Citation Generator
Generate accurate citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles for your research papers.
1. Select Style & Source
2. Enter Information
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Citation Style Guide
APA 7th Edition Guidelines
The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used in psychology, education, and social sciences.
Key Features:
- Author-date in-text citations (Smith, 2023)
- Reference list at the end alphabetically ordered
- Specific formatting for different source types
- DOI or URL when available for online sources
- Hanging indent for reference entries
Example Book Citation:
Example Journal Article:
MLA 9th Edition Guidelines
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is primarily used in literature, arts, and humanities.
Key Features:
- Author-page in-text citations (Smith 45)
- Works Cited page alphabetically arranged
- Container concept for complex sources
- Flexible formatting based on available information
- No cover page required unless specified
Example Book Citation:
Example Website Citation:
Chicago 17th Edition Guidelines
The Chicago Manual of Style offers two citation systems: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date.
Key Features:
- Footnotes or endnotes with bibliography
- Detailed publication information
- Flexible formatting options
- Commonly used in history and literature
- Full citations in first footnote, shortened in subsequent
Example Book Citation:
Example Footnote:
Citation Generator FAQ
Which citation style should I use?
Use APA for psychology, education, and sciences; MLA for literature and humanities; Chicago for history and some humanities. Always check your assignment requirements or ask your instructor.
How do I cite a source with no author?
Start with the title of the work. In APA, use the first few words of the title in in-text citations. In MLA, use the full title or a shortened version.
What if I can't find a publication date?
Use "n.d." (no date) in APA style, or "n.d." in Chicago. In MLA, you may omit the date if it's not available or use "n.d." if required.
How do I cite social media posts?
Include the author's real name (if known), username, post content (up to 20 words), platform name, date, and URL. Format varies by citation style.
Do I need to cite common knowledge?
No, common knowledge (widely known facts) doesn't need citation. However, specific statistics, quotes, or unique ideas always require citations.
How do I cite multiple authors?
For 2 authors, list both. For 3+ authors in APA, use "et al." after the first author. In MLA, use "et al." after the first author for 3+ authors.
What's the difference between a reference list and bibliography?
A reference list (APA/MLA) includes only sources cited in your paper. A bibliography (Chicago) may include sources consulted but not necessarily cited.
How do I cite a PDF document?
Cite based on the original source type (book, journal article, etc.). If it's a standalone PDF, treat it as a web document with the PDF URL.