Citation Tool Disclaimer
This tool generates citation suggestions based on standard formatting rules. However, citation styles can have nuances and specific requirements depending on your instructor, institution, or publication. Always double-check your citations against the official style guide or your instructor's requirements. This tool is meant to assist you in learning proper citation formatting, not to replace your understanding of citation principles.
Citation Best Practices
- ✓Verify details: Always double-check author names, dates, and other details from your source.
- ✓Check style guide: Consult the official MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard manual for edge cases.
- ✓Be consistent: Use the same citation style throughout your entire paper.
- ✓Include all sources: Cite everything you reference, paraphrase, or quote in your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which citation style should I use?
Check your assignment requirements first. Generally: MLA 9 is used for humanities (literature, languages, arts), APA 7 for social sciences (psychology, education, sociology), Chicago 17 for history and some humanities, and Harvard for various disciplines in UK universities.
What information do I need to create a citation?
Basic requirements include: author name(s), publication title, publication date, and source URL (for websites) or publisher (for books). Additional details vary by source type: page numbers for books/articles, video length for videos, access dates for online sources. Gather all information before starting.
How do I cite a source with no author?
Start the citation with the title of the work instead. In MLA and APA, move the title to the author position. In Chicago, you may use "Anonymous" if the source explicitly states it, otherwise start with the title. Some organizational websites should be cited with the organization name as author.
Can I trust the generated citations completely?
Always verify generated citations against official style guides. This tool provides properly formatted citations based on the information you provide, but you should double-check unusual cases, verify punctuation and capitalization, and ensure all required information is included. When in doubt, consult the official manual.
Do I need in-text citations too?
Yes! The citations generated here are for your bibliography/works cited/references page. You also need in-text citations (parenthetical references) within your essay whenever you quote, paraphrase, or reference a source. The format varies by style: MLA uses (Author Page), APA uses (Author, Year), etc.
Try Another Tool
Explore more free writing tools to improve your essays