for other source types?
This version covers books, journal articles and web pages. For other sources, follow the pattern in your style guide.