Citation Generator

Interactive tool

The live form, validation, and result state for Citation Generator load after the page scripts run. The content below summarizes how the tool works and links to related pages in the catalog.

Generate in-text or reference-list citations for websites, books, and journal articles with selectable APA 6, APA 7, MLA, and Chicago styles.

How to use Citation Generator

1. 1

   Choose whether the source is a website, book, or journal article.

2. 2

   Select the citation use and citation style you need before generating output.

3. 3

   Fill in the source details, using one author per line when needed.

4. 4

   Review the generated citation preview for the selected style and use.

5. 5

   Copy the citation or export the current selection to a text file.

Citation styles contain many edge cases. Use this generator as a fast starting point, then verify uncommon sources or instructor-specific rules before final submission.

Best use cases

Worked example

Website citation example

A student writing a paper can choose Website, enter the page title, author, site name, and publication or access date, then generate both an in-text citation and a reference entry.

• Switch citation use to compare the short in-text output against the full reference entry.
• Keep one author per line when the source has multiple named authors.
• Check the final output against the official style guide before submission.

The generator is best used as a fast drafting and consistency tool, not a substitute for style-guide review.

Methodology

• The generator formats output from structured source fields into predefined citation patterns for the selected style and use case.
• In-text and reference-list outputs are separated so the same source details can be reused across common assignment workflows.