What citation styles are supported?

We currently support the most common academic styles: APA 7th Edition (American Psychological Association), MLA 9th Edition (Modern Language Association), and Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date style).

Why do I need to cite sources?

Citing sources is crucial to give credit to original authors, avoid plagiarism, and allow readers to verify your information. It adds credibility and authority to your own work.

Yes, our citation generator is 100% free to use. There are no limits on the number of citations you can generate.

Do I need to register?

No. You can use the tool instantly without creating an account or providing any personal information.

How do I cite a website with no author?

If no individual author is listed, use the organization name (e.g., 'World Health Organization') as the author. If no organization is clear, start the citation with the title of the page.

Free Citation Generator

Generate accurate citations for websites, books, and journals in APA, MLA, and Chicago formats.

Citation Style

Source Type

Author Last Name

Author First Name

Page Title

Website Name

URL

Year Published

Mastering Academic Integrity

Writing a research paper or essay is hard enough without worrying about the complex rules of formatting a bibliography. However, proper citation is the backbone of academic integrity.

Our Citation Generator takes the headache out of referencing. Simply plug in the details of your source, and we'll structure it perfectly according to the latest style guides.

Understanding Citation Styles

APA (American Psychological Association)

Best for: Sciences, Psychology, Education.

Focuses on the date of publication, as current information is critical in science.

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher.

MLA (Modern Language Association)

Best for: Humanities, Literature, Arts.

Focuses on the author and the location (page number) of the source text.

Author, First Name. Title of Work. Publisher, Year.

Chicago Style

Best for: History, Business, Fine Arts.

Known for its comprehensive footnote/endnote system, though our tool generates the Author-Date bibliography format.

Author, First Name. Year. Title of Work. City: Publisher.

Why Citations Matter

Avoid Plagiarism: Using someone else's ideas without credit is academic theft. Proper citations protect you from accusations of plagiarism.
Show Your Work: A robust bibliography demonstrates that you've done your research and understand the existing conversation around your topic.
Help Readers: Citations are a roadmap. They allow interested readers to find the original sources and learn more.

Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Incomplete Info

Don't just paste a URL. You must find the author, title, and publication date whenever possible.

❌ Wrong Format

Don't mix styles. If your professor asked for APA, don't use MLA formatting for dates or names.

❌ Outdated Rules

Style guides change. APA 7 is different from APA 6. Our tool uses the latest standards.

❌ Punctuation Errors

A missing period or italicizing the wrong word can cost you points. Let the generator handle the details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I can't find the publication date? ▼

For websites, look at the bottom of the page or near the title. If no date is found, use "n.d." (no date) in APA style. However, always try to find at least a copyright year.

How do I cite a YouTube video? ▼

Treat it similar to a website. The "Author" is the channel name (or real name if known). The "Title" is the video title. The "Date" is the upload date. The URL is the direct link to the video.

Does this generate in-text citations? ▼

Currently, our tool generates the full bibliographic entry for your "References" or "Works Cited" page. You can usually derive the in-text citation from this (e.g., (Author, Year) for APA).

Is my data saved? ▼

No. The citations are generated locally in your browser session. If you refresh the page, they will be cleared. Make sure to copy them to your document as you create them.