Citation Generator
Build references in APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard — with the matching in-text citation.
No author? Leave these blank — the citation will start with the title instead.
How to Use
- 1. Choose your citation style and the type of source.
- 2. Fill in the author, title, and publication details you have.
- 3. Add the URL and accessed date for online sources.
- 4. Copy the finished reference and its matching in-text citation.
Choosing a Citation Style
APA is standard in psychology, education, and the social sciences. It is author–date, puts the year in parentheses immediately after the author, and uses initials rather than full first names.
MLA dominates the humanities. It emphasises the page over the year, so the in-text citation carries a surname and page number but no date.
Chicago appears across history and publishing and comes in two flavours — the notes-bibliography system shown here, and an author–date system closer to APA.
Harvard is widely used in the UK and Australia. It is author–date like APA, but differs in punctuation and in how online sources are introduced ("Available at:").
The single most common mistake is mixing styles within one document. Pick the one your institution requires and apply it consistently — including to the in-text citations, not just the bibliography.
Related: Word Counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which citation styles are supported?
APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago (notes-bibliography), and Harvard — covering websites, books, and journal articles.
Do I need an accessed date?
MLA and Harvard normally include one for online sources. APA 7 only requires it when the page is likely to change over time, such as a wiki. Leave it blank if your style guide does not ask for it.
What if the page has no author?
Leave the author fields empty. The citation then begins with the title, and the in-text reference uses a shortened title instead of a surname — which is the correct fallback in every supported style.
What does n.d. mean?
It stands for "no date" and is used when a source has no publication year. Leave the year blank and the tool inserts it automatically.
Should I trust this blindly?
Treat it as a well-informed starting point. Style manuals contain many special cases — corporate authors, translated works, multi-volume editions — so check anything unusual against your institution's guide.