Citation Generator - Free APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard & IEEE Citations
Generate perfect citations and references instantly with our free online citation generator. Supports APA 7th Edition, MLA 9th Edition, Chicago, Harvard, and IEEE formats. Cite websites, books, journals, newspapers, and videos in seconds.
Supported Citation Styles
APA 7th Edition
Psychology, Education, Social Sciences
MLA 9th Edition
Literature, Humanities, Arts
Chicago 17th
History, Business, Publishing
Harvard
UK/Australian Universities
IEEE
Engineering, Computer Science
Source Types Supported
- 🌐 Websites: Online articles, blog posts, web pages
- 📚 Books: Print books, ebooks, textbooks
- 📰 Journal Articles: Academic papers, research articles
- 🗞️ Newspapers: News articles, online newspapers
- 🎬 Videos: YouTube, TED Talks, documentaries
Why Use Our Citation Generator?
- ✅ 100% Free: No registration or payment required
- ✅ Accurate Formatting: Follows official style guidelines
- ✅ Multiple Authors: Handle any number of contributors
- ✅ One-Click Copy: Instantly copy formatted citations
- ✅ Works Offline: All processing happens in your browser
- ✅ Privacy First: Your citations are never stored
📝 Citation Tip
Always check with your instructor or publication for specific requirements. Some institutions have modified versions of standard citation styles. When in doubt, consistency is key!
How to Cite Common Sources
Citing a Website (APA 7)
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. https://www.example.com
Citing a Book (MLA 9)
Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Citing a Journal Article (APA 7)
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Pages. DOI
Perfect For
- 🎓 College and university students
- 📚 High school research papers
- 📝 Academic researchers and scholars
- ✍️ Writers and journalists
- 👨🏫 Teachers creating bibliographies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between APA and MLA citation styles?
APA (American Psychological Association) uses author-date format and is preferred in psychology, education, and social sciences. MLA (Modern Language Association) uses author-page format and is preferred in humanities, literature, and arts. APA emphasizes the publication date, while MLA emphasizes page numbers for in-text citations.
When should I use Chicago citation style?
Chicago style is commonly used in history, business, and publishing. It offers two systems: Notes-Bibliography (with footnotes/endnotes) preferred in humanities, and Author-Date (similar to APA) used in sciences. Chicago is known for its flexibility and comprehensive guidelines.
How do I cite a website with no author?
When there's no author, start the citation with the article or page title. In APA: Title of page. (Year). Website Name. URL. In MLA: "Title of Page." Website Name, Date, URL. Most citation styles have specific rules for handling missing information.
What is a DOI and when should I include it?
DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a permanent link to a digital document. You should include the DOI whenever available for journal articles, ebooks, and online publications. Format: https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx. DOIs are preferred over URLs because they never change.
How do I cite multiple authors?
For 2 authors: list both names. For 3+ authors in APA: list all authors up to 20 (use '...' for more). In MLA and Chicago: use 'et al.' after the first author for 3+ authors. Each style has specific rules for punctuation between author names.
What is Harvard referencing style?
Harvard is an author-date citation system popular in UK and Australian universities. It uses (Author, Year) for in-text citations and provides full details in the reference list. While similar to APA, Harvard has no single official manual, so formatting may vary by institution.
How do I cite a YouTube video?
For videos, you'll need: uploader/channel name, video title, upload date, platform (YouTube), and URL. In APA: Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Title [Video]. YouTube. URL. In MLA: "Title." YouTube, uploaded by Channel, Date, URL.
What's the difference between a reference and a citation?
A citation is the brief in-text reference (e.g., (Smith, 2023) or a superscript number) that points to a source. A reference is the full bibliographic entry at the end of your paper that provides complete publication details. Both are required for proper academic writing.