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Citation Generator

Easily create citations in the APA, MLA, or Chicago format.

How to Generate Citations

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Select your citation style (APA, MLA, or Chicago).
  2. Fill in the Author, Title, Publisher, and Year fields.
  3. Add a URL if it's an online source.
  4. Click 'Generate Citation'.
  5. Use the 'Copy' button to paste it into your bibliography.

Pro Tips

  • Be sure to check capitalization in your inputs.
  • APA is common for sciences; MLA is common for humanities.
  • Always verify the generated citation against your professor's requirements.

The Ultimate Guide to Academic Citations

Academic integrity is non-negotiable, but memorizing the placement of every comma and period in a bibliography is unnecessary. Our Citation Generator automates the technical side of referencing, allowing students and researchers to focus on their arguments, not their formatting.

However, relying on a tool is only half the battle. Understanding why and how we cite is crucial for maintaining credibility. If you master the basics of the "Big Three" styles (APA, MLA, and Chicago), you will never fear a bibliography again.

The "Big Three" Citation Styles Explained

APA (American Psychological Association)

Used mainly in: Psychology, Education, Sociology, and Sciences.

Philosophy: In science, timeliness is everything. A study from 1990 is likely outdated compared to one from 2024. That is why APA places the Date right after the Author's name.

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

MLA (Modern Language Association)

Used mainly in: Literature, Humanities, Philosophy, and Arts.

Philosophy: In humanities, the source text is king. It doesn't matter if you wrote about Shakespeare in 1950 or 2020; the text of Hamlet hasn't changed. Therefore, MLA de-emphasizes the date and emphasizes the Author and Page Number so peers can find the exact quote.

Author Last, First. Title of Source. Publisher, Year.

Chicago (Notes-Bibliography)

Used mainly in: History, Business, and Fine Arts.

Philosophy: Historians love context. They want to be able to add footnotes and commentary without cluttering the main narrative. Chicago style uses superscript numbers in the text that correspond to detailed footnotes at the bottom of the page.

Author Last, First. Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.

The Dangers of Plagiarism (and How to Avoid It)

Plagiarism isn't just "copying and pasting"—it steals the intellectual credit of another person. In the digital age, detection tools like Turnitin are incredibly sophisticated. Even accidental plagiarism (forgetting a citation) can lead to failing grades or expulsion.

When do you need to cite?

  • When you use a direct quote.
  • When you paraphrase someone else's idea (putting it in your own words).
  • When you use a statistic, fact, or image that is not "common knowledge."

Citation FAQs

What is a DOI?

DOI stands for "Digital Object Identifier." It is a permanent link used for academic journals. Unlike a URL which might break if a website changes, a DOI will always point to the correct document. APA style strongly prefers DOIs over URLs.

How do I cite a website with no author?

If no personal author is listed, use the organization name (e.g., "World Health Organization"). If no organization is listed, start with the Title of the article.

Why Use an Automated Generator?

Manual entry is prone to human error. A missing period or an italicized title that should be underlined can cost you grade points. Our tool ensures:

  • 🎯
    Precision

    Every comma placed by algorithm.

  • ⚡
    Speed

    Formatted in milliseconds.

  • 📋
    Consistency

    Identical structure for every entry.

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