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Citation Generator
Fill in a source’s details and get a formatted reference in APA, MLA, Chicago or Harvard style.
In-text:
Check before submitting: citation styles have many edge cases (corporate authors, translated works, reprints). This generator follows the core rules of each style for the three most common source types — always compare with your instructor’s or publisher’s guide.
About the Citation Generator
The Citation Generator formats references for websites, books and journal articles in APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago and Harvard styles. Fill in the author, title, date and source details and it builds a correctly punctuated reference, with the in-text citation too. Students, researchers and writers can save time and avoid the small formatting mistakes that cost marks.
How to use the Citation Generator
- Choose the source type — website, book or journal article.
- Select the citation style: APA, MLA, Chicago or Harvard.
- Fill in the author, title, publication date and other details.
- Copy the formatted reference and the in-text citation into your work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between APA and MLA?
APA puts the publication year right after the author and is common in the sciences and social sciences. MLA puts the date near the end and is common in the humanities. Both have their own rules for titles and punctuation.
Which citation style should I use?
Use whatever your teacher, university or publisher asks for. If there is no rule, pick one style and use it consistently.
How do I cite a web page with no author?
Start the reference with the page title instead of an author name. The generator handles this if you leave the author field empty.