Free Citation Generator Online
Generate citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago formats. Enter details and get a properly formatted citation. 100% client-side — your data stays private.
How to Use the Citation Generator
- Choose your citation format: APA 7th, MLA 9th, or Chicago 17th edition.
- Select the source type: Book, Journal, or Website.
- Fill in the required fields (author, year, title, etc.).
- Click "Generate Citation" to create the formatted citation.
- Copy the citation or export it as BibTeX.
- The in-text citation helper shows you how to cite inline.
- Generated citations are added to your list for easy access.
Why Use This Citation Generator
Proper citation is essential for academic integrity. This tool helps you create accurate, consistently formatted citations in seconds — no more worrying about commas, periods, or italics in the right places.
Supporting APA 7th, MLA 9th, and Chicago 17th editions across books, journals, and websites, this generator covers the most common citation needs. The in-text citation helper and hanging indent preview ensure your references are submission-ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
A hanging indent is a paragraph formatting style where the first line is flush left and subsequent lines are indented. This is the standard format for reference list entries in APA and MLA styles.
BibTeX is a reference management format used with LaTeX documents. The export feature generates a BibTeX entry that you can paste into your .bib file for use with LaTeX citations.
APA uses (Author, Year) format, while MLA uses (Author Page) format. Chicago style offers both notes-bibliography and author-date systems. This tool generates the correct in-text format for each style.
No. All citation generation happens in your browser. No data is stored on any server. Your citations list is kept in browser memory only for the current session.
Use Cases
Academic Paper Bibliography
Generate properly formatted bibliography entries for academic research papers in APA, MLA, or Chicago citation styles.
Research Paper References
Create accurate reference lists for research papers, dissertations, and scholarly publications with correct formatting.
Avoiding Plagiarism
Properly cite sources in essays and assignments to avoid plagiarism and maintain academic integrity in your work.
Thesis Citation Formatting
Format citations correctly for thesis and dissertation submissions following your institution's required citation style.
Journal Article Sources
List journal article sources with proper formatting for peer-reviewed publications and academic journal submissions.