Free citation generator

Build a reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, or AMA style.

Citation style

Source type

Author *Publication year

Book title *

Publisher

Separate multiple authors with a semicolon. Use “Last, First” for personal names.

Which style does your university require? See our study of 20 U.S. and Canadian universities.

APA 7 reference

Your formatted reference will appear here.

Review each reference against your instructor’s requirements before submitting.

Next step

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Practical guide

How to use the citation generator

The citation generator formats reference-list entries in APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago 18 author-date, Harvard, IEEE, and AMA. Choose the style required by your assignment, select the source type, and enter the information exactly as it appears in the source. APA 7 is selected by default.

Citation styles have detailed rules for capitalization, missing dates, multiple authors, editions, database records, and unusual source types. This tool covers books, journal articles, and webpages. Always compare the result with your instructor’s guide, especially when a department uses a local Harvard variation.

Step 1

Choose the required style

Use the style named in your assignment brief. Do not select a style based only on the subject if your instructor has supplied different instructions.

Step 2

Enter source details

Add authors as “Last, First” and separate multiple authors with semicolons. Include the title, year, publication details, and DOI or URL when relevant.

Step 3

Generate and verify

Copy the formatted entry, then compare names, title capitalization, punctuation, italics, and link details with the original source.

Worked example

For a book by Maya Chen titled Research Habits, published by North Press in 2024, enter “Chen, Maya,” the title, year, and publisher. APA begins with Chen, M. (2024), while MLA begins with Chen, Maya. The selected style changes the order and punctuation.

Before you finish

Use a DOI when the style and source provide one.
Keep every reference consistent in one required style.
Match each reference-list entry to an in-text citation.

After generating your references, sort or number them as required by the selected style and apply any hanging indent in your document editor. Check that author names and publication years match the corresponding in-text citations. If information is missing from a source, consult the relevant style manual rather than inventing a date, publisher, or page range. Save source details while researching so you do not have to reconstruct them close to the deadline.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Which citation styles are available?

The generator supports APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago 18 author-date, Harvard, IEEE, and AMA.

Which style is selected by default?

APA 7 is selected when the page opens.

Can I add multiple authors?

Yes. Enter each author as “Last, First” and separate authors with semicolons.

Does Harvard have different versions?

Yes. Harvard is an author-date family with institutional variations, so compare the result with your school’s required guide.

Does this create in-text citations?

This version creates bibliography or reference-list entries. Build and check in-text citations according to the same required style.

After the tool

Take the next step on your assignment

If the work behind this draft needs more than a quick check, these pages are the usual next stop.

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